Research Reactor
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The research reactor is a non-power reactor intended for burning fuel efficiently and acting as a neutron source for Breeding Reactors. It replaced the original small nuclear reactor in version 1.0.27X4109. It has to be submerged in water to cool since it does not have the active cooling of a typical power reactor. A Ra226Be Neutron Source or Pu238Be Neutron Source plate is needed to begin the reaction, and then can be removed. It explodes at exactly 1,000°C, so be careful when using strong fuels and several breeders simultaneously. You can observe the temperature as well as outgoing flux with the seven-segment displays in the GUI. It emits Cherenkov radiation when operating as well as gas bubbles of oxyhydrogen formed from the decomposition of water due to the neutron flux.
Use
The research reactor has access to 2 neutron sources and 5 fuel types, 4 of which are highly enriched and are pure fissile isotope material. This allows the reactor to generate high fluxes for breeding. However, despite efforts against it, these fuels will still generate large amounts of heat, even the weakest ones, especially if the reactor lacks proper cooling on all sides using water. The fuels use a method to check flux similar to the RBMK but don't lose strength with depletion. Each fuel has a different function, causing it to create different amounts of flux and heat. You can use a calculator to calculate the flux levels given the fuel setup the same way.
Flux can be checked with the seven-segment display at the top left; higher numbers are usually better, as this will allow for more advanced recipes in the breeding reactor. The middle left display shows the heat of the reactor, a lower number is better as heat is detrimental to the function of the reactor. The display at the bottom left is a control rod extraction percentage input: 100% means full extraction and full power, and 0% means no extraction and an off state; the display must be clicked on to modify the value. Control rods will move swiftly to the target value once inputted.
The reactor has 12 slots for fuel plates. The core is split into vertical and horizontal sections. These sections are isolated from each other, requiring neutron sources to be used on both; however, it allows for more variety in fuel configuration in the process. There are no neutron reflectors in this reactor, by requirement, meaning that the outermost fuel plates will receive the least amount of flux, especially compared to the "inner" fuel plates, causing them to deplete slower. This should be kept in mind, as plates in the center will be exposed to the most flux, so fuel plates with powerful functions should be managed properly with these mechanics in mind.
Breeder reactors use the total flux value, with each recipe requiring a minimum flux level needed to be bred. Flux can be increased for a breeding reactor by using different fuel configurations or using multiple reactors. Given the expensive nature of most of the fuels, the reactor should be shut down when not being actively used for breeding.
Fuels
Fuels have 2 statistics: flux function and yield. The function is used to calculate the flux outputted, given an input flux. Yield is how many interactions can occur before depletion. Radiation increases as depletion does, due to fission, decay, and neutron capture products.
Ra226Be
The weakest "fuel", has a flux function of , meaning it has a constant output flux level regardless of incoming flux. It also has a small yield of 1.3 million.
It has a starting radiation level of 3.75 RAD/s and emits 22.5 RAD/s when depleted. This is due to the buildup of Polonium-210.
After recycling, it results in 2 Beryllium nuggets, 2 Polonium-210 nuggets, 1 tiny pile of coal powder, and 1 Lead nuggets.
Pu238Be
The second weakest "fuel," but the best neutron source with a constant output flux of . It has the lowest yield of all fuels, at 1 million.
It has a starting radiation level of 5 RAD/s and emits only 1 RAD/s once depleted. This is due to the decay of the Plutonium-238.
After recycling, it results in 1 Beryllium nugget, 1 Plutonium-238 nugget, 2 tiny piles of coal powder, and 2 Lead nuggets.
MOX
Third weakest fuel, has a flux function of . It has a high yield of 2.4 million.
It has a starting radiation level of 2.5 RAD/s and emits 187.5 RAD/s when depleted.
After recycling, it results in 1 tiny pile of Strontium-90 powder, 3 Reactor Grade Plutonium nuggets, 1 tiny pile of Caesium-137 powder, and 4 bits of Nuclear Waste (Generic).
Uranium-235
A common fuel type for research reactors, it has a decent flux function of . It has an average yield of 2.2 million.
It has a starting radiation level of 1 RAD/s and emits 100 RAD/s when depleted.
After recycling, it results in 1 nugget of Neptunium-237, 1 nugget of Plutonium-238, 1 nugget of Technetium-99, and 6 bits of generic nuclear waste.
Uranium-233
An alternate to Uranium-235, it has a slightly stronger function of due to its lower critical mass. It has an average yield of 2.2 million.
It has a starting radiation level of 5 RAD/s and emits 500 RAD/s when depleted.
After recycling, it results in 1 nugget of Uranium-235, 1 tiny pile of Iodine-131 powder, 1 tiny pile of Strontium-90 powder, and 6 bits of generic nuclear waste.
Plutonium-239
A very strong fuel, it has a flux function of and is easily one of the best choices for advanced breeding. It has an average yield of 2 million.
It has a starting radiation level of 5 RAD/s and emits 500 RAD/s when depleted.
After recycling, it results in 2 nuggets of Plutonium-240, 1 nugget of Technetium-99, 1 tiny pile of Caesium-137, and 5 bits of generic nuclear waste.
Schrabidium-326
An extremely strong fuel, it has a flux function of . It has an average yield of 2 million.
It has a starting radiation level of 15 RAD/s and emits 1,500 RAD/s when depleted.
After recycling, it results in 1 nugget of Solinium (Schrabidium-327), 1 tiny pile of Neodymium powder, 1 nugget of Tantalium, and 6 bits of generic nuclear waste.
Warning
HEP plate fuel should be used with caution; Plutonium-239's low critical mass allows for a runaway chain reaction, causing a meltdown. This can be mitigated by the usage of a Reactor Remote Control Block or the manual use of the reactor's adjustable control rods; allowing for very high fluxes.
Trivia
- Some real research reactors use plate fuel as well since it allows for high flux and better cooling. However, these plates are usually encased in metal cladding before insertion into the reactor.