gas-cooled reactor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “gas-cooled reactor” mean?
A nuclear reactor in which the heat generated in the core is removed using a gas, such as helium or carbon dioxide, as the primary coolant.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A nuclear reactor in which the heat generated in the core is removed using a gas, such as helium or carbon dioxide, as the primary coolant.
A class of nuclear reactor designs where a gas, rather than water or liquid metal, circulates through the reactor core to transfer heat to a power generation system; often associated with advanced or Generation IV reactor concepts for improved safety and efficiency.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is used identically in UK and US nuclear engineering contexts.
Connotations
In the UK, strongly associated with the historical Magnox and AGR (Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor) power stations. In the US, may be associated more with research reactors and newer High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) designs.
Frequency
More frequent in UK technical discourse due to the historical prevalence of AGRs in the British power grid.
Grammar
How to Use “gas-cooled reactor” in a Sentence
[The/An] gas-cooled reactor [verbs: operates, uses, generates, relies on]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gas-cooled reactor” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The gas-cooled reactor technology was pioneered in Britain.
American English
- The company is investing in gas-cooled reactor designs.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in energy sector reports and investment analyses concerning next-generation nuclear technology.
Academic
A standard term in nuclear engineering textbooks, research papers, and course curricula.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation outside of specific news about nuclear energy.
Technical
The primary and precise term used by nuclear engineers, physicists, and energy policymakers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gas-cooled reactor”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gas-cooled reactor”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gas-cooled reactor”
- Confusing it with 'fast breeder reactor' (which is defined by neutron speed, not coolant).
- Using 'gas reactor' which ambiguously could refer to a reactor powered by natural gas.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Some designs, like High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs), are considered inherently safer due to passive safety features and the chemical stability of coolants like helium, but safety depends on the specific design and engineering.
Common coolants include helium (inert, efficient), carbon dioxide (used in UK AGRs), and nitrogen. Helium is favored in modern designs.
They are less common globally than water-cooled reactors. The UK has the largest fleet of commercial gas-cooled reactors (AGRs), while several countries are developing next-generation HTGR designs.
While no reactor is immune to severe accidents, the design of modern gas-cooled reactors (especially HTGRs with robust fuel) makes them highly resistant to meltdown scenarios seen in water-cooled reactors.
A nuclear reactor in which the heat generated in the core is removed using a gas, such as helium or carbon dioxide, as the primary coolant.
Gas-cooled reactor is usually technical in register.
Gas-cooled reactor: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡæs kuːld riˈæktə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡæs kuld riˈæktər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GAS' keeps it COOL inside the REACTOR. Unlike water-based reactors, it uses a gaseous coolant.
Conceptual Metaphor
A furnace with a fan (the gas) blowing heat away from the fire (the nuclear core).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining characteristic of a gas-cooled reactor?