Question

In which reactor is fertile material converted into initial fissile material?

(a) Breeder reactor

(b) Fast reactor

(c) Burner reactor

(d) Thermal reactor

This question was posed to me in unit test.

My question comes from Nuclear Reactor Components in chapter Nuclear Power Plant of Energy Engineering

Answer 1

Right option is (a) Breeder reactor

Explanation: A breeder reactor is a nuclear reactor that generates more fissile material than it consumes. In this reactor fertile material is converted into initial fissile material. For e.g. natural uranium is the fuel, thorium is converted into U^233.