The purpose of a nuclear reactor is to create and sustain a fission chain reaction in order to produce heat to make steam to drive turbines and produce electrical power (extremely simplified explanation).
A fission chain reaction is the interaction of neutrons with fissile materials (elements that can be fissioned). Some enriched fuel (such as uranium-238) is introduced into the reactor core. It produces neutrons as radiation. If more fissile material is present ("fuel" such as uranium-235), that interaction repeats to make more neutrons, and so on. A nuclear reactor is designed to sustain a fission chain reaction and control the rate at which that reaction occurs.
The nuclear core of a reactor, where the nuclear fuel is, needs to be shielded so that the radiation and any radioactive components inside do not escape into the general environment.
The primary radiation type inside the core is neutron radiation. One of the best shields for neutron radiation is a hydrogen-dense substance, thus pure water is often used. Water, if circulated in a heat sink system, also serves as a heat-removal method (cooling system).
The enclosure for the core and the water pool is a containment vessel made out of something that is airtight and which shields against other kinds of direct radiation. Steel is a common material, perhaps supplemented by concrete and other reinforcement to guard against being damaged by an earthquake, explosion, or an airplane impact (for example).
There is usually an outer containment building that encloses the reactor containment vessel itself. This is a sort of "second line of defense" in case the reactor is breached. Containment buildings are designed to withstand extremely high internal pressures (such as superheated steam) and forces of almost any direction and realistic magnitude. The specific shape of buildings at a nuclear plant are part of their function. The concave towers that are so symbolic of nuclear power are a common design for cooling towers (and not the reactor core itself). Domes are a common shape for reactor containment buildings for a variety of reasons that have mostly to do with encouraging steam condensation.
In dealing with a nuclear reactor SCRAM stands for Safety Control Rod Activator Mechanism. Nuclear reactors can be quite dangerous.
there are no bad things about the nuclear power reactors
One of the primary functions of a nuclear reactor is to maintain a chain reaction. Also, nuclear reactors are meant to provide a steady flow of neutrons.
Yes, but there are risks associated with every type of power plant. Its simply a matter of understanding those risks and dealing with them. In the case of nuclear reactors, we design whats known as "defense in depth", so that any hypothetical failure, or sequence of failures, including some improbable failures, can be handled.
Yes, thorium was used as a fertile material in nuclear reactors.
Well, as nuclear reactors are nuclear reactors, nuclear reactors are not used inside nuclear reactors.
Nuclear reactors are dangerous because they emit ionizing radiation that damages the body. Nuclear reactors rely on fission so when the atom splits Uranium or Plutonium emits alpha particles, beta particles, x-rays, and gama rays. The most "dangerous" is gamma rays since they can cross though anything but layers of concrete and/lead
Nuclear power reactors are potentially dangerous, we have to make them safe by careful design and operation
Nuclear reactors use nuclear fission.
In dealing with a nuclear reactor SCRAM stands for Safety Control Rod Activator Mechanism. Nuclear reactors can be quite dangerous.
There are 59 nuclear reactors in France.
Nuclear reactors are potentially dangerous and could not be allowed in vehicles on normal public roads
We use nuclear fission in nuclear reactors to tap nuclear energy.
Current nuclear reactors rely on nuclear fission as their nuclear reaction.
There are over 400 nuclear reactors around the world.
there are no bad things about the nuclear power reactors
As of 2010, India has 20 Nuclear Reactors.