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Why do American nuclear plants use light water instead of heavy water in the reactors?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Mainly I believe because the light water PWR was developed for submarines and as compact a reactor as possible was required. Since then of course it (and BWR's) have been up-sized very successfully. Enriched fuel can now be made much more easily and cheaply by centrifuges than by the diffusion method, so to obtain low enriched fuel is more economical. There is also MOX available, though I don't think the US uses this.
See the discussion page as well
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoHeavy water reactors uses heavy water (D2O) as moderator while Light water reactors uses Light water (H2O) as the moderator. Light water reactors are much more expensive than heavy water reactors because they require enriched uranium
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How is plutonium used for an everyday life?
In everyday life (as most people define it) plutonium has no use. Its primary use is in making nuclear weapons. It can also be used as fuel in nuclear reactors instead of or in addition to uranium, but except for small mostly experimental reactors and the French standardized nuclear reactors for power plants these are almost nonexistent.
Where are the nuclear reactors located in the us?
Illinois has most plants of the US states. See www.nrc.gov for a map of all US nuclear plants.
Who made the man-made element plutonium?
If it is man made, plutonium is prepared by human beings in nuclear reactors and recycling plants.
Which metal is used to line the reactors in nuclear power plants?
Often lead, though many different types of metal may be used, as long as they block radiation.
Is fission process possible on earth?
About 3 billion years ago, when U235 was much more common, it did. Look up the Oklo natural reactors in Africa for an example. There were probably other sites too.Manmade nuclear power reactors.Manmade nuclear weapons.
What advances have been possible from the nuclear bomb?
Nuclear power plants, submarines and aircraft carriers propelled by nuclear reactors. In the future, may be all sort of vehicles could have small and very protected nuclear reactors instead of today's fuel.
How many nuclear reactors in Sweden?
Sweden currently has 3 active nuclear power plants with 10 reactors.
Can you direct me to a website with a list of all the nuclear power plants in the world?
I have put a link to the Wikipedia page, "List of nuclear reactors," below. It seems to be pretty good, and includes some reactors that are not in nuclear plants, such as research reactors.
How many reactors usually work in nuclear power plants?
Most plants have two reactors but some have more
How is plutonium used for an everyday life?
In everyday life (as most people define it) plutonium has no use. Its primary use is in making nuclear weapons. It can also be used as fuel in nuclear reactors instead of or in addition to uranium, but except for small mostly experimental reactors and the French standardized nuclear reactors for power plants these are almost nonexistent.
What process release the energy in the nuclear reactors used in power plants?
Nuclear fission
Who provides nuclear energy?
The companies that own and operate nuclear reactors in power plants
How is uranium involved in nuclear reactors?
Uranium is now the most important nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants.
How many U.S. nuclear power plants?
104 operating reactors
How many nuclear power plants are there in the states?
104 operating reactors
What states are agaainst nuclear power and have no nuclear power plants or reactors?
Australia and New Zealand are two
What is uranium used for in Somalia?
Somalia hasn't power nuclear reactors, research nuclear reactors, research institutes for nuclear energy, uranium mines and any plants or laboratories linked to uranium.
