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Uranium and Plutonium atoms require nuetrons moving at a certain speed, with a certain amount of kenetic force, to fission properly and often, and to achieve this speed, a neutron moderator is placed between the neutron source and the fuel, which slows the neutrons down by causing them to hit its molecules. Water is often used, since the energy transfer is much more efficient, as hydrogen atoms are almost identical in size to neutrons, possesing only one proton (like two billiard balls striking each other), but hydrogen atoms sometimes absorb neutrons, meaning less get through to cause fissions, and once the concentration of fissionable material drops blow a certain percentage (usualy somewhere around 5%) fission is no longer maintainable. Heavy water posses hydrogen atoms with one extra neutron, so althought the energy transfer is slightly less efficient than with hydrogen atoms, there is much less chance of the atoms abosorbing neutrons, and so many more neutrons get through, allowing the reactor to run on fuel with much lower concetrations of fisionable material (even as low as 0.7%, the natural level of U-235 in Uranium ore). Thus somereacotrs using heavy warer as a neutron moderator (such as the CANDU) can even run on the waste from other, "light water moderated" reactors (light water is just another name for normal water, as opposed to heavy water).
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Explain the working principle of a nuclear reactor?
Nuclear fission is the working principle under which the nuclear reactors operate.
How many people does it take to run a nuclear reactor?
If the reactor is in steady operation, not refuelling, or shutting down/starting up, I would think about 5 on the reactor itself, there will be others in the turbine hall and other equipment. There will be the reactor desk operator, his supervisor in overall charge, one or two plant attendants, and probably a maintenance engineer doing routine checks. This would be per shift, and there would be 4 or 5 shift teams to cover 24/7.
What is heavy water from ww ll?
Heavy water is water formed using higher proportions of deuterium and tritium, unstable and heavier isotopes of hydrogen, for ease of storage of those particles before use in nuclear reactions.
Does neutron absorption speed up the nuclear reactor?
It is the moderator in a nuclear reactor that is used to slow neutrons down in a thermonuclear reactor. The moderator, which is often water, slows the neutrons by providing a "target" for the neutron to slam into. The resulting collision (called a scattering event) will allow the moderator to absorb some of the kinetic energy from the neutron, and that neutron will come away at a lower velocity than it did coming in. The hydrogen in water (it's H2O) has, in most cases, a single proton in its nucleus. As the proton in a hydrogen nucleus has approximately the same mass as a neutron, there will be, in general, a larger amount of energy stripped from the neutron in a given scattering event. (If you consider, say, a scattering even between a golf ball and a bowling ball, the golf ball won't lose much energy to the bowling ball. But if the golf ball undergoes scattering with another golf ball, there is a "better" result and more slowing of the neutron.) In addition to the use of water (both light and heavy water) as a moderator, we also find that graphite (an allotrope of carbon -- pencil lead) and liquid metals are also used as moderators. The same idea applies, and the moderator, whatever one it is, provides a target for higher energy neutrons to slam into. The result of the scattering events is that the neutrons are slowed in the process.
How fast does a nuclear fusion reactor work?
A nuclear fusion reactor works by creating high temperatures and pressures to fuse atomic nuclei together, releasing vast amounts of energy in the process. The reaction itself happens very quickly, with fusion reactions occurring on the order of microseconds. However, sustaining and controlling the reaction to generate continuous energy requires sophisticated equipment and technology.
Why heavy water is used in a nuclear reactor?
Heavy water, also known as deuterium oxide, is used in nuclear reactors as a moderator to slow down neutrons to speeds where they are more likely to cause fission in uranium-235. Normal water can also work as a moderator, but heavy water is preferred as it does not absorb neutrons as readily, allowing for more efficient nuclear reactions. Additionally, heavy water is less prone to radioactive activation compared to ordinary water.
What are the necessary components for a nuclear reactor?
for pressurized light water reactor type, as an example, the nuclear reactor components are * Reactor vessel (that contains the nuclear fuel and surrounded with water and contains control rod for power control and for safety) * reactor coolant pump * steam generator * reactor pressurizer * piping out of the vessel to the pressurizer, from pressurizer to steam generator, from steam generator to reactor coolant pump, and from pump back to the reactor vessel.
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.
Who invented the first nuclear reactor for electrical power?
This is usually credited to Eugene P. Wigner, Leo A. Ohlinger, Gale J. Young, and Alvin M. Weinberg in their US Patent #2,736,696 titled Reactor, applied for August 29, 1945 and granted February 28, 1956. While this patent applies specifically to a heavy water moderated, light water cooled type of power reactor and the vast majority of modern power reactors are derived the the later light water moderated, light water cooled type of power reactor designed by Hyman G. Rickover for the nuclear submarine USS Nautilus, this patent and its inventors have precedence over the work of Rickover. Weinberg specifically worked with Rickover and contributed greatly to the success of Rickover's work with nuclear power reactors.
How do nuclear cooling towers work to regulate the temperature of nuclear power plants?
Nuclear cooling towers work by releasing excess heat from the nuclear power plant into the atmosphere. Water is used to cool down the hot water from the reactor, which then evaporates and releases heat through the tower. This process helps regulate the temperature of the nuclear power plant and prevent overheating.
Explain the working principle of a nuclear reactor?
Nuclear fission is the working principle under which the nuclear reactors operate.
Does nuclear reactors contain uranium-235?
It really depends on the nuclear reactor, but many are built to work specifically with that isotope.
Could the cooling water at nuclear plant be fast frozen?
Nuclear energy is used to boil water for the purpose of generating energy with the steam. Ice would not work. If you are asking about the water running off of the current reactor issue in Japan, no. This would not work either. The water is being used to cool the rods of the reactor's core. This water becomes very hot and turns to steam. You can not freeze this volume of water fast.
When was the first nuclear reactor built?
The first demonstration nuclear reactor was built in USA by Enrico Fermi in Chicago Stadium. Fermi was an Italian Physicist, best known for his work on Chicago Pile-1 (the first nuclear reactor). on 26 June 1954, in the town of Obninsk, near Moscow in the former USSR, the first nuclear power plant was connected to an electricity grid to provide power to residences and businesses. Nuclear energy had crossed the divide from military uses to civilian applications.
How many people work in the nuclear reactors?
The number of people working at a nuclear reactor can vary depending on the size and type of the reactor. Generally, a nuclear power plant may employ several hundred to over a thousand workers, including engineers, technicians, operators, and support staff. Staffing levels also include various roles in safety, security, maintenance, and administration.
What are 5 elements used in nuclear power plants?
The five key elements used in nuclear power plants are uranium fuel rods, control rods, coolant (such as water or gas), reactor pressure vessel, and steam turbine. These elements work together to initiate and sustain the nuclear fission process, produce heat, and generate electricity.
How does a nuclear reactor work?
In brief, a nuclear reactor (as we know them), is a device which uses nuclear fission to generate energy that we can tap to do work. With the nuclear reactor, we use nuclear fuel (usually uranium or plutonium), and we arrange for a nuclear chain reaction to occur within the reactor. That reaction creates a lot of thermal energy (heat) through nuclear fission, and that thermal energy can be transferred into water to create steam. With a lot of steam, we can spin large steam turbines to turn generators to create electricity.There are other questions (with answers) here on WikiAnswers that explain in detail the ins and outs of nuclear reactors and nuclear fusion. Check the Related questions and use those links to investigate further.In an atomic energized power plant much like a fossil-filled force plant water is transformed into steam, which thusly drives turbine generators to create power. The distinction is the wellspring of warmth. At atomic force plants, the warmth to make the steam is made when uranium iotas split called splitting.
