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What nuclear reaction is currently used to produce nuclear energy in nuclear reactors?
Startrekvoyager
We use nuclear fission in nuclear reactors to tap nuclear energy.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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Is nuclear fission currently used to produce electricity?
Absolutely. All commercial and military nuclear reactors, which are used to generate electricity, use fission.
Do nuclear reactors produce energy?
yes
What is the use of nuclear reactors?
To produce electricity
Good way to use nuclear fission?
In nuclear reactors, to produce electricity
Do you currently use combustion to produce nuclear energy in nuclear reactors?
No. The heat from the reactor is used to boil water. The steam from said water is used to turn turbines which produces electricity. No, there is no combustion in a nuclear reactor. Nuclear energy does not need combustion to start it, there is no chemical process involved. It works simply by a neutron chain reaction.
Is nuclear reactors and nuclear energy the same thing?
Nuclear energy is released when U-235 undergoes fission, and that takes place in nuclear reactors (or nuclear weapons). So a reactor is a thing constructed to produce nuclear energy.
How are breeder reactors and nuclear reactor different?
The breeder reactor produce more fissile fuel than what is consumed while this is not the case for other nuclear reactors.
How are nuclear reactors different from breeder reactors?
Most nuclear reactors, in general, are designed and built to produce usable energy. The energy helps supply public demand for electricity, or provide propulsion for a combat vessel at sea, especially submarines. Some nuclear reactors are built for research only, to learn more about nuclear power and about better ways to utilize it. Nuclear reactors do not emit atmospheric contaminants like other energy-making processes do. They are not like combustion engines, and require no oxygen to burn for their function. Breeder reactors are a different story indeed. They do produce usable energy, but in too many cases their design purpose is to "breed" more fissionable material during the reaction process.
What does a nuclear reactor produce?
In a nuclear power plant, the nuclear reactors are (generally) fission reactors that split atoms (of nuclear fuel) through a continuous, controlled neutron chain reaction. The primary useful product of a nuclear reactor is heat. The heat is used to generate steam that will drive steam turbines to generate electric power. Reactors are also used to produce nuclear material that is then applied to medicine or to make sources for radiography (x-ray pictures of welds and stuff) and other applications. There are other applications, like the generation of plutonium which is used for weapons or fuel for other reactors. Most reactors are designed, constructed and used to generate electric power. These reactors are set up to deliver large quantities of heat that is used to produce steam. This steam is used to drive steam-driven turbines, which generate electricity. There is a ton of information about the types of reactors and the applications to which they are put available from our friends at Wikipedia. A link is provided.
How are nuclear reactors useful?
They produce electrical energy. Humans need a lot of that.
How do coolant systems work in nuclear reactors?
Coolant Systems on a Nuclear Reactor works by pumping large amounts of Sea Water into the reactors to cool it down and produce steam.
Why plutonium is important?
Plutonium is used as nuclear fuel for nuclear reactors to produce electric energy. Also plutonium is indispensable for nuclear weapons.
