Reattori

Reattori is the Italian plural form of reattore, and in technical contexts it refers to devices that sustain a controlled chemical or nuclear reaction. In most discussions, reattori denote nuclear reactors used to generate power, though the term can also describe chemical reactors in industry.

Nuclear reattori use controlled fission of fissile material to release heat. Core components include fuel, a moderator to slow neutrons, a coolant to remove heat, control rods to adjust reactivity, and a containment to limit radioactivity. The reactor is kept near criticality; the heat is transferred to a secondary loop that turns water into steam to drive turbines. Safety systems include redundant cooling, emergency shutdown (scram), and multiple containment barriers; operation is regulated by national authorities and international bodies such as the IAEA.

Common designs include pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs). Others use heavy water, gas cooling, or fast neutron spectra. Each design balances factors such as safety, efficiency, and fuel utilization, and they are grouped by how they maintain and remove heat, how they convert heat to usable energy, and how neutron flux is controlled.

Chemical reattori are vessels or systems where chemical reactions occur. Types include batch reactors, continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTRs), and plug flow reactors. Key variables are temperature, pressure, concentration, residence time, and mixing; catalysts and heat exchange influence performance. Reactions are designed to maximize yield, selectivity, and safety, with materials and containment chosen to handle reactive or hazardous substances.

History and usage: the term reattori encompasses both nuclear and chemical contexts. In nuclear history, early controlled reactors enabled research and electricity generation, while chemical reactors underpin a wide range of industrial syntheses and materials production.