Nuclear Power Reactor Development: History, Technologies, and Lessons - Hardcover

Oka, Yoshiaki

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 9819627303 ISBN 13: 9789819627301

Publisher: Springer, 2025

Synopsis

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the history and development of power reactors worldwide, from their inception to the present day. It provides an in-depth analysis of light water reactors and their global technology, while also delving into the evolution of gas-cooled, heavy water, liquid metal-cooled, aerospace, and nuclear fusion reactors. By examining past advancements, this book equips readers with the insights necessary to apply lessons learned to future reactor development and utilization.

Key concepts include the dominance of light water reactors in the global market, the progression of nuclear fuel cycle technologies, and the economic and political aspects of plutonium utilization. The book also addresses critical questions such as the potential depletion of uranium resources and the characteristics of Generation III and IV reactors. With contributions from government agencies and international organizations, this work is a must-read for those seeking a thorough understanding of nuclear reactor history and future challenges.

Intended for graduate students, university faculty, researchers, industry professionals, and anyone with a keen interest in nuclear power, this book serves as a vital resource for understanding the complexities of nuclear reactor development and the broader implications for society.

The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence. A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content.

About this title

About the Author

Yoshiaki Oka is an emeritus professor at the University of Tokyo and is world renowned in the field of nuclear engineering. His work includes design and analysis of nuclear reactors and neutron transport; he developed the concept of the supercritical pressure water-cooled reactor (SCWR), also known as a Generation IV Reactor, studied globally. He has authored books on SCWR―Nuclear Power Reactor Development and Advances in Light Water Reactor Technologies―by Springer, and he has published approximately 230 peer-reviewed journal articles. ScholarGPS ranks him second as a scholar in “nuclear reactors” and 16th in “nuclear power”.

He contributed to nuclear engineering research and education at the University of Tokyo as an assistant, associate, and full professor from 1976 to 2010, playing a crucial role in launching the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management, and the Nuclear Professional School at the Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo. In the 2000s, he was a leader in preparing textbooks on nuclear engineering, and the two English editions of his books were published by Springer as the first two volumes in the book series An Advanced Course in Nuclear Engineering. He was also a professor at Waseda University between 2010 and 2014, initiating its Nuclear Engineering Department.

Prof. Oka served as the chairman of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission between 2014 and 2020. Since then, he has studied the issues arising from the interface between nuclear utilization and society.

From the Back Cover

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the history and development of power reactors worldwide, from their inception to the present day. It provides an in-depth analysis of light water reactors and their global technology, while also delving into the evolution of gas-cooled, heavy water, liquid metal-cooled, aerospace, and nuclear fusion reactors. By examining past advancements, this book equips readers with the insights necessary to apply lessons learned to future reactor development and utilization.

Key concepts include the dominance of light water reactors in the global market, the progression of nuclear fuel cycle technologies, and the economic and political aspects of plutonium utilization. The book also addresses critical questions such as the potential depletion of uranium resources and the characteristics of Generation III and IV reactors. With contributions from government agencies and international organizations, this work is a must-read for those seeking a thorough understanding of nuclear reactor history and future challenges.

Intended for graduate students, university faculty, researchers, industry professionals, and anyone with a keen interest in nuclear power, this book serves as a vital resource for understanding the complexities of nuclear reactor development and the broader implications for society.

The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence. A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9819627303
• ISBN 13: 9789819627301
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 230