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- U235 in the fuel captures a neutron and fissions and emits 2 or more fast neutrons per fission.
- U238 in the fuel captures some of these fast neutrons before the moderator (water) can slow them to thermal speeds.
- Fast neutrons are slowed to thermal speeds (so that U238 can no longer capture them) by repeatedly bouncing off the molecules of the moderator (water).
- Control rods capture some of the thermal neutrons.
- Some fast and thermal neutrons escape the reactor core.
The above process repeats over and over; if the reactor is exactly critical steps 2, 4, and 5 eliminate the excess neutrons emitted in step 1 making the reaction rate constant and in equilibrium.
To adjust the reaction rate higher the control rods are removed slightly so they capture fewer neutrons, making the reactor ever so slightly supercritical until it finds a new equilibrium state and becomes exactly critical again. To adjust the reaction rate lower the control rods are inserted slightly so they capture more neutrons, making the reactor ever so slightly subcritical until it finds a new equilibrium state and becomes exactly critical again.
Fission in step 1 and neutrons bouncing off water molecules in step 3 generates heat which is used to produce steam to turn turbines which turn generators to make electricity.
What else can I help you with?
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
What is the efficiency of most power plants?
Light water nuclear plants like PWR and BWR have efficiency of about 33 percent, that is the ratio of electric output to reactor thermal output. Gas cooled reactors can be up to 40 percent as they work at higher temperature.
How the nuclear reactor can work?
The nuclear reactor is the device where it occurs a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction. The nuclear fission reaction results in loss of mass (or mass defect) that transforms into energy according to formula E = mc2 (c is light velocity). The resulting energy manifests itself as heat energy that produces steam. The steam spins the turbines that spins electric generators and hence producing electricity.
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.
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.
