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They may become important in the future but are not at the moment. This type of reactor has been built as prototypes, but is not in commercial use. The importance is that the present type of reactors in service (mostly PWR and BWR, but also PHWR and AGR) all use Uranium 235 as the fissile material, and this may become scarce in future years, though supplies are probably secure for another 50 years or so. When natural uranium is enriched in U235 there is depleted uranium left behind, this has little 235 but is mostly 238. If this is irradiated in a fast reactor it will produce Plutonium, which can then be used as the feed fuel for that reactor and others, so securing a further supply of nuclear fuel. Water cannot be used in a fast reactor as it moderates or slows the neutrons, and liquid metals (sodium or sodium/potassium) have been experimented with. The concept does work but so far is not commercially attractive. This type of prototype experiment can only be done with government funds and at the moment there is not much activity except design studies. Quite a large prototype was built at Dounreay in Scotland but financial support was rmoved and it is now being de-commissioned. See Wikipedia 'Fast Breeder Reactor'

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Does liquid sodium is used as a coolant in nuclear reactors?

Yes, liquid sodium is used as a coolant in some types of nuclear reactors, known as sodium-cooled fast reactors. These reactors use liquid sodium to transfer heat away from the reactor core, which helps generate electricity. Sodium's high heat capacity and low neutron absorption make it an effective coolant for these types of reactors.


How much temperature can be controlled by liquid sodium in nuclear reactors?

Liquid sodium has been used as a coolant in fast reactors, because it does not slow down and absorb fast neutrons. It does not control the nuclear reaction directly, for that variable neutron absorbers are required.


What metal do power stations use as a liquid cooler?

Most current nuclear power plants just use ordinary wateras coolant.However experimental reactors have been built using:MercuryNaK - Sodium Potassium alloyLeadSolder - Tin Lead alloyOil (which also acts as moderator to slow neutrons)etc.NaK was the most common in fast breeder power reactors.


What is the coolant used in kalpakkam power station in India?

Kalpakkam has both Thermal reactor (Madras Atomic Power Station) and Fast Breeder Reactor -FBTR and PFBR (Under construction). In MAPS (thermal reactor) it is Heavy Water (D2O) Which acts as a coolant as well as moderator, where as in Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) and Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) Sodium (Na) is used as coolant. Since there should not any moderators for fast reactors D2O will not be used as coolant in fast reactors.


Liquid sodium can be used to cool nuclear reactors. If it takes 1395 g to fill a contained of 1500 mL what is the density of the liquid sodium?

1395g/1500mL = 0.93g/mLCome on its simple math!Mass/Volume = Density


What has the author Chauncey Starr written?

Chauncey Starr has written: 'Sodium graphite reactors' -- subject(s): Sodium graphite reactors


What is the most common coolant used in nuclear reactors?

The most common coolant used in nuclear reactors is water, in either liquid or steam form. Water provides effective heat transfer properties and is readily available and cost-effective. Other coolants, such as liquid sodium or gas, are used in specialized reactors but water-cooled reactors are the most prevalent.


What happens in a breeder reactor?

A breeder reactor is a type of power reactor that operates without a moderator to slow the neutrons. This requires either Uranium fuel enriched to at least 20% Uranium-235 or Plutonium fuel to operate at critical without Uranium-238 in the core capturing the fast neutrons and stopping the chain reaction. Most breeder reactors use a liquid metal coolant (water is both coolant and moderator so it cannot be used) like liquid Sodium, NaK, or Mercury in their primary loop. The core of a breeder reactor is surrounded with a "breeding blanket" of either natural or depleted Uranium plates. The Uranium-238 in this blanket captures neutrons escaping the core and "breeds" Plutonium and other transuranic elements. Periodically plates of the "breeding blanket" are replaced and processed to extract the Plutonium and sometimes other transuranics to make new fuel for that reactor and other reactors. A well tuned breeder reactor can make several times the nuclear fuel it consumes in its lifetime.There was discussion some years back of using significantly detuned breeder reactors to rapidly destroy the excess of weapons grade Uranium and Plutonium resulting from dismantling of weapons retired due to treaty limits. Not much seems to have happened with that idea.


What is liquid sodium?

Liquid sodium is a silvery-white metallic element that is used in various industrial applications, such as in cooling systems and nuclear reactors. It has a low melting point and is highly reactive with air and water, making it important to handle with caution due to its flammability and potential for violent reactions.


How sodium is used in nuclear reactor?

Some early and some experimental reactors used sodium as the primary coolant.


Can liquid electrolyte which does not have sodium molecules conduct sodium ions?

no liquid electrolyte which does not have sodium molecules conduct sodium ions because when liquid electrolyte does not have sodium molecules . so there r no sodium molecules and hence there r no any sodium ions. so how can liquid electrolyte conduct sodium ions.


Why sodium is used in nuclear reactors?

efficient coolant that does not act as a neutron moderator.