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The number you are asking for (the critical size) varies dramatically with reactor design and fuel enrichment level, a large power reactor may need thousands of tons of yellowcake while a small research or medical reactor could operate on as little as about 1Kg Highly Enriched Uranium.
Some examples of actual reactor fuel loads:
- X-10, 54.1 tons slightly enriched Uranium metal
- NRX, 10.5 tons natural Uranium
- SUPO, 870 grams 88.7% enriched Uranyl Nitrate in water solution
- Calder Hall, 130 tons natural Uranium
- Shippingport, 14.16 tons natural Uranium yellowcake & 75Kg Highly Enriched Uranium metal
- AHPR, 90Kg highly enriched Uranyl Sulfate & Uranyl Nitrate in water solution
What else can I help you with?
What is required for a chain reaction to start?
For a chain reaction to start, there needs to be a sufficient amount of fissile material, such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239, present in a compact enough form to reach critical mass. Additionally, there must be a neutron source to initiate the reaction by introducing a neutron to the fissile material.
What is the amount of fissionable material that must be present in order for a nuclear reaction to take place called?
The critical mass. With an amount of U-235 or Pu-239, the smallest critical mass will be a sphere. For a nuclear reactor, it will be the minimum number of fuel assemblies loaded to produce a chain reaction.
Critical mass depends on what?
The Purity && The Shape AND size density
What energy is the energy needed to start a reaction?
Activation Energy.
What is the minimum mass of a fissionable isotope in which a nuclear chain reaction can occur?
A critical mass is the smallest amount of fissile material needed for a sustained nuclear chain reaction. The critical mass of a fissionable material depends upon its nuclear properties (e.g. the nuclear fission cross-section), its density, its shape, its enrichment, its temperature and its surroundings.The minimum mass for a particular fissionable isotope will always be a sphere, as that is the shape which will lose the least neutrons for a given mass. The behavior of a sphere can be affected by its surroundings, if a neutron reflector is present this will reduce the amount needed. The easiest way to compare materials is to consider a bare sphere with no reflector. In this case Uranium 235 requires a mass of 52 kg and a sphere of diameter 17 cm. Plutonium 239 requires a mass of 10 kg and a sphere 9.9 cm diameter.The Wikipedia article 'Critical Mass' gives a table of other isotopes, but the above two are of most practical interest
What is the amount of fissionable material required to continue a reaction at a constant rate?
The amount of fissionable material required to sustain a nuclear reaction at a constant rate is determined by the material's critical mass. The critical mass is the minimum amount of fissionable material needed to sustain a chain reaction, and it varies depending on the material and the reactor design. By controlling factors such as neutron moderation and absorption, reactor operators can adjust the critical mass to maintain a steady reaction rate.
What is required for a chain reaction to start?
For a chain reaction to start, there needs to be a sufficient amount of fissile material, such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239, present in a compact enough form to reach critical mass. Additionally, there must be a neutron source to initiate the reaction by introducing a neutron to the fissile material.
What is the amount of fissionable material that must be present in order for a nuclear reaction to take place called?
The critical mass. With an amount of U-235 or Pu-239, the smallest critical mass will be a sphere. For a nuclear reactor, it will be the minimum number of fuel assemblies loaded to produce a chain reaction.
How do enzyms function?
Enzymes allow reactions to occur at body temperature, that would not normally occur at that temperature. They accomplish this by lowering the amount of activation energy needed to have the reaction proceed.
What is the minimum amounth of energy required for a reaction occur?
The minimum amount of energy required for a reaction to occur is called the activation energy. This energy is needed to break the bonds in the reactant molecules and initiate the chemical reaction. Once the activation energy is overcome, the reaction can proceed on its own.
Critical mass depends on what?
The Purity && The Shape AND size density
How do catalysts catalyse the reactions?
They lower the activation energy needed to kick off the reaction and hence make the reaction proceed faster.
What energy is the energy needed to start a reaction?
Activation Energy.
Is more energy required for a chemical reaction in the absence of an enzyme?
Without an enzyme, the activation energy needed to start a reaction is much greater. An enzyme is a catalyst, which decreases the amount of activation energy needed to start a reaction. By doing so, it decreases the amount of time the chemical reaction takes place.
What energy is required for a reaction to occur?
Activation energy
What is the stoichiometric equivalent of the reactants in the chemical reaction?
The stoichiometric equivalent of the reactants in a chemical reaction refers to the balanced ratio of the reactants based on their coefficients in the balanced chemical equation. It shows the precise amount of each reactant needed for the reaction to proceed completely without any excess or deficiency.
The energy necessary to start a chemical reaction?
The energy required to start a chemical reaction is called activation energy. It is the minimum amount of energy needed to initiate a reaction by breaking the chemical bonds of the reactants. This energy barrier must be overcome for the reaction to proceed.
