Organic liquids as reactor coolants and moderators. Report of a panel

Organic liquids have been used as reactor coolants and moderators in experimental and demonstration plants for over a decade and are now being considered for larger power reactor applications. The use of these compounds has been prompted by their very low corrosivity, their low vapour pressure, their only slight tendency to activation by irradiation and their relatively low cost. A number of countries have embarked upon organic reactor development programmes, and organic-cooled and/or - moderated reactors are attracting increasing attention in many countries, not only for power production but for the dual purpose of power production combined with saline water conversion. As part of its programme on nuclear power development the International Atomic Energy Agency convened a Panel on the Use of Organic Liquids as Reactor Coolants and Moderators at its Headquarters in Vienna on 9 - 13 May, 1966. The Panel was attended by 15 participants and observers from seven countries and one international organization. his publication includes status reports of the programmes of Canada, France, Hungary, India, Spain, the United States of America and EURATOM, and topical summaries, based on the individual technical papers, of the technical sessions. These five sessions dealt with: organic compounds and measurement of their physical properties; stability of organic compounds; heat transfer and fouling; reclamation and purification; and analysis and analytical techniques. Abstracts of the individual technical papers are also included