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Energy & Renewables vocabulary · Hydro, Nuclear and Other Sources

Nuclear reactor

Meaning in energy & renewables, with examples

/ˌnuːkliər riˈæktər/nounCore term

In energy & renewables, nuclear reactor means: The part of a nuclear power plant where a controlled chain reaction splits uranium atoms and produces heat, which is used to make steam for the turbines.

In Turkish: nükleer reaktör

How it is used

Reactors are designed, built, started up, refuelled and shut down. Most power reactors are pressurised water reactors (PWR). Small modular reactors (SMRs) are a newer design discussed in many countries. Each reactor with its turbine is usually called a unit.

Example sentences

  1. The nuclear reactor was shut down for refuelling and inspection.

  2. Each nuclear reactor at the site will have a capacity of about 1,200 MW.

Common collocations

  • pressurised water reactor
  • small modular reactor
  • shut down a reactor
  • reactor core
  • reactor unit
  • nuclear powerElectricity produced from the heat released when uranium atoms are split in a reactor. It produces almost no carbon dioxide while running.
  • uraniumA heavy, slightly radioactive metal used as fuel in nuclear reactors. For most reactors it is enriched so that the share of the isotope U-235 rises to about 3 to 5 percent.
  • nuclear wasteRadioactive material left over from nuclear power and other nuclear activities, especially spent fuel from reactors, which must be kept safely isolated for very long periods.
  • steam turbineA machine in which high-pressure steam flows over rows of blades and turns a shaft connected to a generator. Coal, nuclear, geothermal and many biomass plants use one.

More terms: Hydro, Nuclear and Other Sources

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