NUCLEAR REACTORS

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: PHYSICS
Class:: NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
Subclass:: NUCLEAR REACTORS

Description

G21C covers the design, construction, operation, and control of nuclear reactors used for power generation, research, or propulsion. This subclass encompasses reactor types (pressurized water, boiling water, gas-cooled, fast breeder reactors), core designs, fuel elements, coolant systems, and safety mechanisms including containment structures. It includes reactor control systems, neutron moderators, and instrumentation for monitoring reactor performance. Adjacent classes G21D (nuclear fuel elements) and G21F (physical protection of nuclear materials) address specialized fuel and security aspects separately.

Scope Notes

Glossary: Core The central region of a reactor containing fuel and moderator elements, where nuclear fission occurs. Moderator moderators Material used in a thermal nuclear reactor to reduce the velocity of neutrons produced by nuclear fission in order to facilitate chain reaction. Shield shields Means surrounding a reactor to prevent radiation damage to operators etc. | Limiting references: Fusion reactors; hybrid fission-fusion reactors Treating radioactively contaminated materials; Decontamination arrangements therefor Nuclear explosives | Application references: Nuclear power plant Control of nuclear power plant Production of electric energy from fusion or fission reactions

Related Keywords

BREEDING nuclear fuel; breeder materialCHARGING of nuclear reactorsCORE(S) of nuclear reactorsDIAGRIDS in nuclear reactorsconverting nuclear ENERGYproducing ISOTOPES by breeding in reactorsNUCLEAR reactorsatomic PILE(S)producing PLUTONIUMnuclear REACTORS

12 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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G21C 1/00 Reactor types
G21C 11/00 Shielding structurally associated with the reactor
G21C 13/00 Pressure vessels; Containment vessels; Containment in general
G21C 15/00 Cooling arrangements within the pressure vessel containing the core; Selection of specific coolants
G21C 17/00 Monitoring; Testing
G21C 19/00 Arrangements for treating, for handling, or for facilitating the handling of, fuel or other materials which are used within the reactor, e.g. within its pressure vessel
G21C 21/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted to the manufacture of reactors or parts thereof
G21C 23/00 Adaptations of reactors to facilitate experimentation or irradiation
G21C 3/00 Reactor fuel elements or their assemblies; Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
G21C 5/00 Moderator or core structure; Selection of materials for use as moderator
G21C 7/00 Control of nuclear reaction
G21C 9/00 Emergency protection arrangements structurally associated with the reactor