Nuclear fission energy

The production of useful energy from nuclear fission is described. The presentation proceeds as follows: a brief history of nuclear reactors; brief schematic descriptions of the main types of nuclear power plants; analyses of how the designs of reactors arise; some unique requirements for reactor materials; key issues in nuclear safety; and environmental effects and problems in the storage of radioactive materials. The purpose is to place the characteristic aspects of the reactors in perspective, rather than to set out basic design requirements. In Appendix A, comments are made on the theoretical basis for nuclear engineering-design analysis