Thermal Breeder Reactors use moderators but Fast Breeder Reactors don't use moderator.
Moderators are not used in a breeder reactor because their primary purpose is to slow down neutrons to increase the likelihood of fission events in a thermal reactor. In a breeder reactor, fast neutrons are required to convert non-fissile uranium-238 into fissile plutonium-239, so using a moderator would hinder this process.
Normal water, or light water, absorbs too many neutrons to be an effective moderator in a nuclear reactor. This absorption can make it difficult to sustain a nuclear chain reaction. Instead, reactors often use heavy water or graphite as a moderator, which have lower neutron absorption rates.
You can't compare and contrast nuclear reactors and breeder reactors, any more than you can compare a lion with a mammal. A lion is one example of many mammals; a breeder reactor is just one example of many types of nuclear reactor.
The idea is to use it for nuclear fuel in other reactors, this is why it is called a breeder process. Uranium-238 which is not fissile is converted to Pu-239 in the breeder reactor, but of course there is a chemical separation process to go through before the Pu is available.
Moderator: slows fast fission neutrons (several MeV energy) to slow "thermal" neutrons ( <5eV energy), making it less likely for Uranium-238 to capture them and more likely for them to cause fission of Uranium-235. Breeder reactors don't use moderator. Control rods: absorb excess neutrons to allow the operating reactor to be kept EXACTLY critical and under control. They are equivalent to the accelerator & brake in a car. SCRAM rods: absorb neutrons for emergency shutdown. They are equivalent to emergency brake in a car. Did I answer more than you asked?
A breeder reactor is one type of nuclear reactor, but not a type that is in general commercial use at the present time
Moderators are not used in a breeder reactor because their primary purpose is to slow down neutrons to increase the likelihood of fission events in a thermal reactor. In a breeder reactor, fast neutrons are required to convert non-fissile uranium-238 into fissile plutonium-239, so using a moderator would hinder this process.
It would be used as a more efficient version of a Nuclear Reactor. While a regular nuclear reactor requires almost a factor of 100 greater in fuel amounts, a Breeder reactor uses much less and produces less waste.
Carbon is a very good moderator, for use in gascooled reactors, the others not.
Normal water, or light water, absorbs too many neutrons to be an effective moderator in a nuclear reactor. This absorption can make it difficult to sustain a nuclear chain reaction. Instead, reactors often use heavy water or graphite as a moderator, which have lower neutron absorption rates.
Yes, tritium water can be used as a moderator in a nuclear reactor. However, tritium itself is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, so careful handling and safety measures are required due to its potential health risks. Research is being conducted on the use of tritium in nuclear fusion reactors, but it is not commonly used as a moderator in fission reactors.
You can't compare and contrast nuclear reactors and breeder reactors, any more than you can compare a lion with a mammal. A lion is one example of many mammals; a breeder reactor is just one example of many types of nuclear reactor.
Yes, but it would usually be too expensive as tritium must be made in a reactor from lithium.
The idea is to use it for nuclear fuel in other reactors, this is why it is called a breeder process. Uranium-238 which is not fissile is converted to Pu-239 in the breeder reactor, but of course there is a chemical separation process to go through before the Pu is available.
Fast Breeder Reactors typically use a combination of plutonium-239 and uranium-238 as fuel. This type of reactor produces more fissile material than it consumes, making it an efficient way to generate nuclear power.
Most current power plants use water, but heavy water, graphite, hydrocarbons, etc. could be used instead.
This is the Candu type, which was uniquely developed in Canada to use heavy water moderator and natural uranium fuel