breederreaktor

A breeder reactor, also known as a breeder reactor or simply a breeder, is a type of nuclear reactor designed to generate more fissile material than it consumes. Unlike conventional reactors, which primarily use fissile materials such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239, breeder reactors convert fertile isotopes, such as uranium-238 or thorium-232, into fissile isotopes.

The primary function of a breeder reactor is to extend the utilization of nuclear fuel resources. For example, in a uranium-based breeder reactor, uranium-238 absorbs a neutron to become uranium-239, which quickly decays into neptunium-239 and then into plutonium-239, a fissile material usable as reactor fuel. Similarly, thorium-based breeders produce uranium-233.

There are several types of breeder reactors, including sodium-cooled fast reactors (FBRs), which use liquid sodium as a coolant, and gas-cooled or lead-cooled designs. Fast reactors operate without a moderator, enabling high neutron energies that facilitate breeding.

Breeder reactors offer advantages like improved fuel efficiency and reduced nuclear waste, as they can utilize or transmute certain waste products into fuel. However, they also pose challenges such as increased complexity, higher costs, and proliferation risks associated with handling and reprocessing plutonium.

Despite these challenges, breeder reactors have been developed and operated in multiple countries, notably France, Russia, India, and Japan. The global interest in breeder technology persists due to its potential role in sustainable nuclear energy and resource preservation, although their widespread adoption remains limited.