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What is the process of refining uranium to the form used in the reactor?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Its called enrichment and it can be done many different ways. Most ways of enriching uranium require the use of what is probably the most corrosive, toxic, and violently reactive with water chemicals there is: uranium hexafluoride UF6. uranium hexafluoride will corrode almost all metals except pure nickle. uranium hexafluoride attacks all organic compounds. uranium hexafluoride on contact with water ignites and can explode.
Enrichment methods using uranium hexafluoride include:
- gaseous diffusion
- thermal diffusion
- centrifuge
- LASER separation
- electromagnetic separation, aka calutron, aka mass spectrometer
- plasma separation
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
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What radioisotope is used as the fuel for a nuclear reactor?
There are two radioisotopes that serve as fuel for a nuclear reactor. The first is uranium-235, which is a constituent of natural uranium. U-235 is a "fissile" isotope -- i.e., the one that splits when it absorbs a neutron of a certain energy. When a reactor starts up with a fresh load of fuel, all of the early activity involves U-235. This splitting, or fissioning, of U-235 atoms releases energy in the form of heat. The production of heat is the whole purpose of certain types of nuclear reactors. This heat converts water into steam to turn a turbine generator and make electricity. Fission also releases neutrons. These neutrons sometimes are absorbed into another uranium isotope, uranium-238, another constituent of natural uranium which is also present in nuclear fuel. When U-238 absorbs a neutron, it eventually becomes plutonium-239. Pu-239 is another fissile isotope, i.e., it also fissions when struck by a neutron of a certain energy. So the two isotopes that are used as fuel for a nuclear reactor are uranium-235 and plutonium-239. The former gets the reactor going; the latter is made inside the reactor. Some nuclear reactors are designed solely to produce neutrons. These are research reactors. Neutron interactions with other materials are of great interest to a great many scientists and engineers.
Is uranium non flammable?
Uranium is toxic and radioactive; also uranium is pyrophoric in powdered form or in high speed projectiles on impact.
What is the noun for reactive?
The noun form of the adjective reactive is reactiveness.The related nouns are reactant (The material that reacts), reactor (The apparatus which contains the reaction), and reaction (The process the reactant undergoes).
Name the element once enriched can form the core of a nuclear bomb?
Uranium hexafluoride (hex) is a compound of uranium that becomes a gas when heated. In gaseous form, it can be "enriched". Enriched uranium is needed for research reactors, most non-Canadian power reactors, and bombs.
If 5 grams of oxygen combines with 37.2 grams of uranium to form uranium oxide how many grams of the oxide are formed?
32,895 g of triuraniumoctaoxide (U3O8).
Mineral that powers the nuclear reactor?
Uranium in oxide form, UO2.
What is the fuel in a fission reactor?
Uranium enriched to about 5% U-235, in oxide form UO2
Which form of energy is released by uranium and plutonium in an atomic reactor?
This is the formidable energy of the nuclear fission.
How many pounds of uranium are in a nuclear reactor?
The quantity depends on: the type of the reactor, power of the reactor, enrichment of uraniu, chemical form of the fuel, etc. For a research reactor some kilograms, for a power reactor more than 100 tonnes/year.
What is an atomic pile?
An atomic pile is an early form of nuclear reactor fuelled by uranium and moderated with graphite.
How the plutonium is form by natural uranium?
plutonium can only form from uranium in a nuclear reactor. since the last natural reactors on earth shut down about 3 billion years ago (oklo) it can't happen naturally now.
Is uranium safe to use?
Depending of the use, depending of the chemical and physical form, the protective precautions applied, quantity, if it is irradiated in a nuclear reactor or not, etc.
This energy source uses a rare metal called uranium for fuel?
A nuclear reactor is a plant which deliver electricity and (or) heat.The function principle is the release of energy from nuclear fission of fissile materials as the isotope uranium-235.
What weapon which used the main extraction of pitchblende as fuel?
Pitchblende is uranium ore, so any nuclear weapon which used uranium in some form or other (tamper, core, used with plutonium, secondary casing) would need uranium, which is initially obtained from the mining and refining of pitchblende, for example, Little Boy.
How do you change uranium into fuel for nuclear energy?
Uranium is the fuel for nuclear energy. In most reactors it is used in the form of uranium dioxide, UO2, which is made into small cylinders 10mm diameter, and loaded into tubes made of zircaloy which are then sealed. A number of these tubes are then made up into a fuel assembly which is loaded and unloaded as a unit in and out of the reactor.
Can nuclear wastes cause explosions?
Nuclear waste can not case an explosion is it's spent form. Once a reactor is done with Uranium rods as fuel they are put into lead lined containers and transported to spent fuel storage. A nuclear reactor can explode from hydrogen build up in the containment vessel, this is due to the reaction going on in the steam generation process, this does not happen in nuclear waste storage facilities.
What is the verb form to the word refinery?
The verb form of refinery is refine.Other verbs are refines, refining and refined."We are refining the wine"."All the stocks have been refined".
