APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FAST BREEDER REACTOR

The necessity for breeder reactors in a long-term nuclear energy program has frequentiy been stressed. A fast breeder reactor can be built in two basically differen ways. In the case of external breeding, the fissionable ma terial is in a very small inner zone and the breeding material surrounds it in a so-calied breeding blanket. With internal breeding the fissionable and breeding materials in a suitable mixture are in a common reactor core. The advantages and disadvantages of both types are compared. The development being done on a fast breeder reactor in the Federal Republic is indicated. (auth)