intermediate reactor

An intermediate reactor is a type of nuclear reactor classified by the energy of the neutrons that cause fission. Unlike thermal reactors, which slow neutrons down to thermal equilibrium using a moderator, intermediate reactors operate with neutrons having energies between thermal and fast reactor levels, typically from 0.5 electron volt to thousands of electron volts.1

These reactors require higher concentrations of fissile material to achieve criticality compared to thermal reactors. However, they are more efficient at converting fertile material into fissile material, with some designs capable of producing more than one new fissile atom for each one destroyed, classifying them as breeder reactors. The core of a nuclear reactor contains the fuel, fuel cladding, coolant, and moderator, with fission energy produced in this central region. Safety is paramount in reactor design, with measures to prevent and mitigate the release of radioactivity.1234