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Reactions that involve nuclei, called nuclear reactions, result in a tremendous amount of energy. Two types are fission and fusion.
Nuclear reactor
In a fission reactor, control is implemented by inserting control rods into the reactor. These are made of a material that absorbs neutrons, and prevents a reaction from taking place.
Heavy water (deuterium) functions as a moderator. It slows down fast neutrons released by fission reactions in order to allow the reaction to be sustained. Fast neutrons pass through the reactor before initiating another fission reaction.
A nuclear reactor is a facility which produce electricity and heat from the fission of uranium or plutonium.The energy released by fission of uranium-235 (or other isotopes) is immense compared to the energy content of fossil fuels.
The uranium 235 atoms in the nuclear fuel are what actually fission, or split into two other atoms. The uranium is in ceramic fuel pellets that are inserted into fuel rods, that make up fuel elements, that are in the reactor core that is located in the reactor vessel of the nuclear power plant. After the fuel has been in the reactor it begins to produce plutonium 239 atoms within the fuel which will also undergo a fission reaction.
Produce heat (energy) from nuclear fission.
It is a device where a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction occurs.
It is a device where a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction occurs.
Nuclear fission, not to be confused with fusion.
the reactor vessel
Reactions that involve nuclei, called nuclear reactions, result in a tremendous amount of energy. Two types are fission and fusion.
Reactions that involve nuclei, called nuclear reactions, result in a tremendous amount of energy. Two types are fission and fusion.
Basically a chain reaction (nuclear or chemical) is a self sustaining auto-catalytic reaction.In a nuclear reactor it is a neutron chain reaction, where each neutron released in every fission event can trigger another fission event. In a nuclear reactor the excess neutrons must be disposed of, which is the purpose of the control rods so that the reaction can be kept at some desired constant rate.
Fission refers to a nuclear reaction wherein a heavy nucleus splits spontaneously, with the release of energy. The ideal location of fission is in a power plant inside a nuclear reactor.
Nuclear reactor
An example of nuclear fission might be a nuclear weapon. In this device, sub-critical masses of fissionable material are driven together by conventional explosives. This "assembles" a critical mass, and a chain reaction will follow. That is a nuclear fission chain reaction. In another example, a nuclear reactor has its control rods pulled and achieves criticality. It is brought to operating temperature and generates heat to make steam and drive turbines. The reactor operates on the principle of nuclear fission.