What is Nuclear reactor: Definition and 75 Discussions

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

    Heat transfer through pipe penetrating nuclear reactor

    What I'm trying to figure out is the temperature vs. time of a aqueous nuclear reactor. I'm trying to cool 200kW of energy with metal pipes running through a working reactor. This is just a heat calc, I'm not actually building one. The reactor runs at 200kW, is liquid filled, and will be...
  2. C

    Nuclear reactor in zero gravity

    How do nuclear reactors used to power satellites and such operate in zero gravity?
  3. R

    U-235 Fission in Nuclear Reactor: Calculating Atom & Kg Usage/sec

    A reactor is producing nuclear energy at the rate of 30000KW.How many atoms of U-235 undergo fission per second?How many kg of U-235 would be used up in 1000 hr of operation.Assume an energy of 200 Mev is released per fission.(Avogadro number=6*10^26 atom/kg)
  4. C

    Nuclear reactor there is radiation called like sarencobe radiation

    My physics teacher today said in a nuclear reactor there is radiation called like sarencobe radiation I didn't hear him very well so I don’t know how to spell it , he said it is this erie glow in the water when the neutrons out run the light in the water , can anyone tell me how to...
  5. B

    Power Production of a Nuclear Reactor: Calculations for Days and Years

    Homework Statement a particular nuclear power reactor operates at 1000MWe (megawatts electric) with an overall efficiency in converting fission energy to electrical energy of 30%. what mass of 235 U must fission in order for the power plant to operate for (a)one day, (b)one year?(c) if the...
  6. C

    Neutron flux of nuclear reactor

    I had a homework question I am really stuck on- How do you calculate neuron flux
  7. V

    Nuclear Reactor Feedback System

    Hello Chaps, I have been thinking about for a bit and the texts i have are quite vague on the topic. I'd like to know what monitoring devices are used for the control rods. I would have to assume that power output or neutron detection is used for this purpose? Cheers, Rhys
  8. M

    Nuclear reactor physics text recommendation

    Hi folks, can anyone suggest a good and current reference text on nuclear reactor theory and physics? I'm a theorist, so mathematically sophisticated presentation is welcome. Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
  9. P

    Neutron flux calculation using FFT in a nuclear reactor

    well, that's the heading of a project i am doing...i need some help on neutron detectors... how they are dectected and what is the probable graph of count rate vs, pulse height that i might get for a nuclar fission reaction of U-235... can anyone help?
  10. S

    Nuclear Reactor With No Moving Parts

    There's an article in the May 12 2008 New Yorker Magazine by Malcolm Gladwell, in which he talks about brainstorming sessions by teams of inventors headed by Nathan Myhrvold. One of the ideas is a small Nuclear Reactor with no moving parts. Supposedly the core would be about 3x10 meters...
  11. V

    The Absolute Worst Nuclear Reactor Disaster

    This may not be an appropriate place to ask this, and if that is the case please chastise me and cast me out. Given that the members of this forum seem to be very educated and intelligent, especially in regards to these fields I wanted to ask a question. What would be the absolute worst case...
  12. M

    Is there another way for nuclear reactor?

    I know we use radioactive elements in nuclear reactors and the heat given of to generate electricity in the traditional steam driven turbine way, at least that's what I read. I was wondering why we can't make it more efficient through double electron capture and use captured electrons given off...
  13. P

    Testing Hypothesis of Fuel Rod Enrichment in Nuclear Reactor

    Homework Statement Measurements o the percentage of enrichment of 12 fuel rods used in a nuclear reactor were reported with a sample mean of 3.26. Test the hypothesis H_0: \mu=2.95 versus H_1: \mu\neq2.95, and draw appropriate conclusions. Use the p-value approach. Homework Equations...
  14. K

    Miniature nuclear reactor as a project?

    i have desided to make a miniature nuclear reactor as my science project .i beg the helps from all physicsforum members...
  15. N

    Learning How Nuclear Reactors Work/Are Constructed

    Does anyone here know of any books which teach how nuclear reactors work/are constructed? Thanks in advance.
  16. A

    I WANT to build a nuclear reactor.

    Ok so I know that this seems like an absolutely absurd and almost impossible idea but I want to build a nuclear reactor to enter in the state science fair next year. I know that it takes time, wit and money but I'm completely prepared to take on the challenge. So the point of posting this...
  17. A

    Heat conduction in nuclear reactor (introductory question)

    Homework Statement The elements of a boiling water nuclear reactor consist of long cylindrical rods of uranium dioxide (U02) of diameter 8mm surrounded by a thin layer of aluminium cladding. In the reactor core the elements are cooled by boiling water at 285°C with a heat transfer...
  18. T

    Revolutionizing Nuclear Energy: A Simple Solution?

    now, in simple terms, all a nuclear reactor is a steam engine i know that we use the emitting nutrons to heat up water, which boils, then moves a turbine, but THIS IS SO SIMPLE! why, why, why, isn't there a more simple way to convert this neutron into useable energy? a significantly size...
  19. M

    Elastic collisions in a nuclear reactor

    In a nuclear reactor, neutrons released by nuclear fission must be slowed down before they can trigger additional reactions in other nuclei. To see what sort of material is most effective in slowing (or moderating) a neutron, calculate the ratio of a neutron's final kinetic energy to its initial...
  20. Astronuc

    Can Numerical Simulation Revolutionize Nuclear Reactor Design?

    This is a developing area in the nuclear industry involving large scale multiphysics computation. For the past several years Argonne National Laboratory and Purdue University have been supported by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to develop a...
  21. V

    Nuclear reactor physics by Weston Stacey

    "nuclear reactor physics" by Weston Stacey I just bought it and started reading it. Anybody know the book ? Opinions, remarks ? I might have a few questions when reading it, are some people prepared to discuss it ? As a first question, actually, on the cross section plots, there's always...
  22. S

    Hamilton nuclear reactor analysis

    pleas interduce a site that contain hamilton nuclear reactor analysis books chapter problem solution tnx.
  23. S

    Nature's 2 billon year old Nuclear reactor

    a natural 2 billion year old nuclear reactor was found arfrica http://www.discover.com/web-exclusives/natures-nuclear-reactor0204/ What I think is intersting about is that each nuclear reaction lasted exactllay 30 min not 25 not 32 but exactally 30 min.
  24. M

    What materials are used in a nuclear reactor?

    [SOLVED] Materials for Nuclear Reactor Please briefly explain the Materials which are used in nuclear reactor. such canning material, moderator etc. :confused:
  25. M

    Can a Nuclear Reactor Power a Space Station?

    Is A Nuclear Reactor A... I am not sure if this is the right forum or not, I figure its about space stuff so it might be. My question is, could one safely use a nuclear reactor on a large-scale space station. Of course there is the issue of shielding, but since space stations have to be...
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