Organically Moderated and Cooled Reactor

Organically Moderated And Cooled Reactor

The organic moderated and cooled reactor (OCR) was an early power reactor concept studied in the formative years of nuclear power by the United States Atomic Energy Commission and others around the world. The concept reactor was very similar to light water reactors (LWRs) in fuel element and reactor core design, but used hydrocarbon as a coolant and neutron moderator in lieu of water. The hot organic coolant was pumped through secondary heat exchangers to boil water and generate steam to run a turbogenerator. As in LWRs, the fuel could be slightly enriched uranium dioxide, though other fuel types were considered.