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Normaly, a reactor is shut down by gradualy lowering the control rods into the core of the reactor, which is the opposite of starting the reactor up. The control rods are made from a neutron absorbing material, and they will "soak up" neutrons to diminish the chain reaction and eventually stop it. There is also what is called a "reactor scram" where the control rods are released from their drive mechanisms and allowed to fall into the core. They bottom out in just a couple of seconds, and with the rods in, the chain reaction comes to a screeching halt. In another type of emergency shutdown, certain chemicals that are neutron absorbers and are called "poisons" can be pumped into a fluid moderator (liquid or gas) to break the nuclear chain and shut the reactor down. As a final note, consider that a reactor which has been operating at even a moderate power level continues to generate a lot of heat after shutdown. A lot of it. If some kind of loss of coolant accident (LOCA) occurs, a shutdown is the least of the worries of the operating staff. The core will have to be continuously cooled for days and even weeks afterward to keep the fuel from melting its way out of its cladding. And with a loss of coolant because of, say, a major leak, things will get hairy as the operators scramble to get coolant circulating through the core, or at leasted pumped over it to keep the fuel elements from failing and releasing fission products into the coolant. Ruptured fuel elements are a disaster as they contaminate the primary plant enormously. And if containment fails, these highly radioactive materials get out into the environment.
What else can I help you with?
If you wanted to slow down the chain reaction in a nuclear reactor would you remove or insert the control rods?
To slow down the chain reaction in a nuclear reactor, you would insert the control rods. Control rods absorb neutrons and reduce the number available to sustain the chain reaction, thus slowing down the rate of fission reactions occurring in the reactor core.
What is artificial nuclear reactor?
An artificial nuclear reactor is a device that initiates and controls a sustained nuclear chain reaction. This reaction produces heat, which is used to produce electricity in nuclear power plants. The fission process in these reactors generates energy by splitting atomic nuclei.
How many control rods are there in a nuclear reactor?
The number of control rods in a nuclear reactor can vary depending on the design and size of the reactor. Typically, a nuclear reactor can have anywhere from 50 to 100 control rods. These rods are used to control the rate of the nuclear reaction by absorbing neutrons and regulating the power output of the reactor.
What is an example of a melt down?
Loss of reactor coolant results in lack of nuclear fuel cooling and hence melt down results.
Do moderator in nuclear reactor slows down the neutrons emitted during fission?
Yes, it is the main moderator function in what is called "thermal nuclear reactors"
What does lower control rods result in?
Lowering control rods into a nuclear reactor results in reducing the number of nuclear fission reactions occurring in the reactor core. This process helps to regulate the power output of the reactor by absorbing neutrons and decreasing the rate of nuclear reactions.
To prevent fuel damage decay heat must be removed from the reactor core?
after the reactor shuts down
In a nuclear reactor lowering control rods will result?
In a nuclear reactor, lowering control rods will result in the absorption of more neutrons, which slows down the nuclear chain reaction. This leads to a decrease in the reactor's power output or can even shut down the reactor completely.
What is the Japanese Nuclear Reactor?
A Nuclear Reactor.
What is a melt down?
Meltdown is a term that describes the melting of a nuclear-reactor core as a result of a nuclear accident
What is melt down?
Meltdown is a term that describes the melting of a nuclear-reactor core as a result of a nuclear accident
What is nuclear reactor kinetics?
Nuclear reactor kinetics is the branch of reactor engineering and reactor physics and control that deals with long term time changes in reactor fuel and nuclear reactors.
How long does it take a nuclear reactor rod to cool down?
It can take anywhere from several years to several decades for a nuclear reactor rod to cool down to a level where it can be safely removed from the reactor core and stored. Cooling times vary depending on the type of reactor and the specific isotopes present in the fuel rod.
In a nuclear reactor lowering control rods willresult in?
Lowering control rods in a nuclear reactor will result in the absorption of more neutrons, which decreases the rate of fission reactions and slows down the nuclear chain reaction. This helps to control and regulate the power output of the reactor.
Does South Africa has a nuclear reactor?
yes, south Africa has a nuclear reactor.
Is the sun a nuclear fusion reactor?
Yes, the sun is a nuclear fusion reactor.
What is the difference between nuclear reactor and nuclearpower plant?
a nuclear reactor converts binding energy into heat. a nuclear power plant uses a nuclear reactor to generate electricity.
