Design of high temperature engineering test reactor (HTTR) and associated research and development

High temperature gas-cooled reactors have the excellent features such as power generation efficiency, peculiar safety and the combined use for electric power generation and high temperature heat supply, and they are expected to contribute to the solution of earth environment and atomic energy PA problems. The history of the development of high temperature gas-cooled reactors exceeded 30 years, and during this period, a number of the reactors were constructed and operated, besides, meeting the demand of the age, the plan for constructing the new plants is reported, but at present, the reactor in operation is none. Now, the safety examination of the HTTR which is developed mainly by Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute approaches the end, therefore, on this occasion, the outline of its design and features and the results of research and development are summarized. The progress of development of high temperature gas-cooled reactors, the design of the HTTR, and the research and development of the reactor physics, the fuel and metallic, carbon and graphite materials, high temperature machinery and equipment, the safety and reliability tests and heat-utilizing system for the HTTR are reported. (K.I.)