Читать книгу Encyclopedia of Renewable Energy - James Speight G., James G. Speight - Страница 251

A breeder reactor is a type of nuclear reactor which produces more fissile materials than they consume. The reactor is designed to extend the nuclear fuel supply for the generation of electricity, and has even been mistakenly called a potential renewable energy source.

By irradiation of a fissile material such as uranium-238 (²³⁸U) or thorium-232 (²³²Th), the reactor creates more fissile material than is used. Breeder reactors were at first found viable because they made more complete use of uranium fuel than light water reactor. Typically, a breeder reactor creates 30% more fuel than it consumes. After an initial introduction of enriched uranium, the reactor only needs infrequent addition of stable uranium, which is then converted into the fuel.

See: Nuclear Reactor – Breeder Reactor.