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reactor

A reactor is where a nuclear reaction is controlled, making it possible to create energy or any number of artificial elements.

Reactor these days almost always refers to a nuclear reactor, where atomic fission of uranium or plutonium creates the heat used to make steam to generate electricity. Originally, though, reactor meant a vessel in which chemical processes were made to generate useful products such as nylon and artificial sweetener. These reactors are still used in chemical manufacturing plants.

DEFINITIONS OF: reactor

n (physics) any of several kinds of apparatus that maintain and control a nuclear reaction for the production of energy or artificial elements

Synonyms:: nuclear reactor

Types:: show 10 types...; hide 10 types...; atomic pile, atomic reactor, chain reactor, pile
a nuclear reactor that uses controlled nuclear fission to generate energy; breeder reactor
a nuclear reactor that produces more fissile material than it burns; fast reactor
nuclear reactor in which nuclear fissions are caused by fast neutrons because little or no moderator is used; gas-cooled reactor
a nuclear reactor using gas as a coolant; liquid metal reactor
a nuclear reactor using liquid metal as a coolant; thermal reactor
a nuclear reactor in which nuclear fissions are caused by neutrons that are slowed down by a moderator; fusion reactor, thermonuclear reactor
a nuclear reactor that uses controlled nuclear fusion to generate energy; water-cooled reactor
nuclear reactor using water as a coolant; BWR, boiling water reactor
a nuclear reactor that uses water as a coolant and moderator; the water boils in the reactor core and the steam produced can drive a steam turbine; PWR, pressurized water reactor
a nuclear reactor that uses water as a coolant and moderator; the steam produced can drive a steam turbine

Type of:: apparatus, setup
equipment designed to serve a specific function

n an electrical device used to introduce reactance into a circuit

Types:: show 11 types...; hide 11 types...; coil
reactor consisting of a spiral of insulated wire that introduces inductance into a circuit; armature
coil in which voltage is induced by motion through a magnetic field; astatic coils
an arrangement of coils used in sensitive electrical instruments; the coils are arranged to give zero resultant external magnetic field when a current passes through them and to have zero electromotive force induced in them by an external magnetic field; choke, choke coil, choking coil
a coil of low resistance and high inductance used in electrical circuits to pass direct current and attenuate alternating current; field coil, field winding
the electric coil around a field magnet that produces the magneto motive force to set up the flux in an electric machine; induction coil
a coil for producing a high voltage from a low-voltage source; primary, primary coil, primary winding
coil forming the part of an electrical circuit such that changing current in it induces a current in a neighboring circuit; head, read/write head
(computer science) a tiny electromagnetic coil and metal pole used to write and read magnetic patterns on a disk; secondary, secondary coil, secondary winding
coil such that current is induced in it by passing a current through the primary coil; solenoid
a coil of wire around an iron core; becomes a magnet when current passes through the coil; tickler coil
a small coil in series with the anode of a vacuum tube and coupled to the grid to provide feedback

Type of:: electrical device
a device that produces or is powered by electricity

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