Overview
Read this article from a comprehensive knowledge base, updated and supplemented with articles reviewed by scientific committees.
Read the articleAUTHOR
-
Pierre BACHER : Director, Nuclear Engineering Department Former Deputy Director, EDF Equipment Division
INTRODUCTION
A nuclear reactor is a device in which a fission chain reaction is maintained by the propagation of neutrons. Nuclear reactors are used either to produce energy, or as research tools, for example to irradiate materials, to supply neutron beams or, more simply, to explore the physical properties of the multiplying medium. This article focuses on reactors designed for power generation, highlighting their common features as well as their main differences. The various types of nuclear reactor are the subject of specific articles, to which the reader is invited to refer for further details.
Exclusive to subscribers. 97% yet to be discovered!
Already subscribed? Log in!
EDITIONS
Other editions of this article are available:
- Jul 2026 current edition by Jean-Baptiste THOMAS
Nuclear reactors. General
General presentation
References
Exclusive to subscribers. 97% yet to be discovered!
Already subscribed? Log in!
Article included in this offer
"Nuclear engineering"
(
165 articles
)
Updated and enriched with articles validated by our scientific committees
A set of exclusive tools to complement the resources
