Summary

Abstract

The PWR, BWR, and RBMK reactor types have been involved in the three largest and worst commercial nuclear accidents in the world. The PWR came about primarily because of Admiral Rickover and his effort to produce a compact, air-independent submarine propulsion system. The RBMK derived from the Soviet Union’s nuclear weapon development program, which focused on graphite moderation. The BWR arose from GE’s efforts to generate a commercial nuclear power plant, and rise above its second place finish to Westinghouse in the Navy nuclear propulsion program. The fact that the three major accidents each used a different reactor design suggests that the risks of nuclear power generation are not limited to a single technology. Rather, nuclear power is an inherently challenging power source to harness and dedicated oversight is needed to ensure that accidents are prevented.