Reactor design Definition and 26 Threads

A nuclear reactor, formerly known as an atomic pile, is a device used to initiate and control a fission nuclear chain reaction or nuclear fusion reactions. Nuclear reactors are used at nuclear power plants for electricity generation and in nuclear marine propulsion. Heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid (water or gas), which in turn runs through steam turbines. These either drive a ship's propellers or turn electrical generators' shafts. Nuclear generated steam in principle can be used for industrial process heat or for district heating. Some reactors are used to produce isotopes for medical and industrial use, or for production of weapons-grade plutonium. As of early 2019, the IAEA reports there are 454 nuclear power reactors and 226 nuclear research reactors in operation around the world.

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  1. B

    Inductive Heating of a Non-Conductive Reactor's Contents

    Hi! I have been working with home-made reactor to do ambiant pressure, high temperature pyrolysis experiments that use an induction heating coil wrapped around the outside to heat the entire reactor. The contents are heated indirectly through their contact with the reactor. This worked well for...
  2. emilmammadzada

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  3. R

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  4. Rahulx084

    What is the Validity of the Rate Equation in Different Reactor Types?

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  5. C

    Safe zero base reactivity level nuclear fission reactor?

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  6. Irl495

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  7. F

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  8. CivilSigma

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  9. P

    Nuclear Engineering: PhD vs. Masters for reactor design

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  10. Dong Aleta

    Can someone identify what this graph is used for?

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  11. sevenperforce

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  12. Jeremy Thomson

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  13. MexChemE

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  14. J

    Alternate fuel for TriAlpha Fusion Reactor Design?

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  15. S

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  16. J

    Reactor Design -- Plug Flow Reactors

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  17. K

    EM2 Reactor Design: Facts, Pros & Cons

    I read a little bit about General Atomics EM2 reactor in the December issue of Nuclear News that someone had brought to work recently. I haven't had a chance to read all of the article and I am curious about this reactor design. Are any of you involved in it? It claims to be able to run for 30...
  18. M

    Chemical Reactor Design Optimization

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  19. H

    Pulse transformer/DC reactor design.

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  20. D

    Best graduate programs for GEN IV reactor design

    Hello, I would like some recommendations on universities that have nuclear engg. graduate programs that specialize in design and analysis of GEN IV reactors. My professors have recommended the following: 1. Michigan 2. Penn State 3. MIT 4. North Carolina State Any info regarding grad...
  21. N

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  22. C

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  23. T

    Calculating Fission Cross-Sections for Nuclear Reactor Fuel Designs

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  24. E

    DOE judges IFR best reactor design

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  25. Topher925

    How is high temperature reactor design different?

    I think its common knowledge that the next generation of nuclear reactors are going to operate at much higher temperatures than current designs in order to get away from the Rankin cycle and take advantage of thermochemical cycles, but what is it that makes high temperature reactors (HTR)...
  26. E

    What nuclear fission reactor design has the least environmental impact?

    What nuclear fission reactor design has the least environmental impact? Including the building, operating, safety, and amount of pollution produced? I'd imagine IFR/breeder reactors as they burn actinides.
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