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How many pounds of uranium are in a nuclear reactor?
The quantity depends on: the type of the reactor, power of the reactor, enrichment of uraniu, chemical form of the fuel, etc. For a research reactor some kilograms, for a power reactor more than 100 tonnes/year.
What is the source of energy in nuclear reactor?
The source of energy in a nuclear reactor is the release of binding energy, i.e. the binding energy that hold protons and neutrons together in the nucleus of the atom. Heavy nuclides, such as uranium, are split into lighter nuclides, such as cesium and barium (and many others, in a semi-random cross section). The binding energy required to hold the original uranium together is less than the daughter products and is released to the system in the form of heat and other radiation.
How many watts electricity is produced by a nuclear reactor?
The electricity produced by a nuclear reactor can vary depending on its size and design, but a typical nuclear reactor can generate anywhere from 500 megawatts to 1,500 megawatts of electricity.
How many watts does a nuclear reactor put out?
The power output of a nuclear reactor can vary widely, depending on the design and size of the reactor. Commercial nuclear power reactors typically have power outputs ranging from 500 megawatts (MW) to over 1,500 MW.
What are nuclear power rods made of?
It depends on the type of reactor. In the most commonly used LWR (Light Water Reactor) found in the US and in many part of the world, the fuel rods are composed of about 5% Uranium-235 and about 95% Uranium-238. They are formed in cylindrical pellets about a half inch long and about 3/8 inch in diameter, stacked into rods about 12 feet long made of zirconium alloy. Actual size varies with the particular reactor design. Some reactors use a higher concentration of Uranium-235. Some use a mixture of varying concentrations of Plutonium-239. Some use Uranium-238. Some use Thorium-232. It all depends on design objectives and the type of moderator that is going to be used.
How many pounds of uranium are in a nuclear reactor?
The quantity depends on: the type of the reactor, power of the reactor, enrichment of uraniu, chemical form of the fuel, etc. For a research reactor some kilograms, for a power reactor more than 100 tonnes/year.
Does nuclear reactors contain uranium-235?
It really depends on the nuclear reactor, but many are built to work specifically with that isotope.
What element is a reactor fuel?
Uranium-235 or Plutonium-239, or Uranium-233. Also many transuranics, like Americium make good fuel.
How many days does a breeder reactor require to produce plutonium-239 from uranium-238?
It is a continuous instantaneous process that happens in the nuclear breeder reactor.
Why are only uranium and plutonium used in nuclear reactors?
Uranium and plutonium are used in nuclear reactors because they undergo nuclear fission, releasing a large amount of energy. This energy is harnessed to generate electricity. These elements are preferred due to their ability to sustain a chain reaction in a controlled manner within the reactor core.
What radioisotope is used as the fuel for a nuclear reactor?
There are two radioisotopes that serve as fuel for a nuclear reactor. The first is uranium-235, which is a constituent of natural uranium. U-235 is a "fissile" isotope -- i.e., the one that splits when it absorbs a neutron of a certain energy. When a reactor starts up with a fresh load of fuel, all of the early activity involves U-235. This splitting, or fissioning, of U-235 atoms releases energy in the form of heat. The production of heat is the whole purpose of certain types of nuclear reactors. This heat converts water into steam to turn a turbine generator and make electricity. Fission also releases neutrons. These neutrons sometimes are absorbed into another uranium isotope, uranium-238, another constituent of natural uranium which is also present in nuclear fuel. When U-238 absorbs a neutron, it eventually becomes plutonium-239. Pu-239 is another fissile isotope, i.e., it also fissions when struck by a neutron of a certain energy. So the two isotopes that are used as fuel for a nuclear reactor are uranium-235 and plutonium-239. The former gets the reactor going; the latter is made inside the reactor. Some nuclear reactors are designed solely to produce neutrons. These are research reactors. Neutron interactions with other materials are of great interest to a great many scientists and engineers.
What is the source of energy in nuclear reactor?
The source of energy in a nuclear reactor is the release of binding energy, i.e. the binding energy that hold protons and neutrons together in the nucleus of the atom. Heavy nuclides, such as uranium, are split into lighter nuclides, such as cesium and barium (and many others, in a semi-random cross section). The binding energy required to hold the original uranium together is less than the daughter products and is released to the system in the form of heat and other radiation.
How many houses could be powered with a nuclear reactor?
That depends on the power rating of the reactor.
How many watts electricity is produced by a nuclear reactor?
The electricity produced by a nuclear reactor can vary depending on its size and design, but a typical nuclear reactor can generate anywhere from 500 megawatts to 1,500 megawatts of electricity.
What are the example of nuclear fission?
The only example of nuclear fission in a naturally occurring material is of Uranium 235, which comprises 0.7 percent of natural uranium, the rest being Uranium 238 which is not fissile. To use U235 in a nuclear reactor it is usually enriched to about 4 percent first, though reactors have been designed to use natural uranium. These have to use graphite or heavy water as moderator, as normal water absorbs too many neutrons. During reactor operation some of the U238 absorbs a neutron and becomes Plutonium 239 which is also fissile, so this contributes to a proportion of the reactor power which increases as the fuel is used and the U235 diminishes.
What are the examples of fissions?
The only example of nuclear fission in a naturally occurring material is of Uranium 235, which comprises 0.7 percent of natural uranium, the rest being Uranium 238 which is not fissile. To use U235 in a nuclear reactor it is usually enriched to about 4 percent first, though reactors have been designed to use natural uranium. These have to use graphite or heavy water as moderator, as normal water absorbs too many neutrons. During reactor operation some of the U238 absorbs a neutron and becomes Plutonium 239 which is also fissile, so this contributes to a proportion of the reactor power which increases as the fuel is used and the U235 diminishes.
What element is put into nuclear reactors for energy?
Reactors can be fueled by uranium or many of the transuranic elements, but uranium is the only element that occurs naturally with large enough levels of its fissionable isotope uranium-235 for practical use. Plutonium is also a good reactor fuel, but must be produced first from the plentiful but nonfissionable uranium-238 in a reactor as it only occurs naturally at trace levels. While thorium cannot be directly used as fuel, the fissionable isotope uraniuum-233 which can be used as fuel can be produced from it in a nuclear reactor. For transuranics other than plutonium (and maybe americium) specially designed fast neutron reactors are required to effectively use them as fuel, but they too can be used.
