Survey of the Power Plant Problem

Relative Advantages of Several Cooling Systems E. P. Wigner 

Abstract. So far, three agents have been considered for conveying the heat out of a uranium-graphite pile helium, a liquid (water) and molten bismuth. This gives three different plans for a uranium-graphite pile. Furthermore, the graphite can be substituted by heavy water, the uranium by some enriched material so that one has at least five possible setups. 

None of these is better in every respect than all others and neither of them can be guaranteed to give a smooth operation, uninterrupted by unforeseeable troubles. For this and other reasons it appears desirable to erect several types of plants in order to ensure a safe and sufficient supply of 49 in time. 

All the plans will be described in more detail in the ensuing sections. In the first three, He, water or Bi streams through the system and carries with itself the heat generated. The heavy water plant can be cooled in numerous ways and so can enriched plants. The latter two have been considered, so far, in less detail because the critical materials (heavy water and enriched U) are not yet available. 

The attached table is to summarize the merits and disadvantages of the five different schemes. Evidently, the statements contained in this table as well as some of the statements made below, do not represent absolute truths but hold only under the conditions which axe usually considered reasonable. They axe designed to serve for an orientation of the reader. 

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