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liquid metal reactor

liquid metal reactor

8.1
A nuclear reactor that uses liquid metal to carry heat away
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : reactor de metal líquido
  • Researchers demonstrated the advantages of using a liquid metal reactor for efficient heat transfer in nuclear energy.

Examples

  • Much like liquid metal reactors, MSRs operate at higher temperatures than LWRs and at near atmospheric pressures, and the power generated decreases as the reactor heats up.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The scientists at the lab are testing a new liquid metal reactor that uses sodium as a coolant.

  • Everyone knows liquid metal reactors like Monju are too dangerous.

    Blog text (11)
  • His work led to many of the inherent safety features of liquid metal reactors that later were adopted in the more recent passive, inherently safe Westinghouse advanced water reactors, such as the AP-600.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Many experts believe that liquid metal reactors can improve the safety and performance of nuclear power plants.

Synonyms

reactor
vsliquid metal reactor
  • Specialized
248 6.3

A machine that uses a controlled nuclear reaction to make energy or new elements

uses liquid metal coolant instead of common coolant types
nuclear reactor
vsliquid metal reactor
  • Specialized
42 4.8

A machine that makes heat and electricity by splitting atoms in a controlled way

uses liquid metal coolant rather than other cooling methods
atomic reactor
vsliquid metal reactor
  • Specialized
1 4.3

A machine that splits atoms to make energy for electricity or research

uses liquid metal coolant rather than typical fission cooling
chain reactor
vsliquid metal reactor
  • Specialized
6.3

A machine that makes nuclear energy by splitting atoms in a controlled chain reaction

uses liquid metal coolant focusing on coolant choice not reaction mechanism

How Cooled

liquid metal reactor
  • Specialized
8.1
water-cooled reactor
  • Specialized
6.6
gas-cooled reactor
  • Specialized
7.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

liquid + metal + reactor

The phrase is compositional: 'liquid' modifies 'metal' to form 'liquid metal', and that modifier describes the type of 'reactor'—so a reactor involving liquid metal. This adjective-noun stacking follows standard English (and cross-linguistic) patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can reasonably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Liquid metal reactor describes a reactor that uses liquid metal inside the machine to carry heat away from its center. Picture hot metal flowing like water and taking heat away; that image explains why the name means a reactor that uses metal in liquid form as a 'coolant'.