The use of prestrcssed concrete vessels to contain a nuclear reactor is not in itself novel, as the French in their G2 and G5 vessels at Marcoule had pioneered this form of construction, but the Oldbury vessels contained the first reactors of the integral type in which the core, boilers and gas circuit are contained within the same vessel. This type of reactor had been under consideration for some time by the author's company, and during the early part of 1960 a study had been completed which showed that this design was both feasible and economically attractive. The design formed the basis for the Oldbury Power Station, construction of which started in 1962.
THE HGCR-1, A DESIGN STUDY OF A NUCLEAR POWER STATION EMPLOYING A HIGH- TEMPERATURE GAS-COOLED REACTOR WITH GRAPHITE-UO$sub 2$ FUEL ELEMENTS