THE POTENTIAL OF THE SELF-ACTING SAFETY FEATURES OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE REACTORS

In view of the great worldwide increase in energy requirements predict ed for the future, nuclear energy will have to play an important role. A new quality of safety standards must be demanded for worldwide use of nuclear power plants. There are various approaches to achieve catas trophe-free nuclear energy. On the one hand, reactor containments are being designed which are intended to retain the molten core. On the ot her hand, technical solutions are available which exclude core melt by natural laws and thus retain the radioactive products inside the fuel elements. The latter reactor systems are characterized by nuclear, th ermal, chemical and mechanical stability. This paper describes the hig h-temperature reactor and its self-acting safety features.