A Nuclear Reactor is the main component of a nuclear power plant used to initiate and control a self-sustained nuclear chain reaction that occurs under controlled conditions, generating heat. There are three major reactor design families under the umbrella of water-cooled reactors currently in use: Pressurised water reactors (PWRs); Boiling water reactors (BWRs); Pressurised heavy water reactors (PWHRs). Small modular reactors (SMRs) are not a distinct type of reactor, but rather a family of different reactor designs which are smaller than most reactors currently in operation. The United States Department of Energy selected six designs to pursue further that were supercritical water-cooled reactor (SCWR), lead fast reactor (LFR), sodium fast reactor (SFR), molten salt reactor (MSR), gas fast reactor (GFR), and the very-high-temperature reactor (VHTR). Each of the proposed systems have two things in common, they have much higher operating temperatures and place more of a burden on reaction materials than traditional systems.
Related Definitions in the Project: The Mechanical Engineering; Nuclear Fusion Energy
Example Article of the Nuclear Reactor:
Fukushima nuclear reactors to shut permanently (Source: The National (UAE) on 24 July 2019) Japan’s Tepco said its board will decide to permanently shut a nuclear power plant near its wrecked Fukushima Dai-Ichi station amid regional opposition to its use following the 2011 disaster. The utility, officially known as Tokyo Electric Power Co, told Fukushima governor Masao Uchibori that it will decommission the four reactors at the Fukushima Dai-Ni facility, which survived damage sustained from the 2011 tsunami and earthquake. The board will meet to officially decide to scrap the units, the company said Wednesday without providing a date of the meeting. It will cost ¥280 billion (Dh9.54bn) to decommission the facility and the board is scheduled to meet later this month, Kyodo reported. The process will take about 30 years, the company said. ...
