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carbon dioxide reactor

Developed for the most part in Great Britain and France, it was replaced by the pressurized water reactor, which performs better and is less expensive.

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carbon dioxide gas coolant

Carbon dioxide that recovers the heat from the reactor core and transfers it to the heat exchanger.

feedwater

Piping carries water from the condenser to the heat exchanger, where it is turned into steam.

steam outlet

Water that has been vaporized in the carbon dioxide is carried to the turbine to produce electricity.

blower

Device that circulates carbon dioxide in the reactor core.

heat exchanger

Tubing system that is submerged in the hot carbon dioxide; here, water is turned into steam to power the turbine.

reactor core

Center section of the nuclear reactor where fission reactions take place.

control rod

Tube that contains a neutron-absorbing material (boron, cadmium) that is introduced into the reactor core to control its power.

concrete shielding

Concrete structure that holds back radioactive products in the event of an accident.

fueling machine

Remote-controlled device that inserts new fuel into the reactor.

fuel: natural uranium

Natural uranium: fuel extracted from mines; it consists of a mixture of three uranium isotopes (uranium-234, -235 and -238).

coolant: carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide: gas that is heavier than air and is produced by burning graphite.

moderator: graphite

Moderator: medium that slows the speed of the neutrons to maintain a continuous chain reaction.