介绍了核电堆型发展的四个阶段和第一、二代核电堆型的发展历史；论述了第三代先进堆型的发展、设计特点和第四代先进堆的开发目标。

This article describes the four generation of reactor types. Firstly, it looks back the development of the 1st. and 2nd. generation reactor types; Secondly, explains the development and the design characteristics of several typical 3rd generation advanced reactor types, and the goals to be reached in the research work for the 4th generation. Finally, it introduces the related situation in China's nuclear power industry.