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Control rods absorb excess neutrons. By withdrawing them the power level of the reactor goes up. By inserting them the power level of the reactor goes down. They act similar to the throttle control on airplane engines.

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Is a control rod in nuclear reactor a hollow tube?

Varies. A hollow control rod can act as a "neutron trap." The moderator in the hollow center helps slow the fast neutrons into the thermal region for increased absorption by the surrounding absorbing material such as Boron.


What is the abbreviation SCRAM standing for in nuclear reactors?

This Abbreviation SCRAM stands for Safety Control Rod Axe Man. The very early nuclear reactors were equipped with a safety control rod that is kept high above and away from the reactor core. This safety control rod was attached to a rope passing over a wheel and going down where the end of the rope is fixed at a lower point. Then a man with axe is always keeping alert and watching the reactor safe operation. In case of emergency, he cuts the rope with the axe and the safety control rod drops by gravity inside the reactor core and stops the nuclear chain fission reaction and consequently stops reactor operation.


How does the control rod affect the rate of reaction in the nuclear reactor?

A control rod is made of a neutron absorbing material. Boron is common. When the control rod is withdrawn (pulled out) of the reactor, the fission reaction rate increases. When that control rod is inserted, the reaction rate decreases. There are other factors that control the reaction rate, but the rods can be considered as the way to start up or shut down the reactor by pulling or inserting them.


How long does it take a nuclear reactor rod to cool down?

It can take anywhere from several years to several decades for a nuclear reactor rod to cool down to a level where it can be safely removed from the reactor core and stored. Cooling times vary depending on the type of reactor and the specific isotopes present in the fuel rod.


What is the nuclear reactor of a power plant?

The nuclear reactor of a nuclear power plant is usually considered to be the core and the pressure vessel in which it is encased. The control rods, which are in the core (and pulled some or all of the way out to run the reactor) have their associated rod drive motors on top of the pressure vessel. Instrumentation ports are up there, too. All of these things are generally considered to be the "nuclear reactor" portion of the primary system in the plant. A link is provided to a picture posted at Wikipedia. It has a portion of it colored to show the reactor core, but the pressure vessel is "cut away" to view the core. The control rods (#1 in the drawing) are shown as being on top. That's incorrect. The rod drive motors and control rod lead ("leed" and not "led") screws are up there. (The lead screws connect the control rods, which are down in among the fuel bundles, to the rod drive motors, which are up on top of the pressure vessel's cap.) The rods belong in the core, or in the area above the core when they are pulled out. The whole thing, the core, the vessel, and the rod drive motors as well as the instrumentation on top are considered to be the "nuclear reactor" in a power plant. If asked to identify the picture, the most correct response is probably, "It's a cut-away drawing of a nuclear reactor." That means everything in the picture is part of the nuclear reactor.

Related Questions

Is a control rod in nuclear reactor a hollow tube?

Varies. A hollow control rod can act as a "neutron trap." The moderator in the hollow center helps slow the fast neutrons into the thermal region for increased absorption by the surrounding absorbing material such as Boron.


What does scram mean for a nuclear reactor?

In dealing with a nuclear reactor SCRAM stands for Safety Control Rod Activator Mechanism. Nuclear reactors can be quite dangerous.


What is the purpose of boron in nuclear reactors?

Boron is used inside a nuclear reactor inside a control rod which is used to 'soak' up the neutrons inside the nuclear reactor, a control rod can be used to control the rate of fission inside a nuclear reactor.


What is the abbreviation SCRAM standing for in nuclear reactors?

This Abbreviation SCRAM stands for Safety Control Rod Axe Man. The very early nuclear reactors were equipped with a safety control rod that is kept high above and away from the reactor core. This safety control rod was attached to a rope passing over a wheel and going down where the end of the rope is fixed at a lower point. Then a man with axe is always keeping alert and watching the reactor safe operation. In case of emergency, he cuts the rope with the axe and the safety control rod drops by gravity inside the reactor core and stops the nuclear chain fission reaction and consequently stops reactor operation.


What is in a nuclear reactor in a control rod?

Control rods absorb excess neutrons. By withdrawing them the power level of the reactor goes up. By inserting them the power level of the reactor goes down. They act similar to the throttle control on airplane engines.


What material is a control rod typically made of, and how is it utilized in nuclear reactors?

A control rod in a nuclear reactor is typically made of materials like boron, cadmium, or hafnium. These materials are used because they can absorb neutrons, which helps regulate the nuclear reaction by controlling the rate of fission. When the control rod is inserted into the reactor core, it absorbs neutrons and slows down the reaction. Conversely, when the control rod is removed, more neutrons are available to sustain the reaction and increase power output.


How does the control rod affect the rate of reaction in the nuclear reactor?

A control rod is made of a neutron absorbing material. Boron is common. When the control rod is withdrawn (pulled out) of the reactor, the fission reaction rate increases. When that control rod is inserted, the reaction rate decreases. There are other factors that control the reaction rate, but the rods can be considered as the way to start up or shut down the reactor by pulling or inserting them.


How many control rods are there in a nuclear reactor?

The number of control rods in a nuclear reactor can vary depending on the design and size of the reactor. Typically, a nuclear reactor can have anywhere from 50 to 100 control rods. These rods are used to control the rate of the nuclear reaction by absorbing neutrons and regulating the power output of the reactor.


What is nuclear reactor kinetics?

Nuclear reactor kinetics is the branch of reactor engineering and reactor physics and control that deals with long term time changes in reactor fuel and nuclear reactors.


Can you increase the thermal power of a nuclear reactor without changing the core of the reactor?

Yes, we can increase the thermal power of a nuclear reactor without changing the core of the reactor; primarily by:increasing the coolant mass flow rate,modifying the control rod patterns, andupgrading the turbo generator system


How long does it take a nuclear reactor rod to cool down?

It can take anywhere from several years to several decades for a nuclear reactor rod to cool down to a level where it can be safely removed from the reactor core and stored. Cooling times vary depending on the type of reactor and the specific isotopes present in the fuel rod.


Was there a radiation power plant explosion in the US?

On January 3, 1961 a nuclear reactor located at the Nuclear Reactor Testing Station, near Idaho Falls, ID, suffered a STEAM explosion while undergoing maintenance. While changing control rod motors one control rod was accidently pulled too far out of the reactor. The reactor instantly went critical, super heated the cooling water to steam, and the steam expolded. It was NOT a nuclear explosion. Three Naval personnel were killed. Two died of radiation before they could leave the building, the third was pinned to the roof by a control rod and apparently died immediately.