A dual-purpose reactor is a nuclear reactor designed both for the production of nuclear fuel ( weapons-grade plutonium ) in the core and for the generation of thermal energy. Also, various isotopes of substances can be produced in reactors, for example, for medical purposes.
Such a reactor uses nuclear fuel very efficiently, since it produces new fuel in the course of fuel consumption.
When designing a dual-purpose reactor, one proceeds from ensuring maximum reproduction rates (HF) of nuclear fuel , sometimes even due to a significant decrease in parameters and a decrease in the efficiency of the energy cycle.
Dual-purpose reactors can be fast or thermal neutron reactors , channel reactors , tank reactors , with a specially allocated nuclear fuel reproduction zone , etc.
The first experimental fast neutron reactor (EBR-1) appeared in the USA in 1951. It was a dual-purpose reactor, Enrico Fermi (USA).
See also
- ADE - list and time of decommissioning.