coolant
kooh luhnt
- n a fluid agent (gas or liquid) that produces cooling; especially one used to cool a system by transferring heat away from one part to another
he added more coolant to the car's radiator
the atomic reactor used a gas coolant
lathe operators use an emulsion of oil and water as a coolant for the cutting tool
- Deprived of the coolant that controls its temperature, the reactor begins melting in its own heat.
- Most commercial reactors guard against meltdown by ensuring that the fuel is always surrounded by circulating coolant, usually ordinary water.
- If a water-moderated reactor loses coolant there may be overheating and even an explosion, but the reaction slows down when coolant is lost.