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What is the length of a reactor core with 1 cm diameter fuel rods?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Specifying the diameter of fuel rods (1 cm) does not really allow estimates of the length of the reactor core in which they are used. (How many rods in a fuel bundle, and how many fuel bundles in the core?) Keep in mind that the core will end up in a shape that is engineered to use the fuel most efficiently. This means that really short and fat core geometry is out, and so is long skinny geometry. The ideal core shape will probably end up roughly cylindrical, and perhaps with it being roughly as long as its diameter. If you have a lot of fuel rods in a lot of fuel bundles, then they will be longer than a more modest amount of fuel rods in a smaller number of bundles. A reactor core in a shape that approximates a soda can or tuna can is going to be avoided, and a shape somewhat more like a soup can is better. Of the first two, the former would be a bit too long, and the latter too short. The "soup can" geometry will support better operation, more even fuel burn, and more desirable operating characteristics.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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How long are the fuel rods typically left in the reactor core in a BWR or a PWR?
The length of time we see fuel rods left in the core of a reactor will depend on the time it takes to deplete the nuclear fuel in those rods. Reactor design, specifically fuel rod design, and the rate at which the fuel is consumed during operation all have an effect. Typical life of the fuel in a nuclear reactor at a power station is several years.
What part of a nuclear reactor system contains uranium?
The central active core fuel assemblies.
What fuel is used in fast breeder reactor?
Mainly Plutonium fuel. They are usually started on highly enriched uranium (i.e., weapons grade) fuel, with a breeding blanket of depleted uranium surrounding the core. Over time the breeding blanket is periodically changed and the old one reprocessed to extract plutonium; which is used to make replacement fuel for the reactor (and sometimes others). So the reactor starts on uranium fuel and each time the fuel is replaced it transitions gradually to plutonium fuel. It is also possible to tune a breeder reactor to operate as a plutonium burner (without breeding new fuel). Such a reactor would burn plutonium only. This has been suggested as an effective means of disposing of the current "excess" of plutonium removed from retired nuclear weapons.
What are the functions of pressure vessel and turbine in a nuclear reactor?
The pressure vessel contains the reactor core with its fuel, coolant, moderator, control elements, and emergency systems. The turbine is the device that on receiving the steam it spins and turns the electric generators to produce electricity.
What happens when a nuclear reactor reaches the end of its life?
When a reactor has burned enough of its fuel that it cannot be made to go critical by pulling all the control rods all the way out, it has reached the end of its useful life. There is a lot of unburned fuel left in the fuel elements, but not enough to achieve criticality the way the reactor core is set up. (Only a small percentage of the fuel is actually burned.) Usually the operators of a nuclear plant will take a reactor out of service and refuel it a bit before this. And military reactors will be taken offline sooner and refueled because of the requirement that the reactor be able to be brought critical at what is called the "peak xenon" point. Generally speaking, the core is removed and put in a storage pool that provided cooling and shielding. The core will remain there until it can be disassembled into fuel bundles and the bundles packed up and moved to a long-term storage facility for a century or a few. It is unusual that the fuel elements are reprocessed to remove the remaining fuel because of the presence of a lot of extremely radioactive fission fragments.
How long are the fuel rods typically left in the reactor core in a BWR or a PWR?
The length of time we see fuel rods left in the core of a reactor will depend on the time it takes to deplete the nuclear fuel in those rods. Reactor design, specifically fuel rod design, and the rate at which the fuel is consumed during operation all have an effect. Typical life of the fuel in a nuclear reactor at a power station is several years.
In what part of a nuclear reactor is the fuel is located?
Fuel in a nuclear reactor is located in the core of the reactor. It is there that the fuel, which is sealed (welded) inside plates or tubes, is situated in fuel bundles.
What are fuel cells in a neclear reactor?
Fuel cells are an important part of a nuclear reactor. The component that powers the nuclear reactor is the reactor core and the fuel cells are found inside and hold uranium dioxide.
Why does the core of the reactor have a moderator?
The core of the reactor contains the nuclear fuel. Having a moderator in place within the core ensures that the nuclear fuel is processed at an accurate time duration. This can prevent serious problems from occurring within the entire nuclear reactor.
What is in the core of a nuclear reactor?
The core of the nuclear reactor includes:nuclear fuel elements (composed of the fuel meat covered with cladding)reactor coolantreactor moderator (for thermal reactors)control elementsmeasuring instrumentsstructural and support structures
What is a part of a nuclear power plant that undergoes a fission reaction?
Nuclear fission takes place in the nuclear fuel rods that are placed in the reactor core that is situated in the reactor pressure vessel. The reactor pressure vessel is usually situated inside the reactor containment.
The part of a nuclear reactor in which the fuel is located is called the?
core
What part of the nuclear powerplant does the chain reaction occur?
In the reactor core, which is the volume filled with the fuel assemblies
To prevent fuel damage decay heat must be removed from the reactor core?
after the reactor shuts down
What part of the nuclear reactor is the fuel located in?
The nuclear fuel is found in the fuel rods. These fuel rods are formed into fuel bundles called fuel assemblies, and together they make up the reactor core.
Large chamber where fuel rods are located?
Nuclear reactor core
What part of a nuclear reactor would most likely contain plutonium?
This part is the core of the nuclear reactor containing the nuclear fuel.
