ABSTRACT
The general principles of reactor thermal design are introduced in this chapter, with the focus on the operating parameters, design limits, and figures of merit by which the thermal design process is characterized. The energy of a power reactor originates from the fission process within the fuel elements. Energy deposited in the fuel is transferred to the coolant by conduction, convection, and radiation. A small fraction of the fission energy is also directly deposited in the coolant and structures. We do not attempt to present a procedure for thermal design because nuclear, thermal, and structural aspects are intertwined in a complicated, interactive process. Specific design analysis techniques are detailed in Volume II. Table 2.1 presents typical core thermal performance characteristics for the reference power reactor types introduced in Chapter 1.
