sodium-cooled
Liquid metal-cooled
Sodium-cooled describes systems, especially nuclear reactors, that use liquid sodium as a coolant rather than water.
Sodium transfers heat efficiently and doesn't need to be pressurized, but it reacts violently with water and air, requiring careful handling: sodium-cooled fast reactors, a sodium-cooled engine design.
Of atomic energy
- fissionNuclear breakup releasing energy
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- neutronUncharged nuclear particle
criticality · electricity · megawatt · containment · moderator · radioactive · isotope · baseload
Fluid-moving machine
- pipingTubes for fluid transport
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- circulationMovement through a system
- pressurizedHeld at elevated atmospheric force
corrosion-resistant · stainless-steel · welding · maintenance · inspection
Cessation of operations
- containmentPreventing hostile expansion
- fire-suppressionPutting out active flames
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- exothermicReleasing energy as heat
hydrogen · double-walled · monitoring · redundancy · fail-safe · shielding · radiation
Testing new methods
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- decommissionedRemoved from active service
- legacyWhat's passed down
nuclear
Of atomic energy
neutron · criticality · electricity · megawatt · containment · moderator · radioactive · isotope · baseload · grid
pump
Fluid-moving machine
- pipingTubes for fluid transport
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- circulationMovement through a system
pressurized · corrosion-resistant · stainless-steel · welding · maintenance · inspection
shutdown
Cessation of operations
- containmentPreventing hostile expansion
- fire-suppressionPutting out active flames
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
exothermic · hydrogen · double-walled · monitoring · redundancy · fail-safe · shielding · radiation
experimental
Testing new methods
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- decommissionedRemoved from active service
legacy · pioneering · 1950s · Idaho · France · Japan · Russia