A good point to start the discussion on various examples of nuclear reactors is to understand the evolution of nuclear power over the past six to seven
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Figure 1.7 Nuclear power evolution in the world. Courtesy: The US Department of Energy Gen-IV Initiative.
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decades. As shown in Figure 1.7, there are different generations of reactors. Thus, a chronological approach has been taken to start an overview of various nuclear power reactors. However, it is, by no means, exhaustive account. The first nuclear reactor known as Chicago Pile 1 (CP-1) was built during the heydays of the World War II (criticality was achieved on December 2, 1942) at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. It was designed and built by a team led by Enrico Fermi. This reactor was a thermal reactor with graphite moderators and natural uranium dioxide fuel. No coolant or shielding was used. The reactor could produce only ~200W of heat. However, the primary aim of the reactor was to demonstrate the occurrence of the fission chain reaction. It was dismantled in February 1943, and CP-2 reactor was installed at the Argonne National Laboratory based on the experience gained with CP-1.
