Nuclear reactor: Difference between revisions
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A '''nuclear reactor''' is a complex physical facility in which controlled [[nuclear reaction]]s, generally involving [[criticality (nuclear)]], take place for a variety of purposes. These purposes may include heat generation for electrical generation, [[naval propulsion]], or heating industrial plants; the preparation of [[ | A '''nuclear reactor''' is a complex physical facility in which controlled [[nuclear reaction]]s, generally involving [[criticality (nuclear)]], take place for a variety of purposes. These purposes may include heat generation for electrical generation, [[naval propulsion]], or heating industrial plants; the preparation of [[radioactivity|radioactive]] [[isotope]]s for use in [[nuclear medicine]], industrial testing, or creating controlled sources of radiation; production of nuclear materials such as [[plutonium]] or [[tritium]]; or making materials temporarily [[radioactivity|radioactive]] for procedures such as [[neutron activation analysis]]. While there can be some overlap of functions, larger reactors tend to be optimized for a single purpose; part of the design failures causing the [[Chernobyl Disaster]] were that the reactor tried to be equally effective for electric power and plutonium generation. | ||
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Revision as of 10:35, 14 May 2010
A nuclear reactor is a complex physical facility in which controlled nuclear reactions, generally involving criticality (nuclear), take place for a variety of purposes. These purposes may include heat generation for electrical generation, naval propulsion, or heating industrial plants; the preparation of radioactive isotopes for use in nuclear medicine, industrial testing, or creating controlled sources of radiation; production of nuclear materials such as plutonium or tritium; or making materials temporarily radioactive for procedures such as neutron activation analysis. While there can be some overlap of functions, larger reactors tend to be optimized for a single purpose; part of the design failures causing the Chernobyl Disaster were that the reactor tried to be equally effective for electric power and plutonium generation.