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Is A nuclear reactor is really just a source of heat to change water into steam?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Usually, yes.
There are other purposes for nuclear reactors, however. One of these is to produce synthetic isotopes, which are used for a variety of purposes. These include medical diagnosis, medical treatment, various technical purposes, and manufacture of nuclear bombs. Most reactors, however, just heat water to make steam.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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Are nuclear reactors and nuclear power plants the same?
Not really. It depends on what you are trying to do. A nuclear power plant is a power plant that uses a nuclear reactor as its source of energy. A nuclear reactor, on the other hand, is a more generalized term for a device that uses nuclear energy (specifically the release of binding energy from the Strong Atomic Force) to do something. In the general case, we use the reactor to generate energy for the power plant to use in generating electricity. Sometimes, we use the reactor for other, research type things, such as generating a neutron flux to study the physics of nuclide activation.
How are nuclear power plants different from other plants?
The source of the energy is the nuclear reactor, rather than a furnace for burning fossil fuels.
Why do nuclear reactors have to be located near water?
Water is used as coolant in most reactor plants to keep the reactor cool and prevent over heating. They do not necessarily need to be near a source of water; water just has to be available. However, a lot of nuclear reactors are build by a natural source of water so that the water can be used as an emergency source of coolant to keep the reactor covered with water in case of a rupture.
How is californium used in nuclear reactors?
We might use californium as a neutron source in a nuclear reactor. Californium is a neutron emitter, and it can be used to "enhance" start-up abilities of a reactor where the fuel isn't as "good" as it might be in a core of, say, highly enriched uranium.
Is it true that nuclear radiation comes from the decay of atomic nuclei?
Yes, the decay of unstable atomic nuclei is the source of nuclear radiation.
What is the function of a nuclear reactor of a nuclear plant?
simply, the nuclear reactor is the source of heat (or steam) for the nuclear power plant.
What is a nuclear powerstation?
A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station. The heat source is nuclear reactor. Its main point is to produce electricity.
What power source needs to be replaced every fifty years?
nuclear reactor on ship
Are nuclear reactors and nuclear power plants the same?
Not really. It depends on what you are trying to do. A nuclear power plant is a power plant that uses a nuclear reactor as its source of energy. A nuclear reactor, on the other hand, is a more generalized term for a device that uses nuclear energy (specifically the release of binding energy from the Strong Atomic Force) to do something. In the general case, we use the reactor to generate energy for the power plant to use in generating electricity. Sometimes, we use the reactor for other, research type things, such as generating a neutron flux to study the physics of nuclide activation.
How are nuclear power plants different from other plants?
The source of the energy is the nuclear reactor, rather than a furnace for burning fossil fuels.
Why do nuclear reactors have to be located near water?
Water is used as coolant in most reactor plants to keep the reactor cool and prevent over heating. They do not necessarily need to be near a source of water; water just has to be available. However, a lot of nuclear reactors are build by a natural source of water so that the water can be used as an emergency source of coolant to keep the reactor covered with water in case of a rupture.
What is the difference between nuclear power plant and nuclear reactor?
It's really just a matter of degree, all reactors produce some power. Those used in a power plant will produce perhaps 3000 to 5000 Megawatts thermal. Low power reactors producing a few kilowatts are used for experiments, teaching in universities, and for producing radioisotopes by irradiating samples, but reactors in this sort of power level would not be harnessed to produce electricity, the heat produced if large enough would be removed and rejected to the atmosphere or to a water cooling circuit. This makes them simple to operate and to start and stop as required.
Which process is the source of all the thermal energy produced by a nuclear reactor A. Radioactive decayB. Chemical swayC. Nuclear fissionD. Nuclear fusion Plsss helpp?
I thinks its Nuclear fission that’s what I put
Is nuclear waste stored in Colorado?
There are no nuclear power plants in Colorado. The only source of waste might be from a small teaching or medical isotope reactor, I have no information on this.
When was the Beginning of the use as a nuclear energy source?
The first production of electrical power from a nuclear reactor was in the UK at Calder Hall, 1956. Shippingport in the US followed soon after
How is californium used in nuclear reactors?
We might use californium as a neutron source in a nuclear reactor. Californium is a neutron emitter, and it can be used to "enhance" start-up abilities of a reactor where the fuel isn't as "good" as it might be in a core of, say, highly enriched uranium.
Potassium iodide is used in what?
- potassium iodide is added to table salt as a source of iodine- potassium iodide is a food supplement during a nuclear accident in a nuclear reactor- for the preparation of AgI
