What is a nuclear reactor?
Nick Touran
What is a nuclear reactor?
By Dr. Nick Touran, Ph.D., P.E., Reading time: 15 minutes
A nuclear reactor is a system that contains and controls sustained nuclear chain reactions. Reactors are used for generating electricity, moving aircraft carriers and submarines, producing medical isotopes for imaging and cancer treatment, and for conducting research.
Fuel, made up of heavy atoms that split when they absorb neutrons, is placed into the reactor vessel (basically a large tank) along with a small..