what exactly is a Nuclear Reactor in "laymens terms"?

Answer 1

There are a few things you need to know about fissionable materials. One, a good fissionable material goes though a fission reaction when it absorbs a neutron. Two, a good fissionable material releases more than an average of one neutron when it goes through a fission reaction. The material must be able to go through a fission reaction by absorbing a neutron that travels slower than the release speed of the previous reaction. Once you have the a material that fits those requirements the rest is a probability game. If you have a small amount of material within a set space the probability of a neutron from one fission event hitting another fissionable atom is very unlikely, but as more and more material is placed within a set volume the probability increases until a point where on average every reaction will lead to one additional reaction. This point is called critical mass. At this point you have a controlled chain reaction, and generate heat. Then you run some material through the reaction to transfer heat out of the reactor to a generator.

Answer 2

In simple terms, it is a large hot water heater or boiler if you prefer. Where a hot water heater or boiler uses electricity or fuel for the heating element a Reactor uses Uranium tiles. Water runs through tubes and is heated by the electrons bouncing off the uranium tiles. Reactors produce steam that powers steam generators for Electrical power or steam turbines for propulsion in the case of ships such as Navy Aircraft Carriers. Of course the benefit is no outside fuel source is needed to run the Reactor, it is basically self contained and the Reactor core will normally last 15-20 years at a minimum

Answer 3

A nuclear reactor is a device in which nuclear chain reactions are initiated, controlled, and sustained at a steady rate (as opposed to a nuclear explosion, where the chain reaction occurs in a split second).

Nuclear reactors are used for many purposes. The most significant current use is for the generation of electrical power (see nuclear power). Research reactors are used for radioisotope production and for beamline experiments with free neutrons. Historically, the first use of nuclear reactors was the production of plutonium for nuclear weapons. Another military use is submarine / ship propulsion.

Currently all commercial nuclear reactors are based on nuclear fission, and are considered problematic by some for their safety and health risks. Conversely, some consider nuclear power to be a safe and pollution-free method of generating electricity. Fusion power is an experimental technology based on nuclear fusion instead of fission. There are other devices in which nuclear reactions occur in a controlled fashion, including radioisotope thermoelectric generators and atomic batteries, which generate heat and power by exploiting passive radioactive decay, as well as Farnsworth-Hirsch fusors, in which controlled nuclear fusion is used to produce neutron radiation.

Answer 4

A nuclear reactor is a device in which nuclear chain reactions are initiated, controlled, and sustained at a steady rate (as opposed to a nuclear explosion, where the chain reaction occurs in a split second).

Nuclear reactors are used for many purposes. The most significant current use is for the generation of electrical power (see nuclear power). Research reactors are used for radioisotope production and for beamline experiments with free neutrons. Historically, the first use of nuclear reactors was the production of plutonium for nuclear weapons. Another military use is submarine / ship propulsion.

Currently all commercial nuclear reactors are based on nuclear fission, and are considered problematic by some for their safety and health risks. Conversely, some consider nuclear power to be a safe and pollution-free method of generating electricity. Fusion power is an experimental technology based on nuclear fusion instead of fission. There are other devices in which nuclear reactions occur in a controlled fashion, including radioisotope thermoelectric generators and atomic batteries, which generate heat and power by exploiting passive radioactive decay, as well as Farnsworth-Hirsch fusors, in which controlled nuclear fusion is used to produce neutron radiation.

Answer 5

Instead of using coal, natural gas or fuel oil to boil water to run a steam turbine, nuclear energy is used to heat the water to do the same thing...spin the turbine to generate electricity.

Energy is what the world is all about and the world is running out of petroleum. Nuclear Energy is a viable alternative but the 10 years it takes to build a plant is too long to help the energy situation... I'm afraid we are heading for hard times as a result.

Answer 6

using the energy from uranium or other radioactive elements as energy to steam a water! then the steam turns a turbine! the turbine then connect to a dynamo to produce electricity! its like a coal that drives steam engine but its radioactive elements that is used.

Answer 7

Cheap electricity and nuclear warheads!

Answer 8

When enough of the right kind of metal (plutonium, uranium) gets close enough together, it gets hot.