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It is not possible for a nuclear reactor to explode in the way a nuclear bomb does, because the fissionable part of the fuel is spread out through the reactor in a matrix, in a bomb a critical mass has to be formed very quickly to make the explosion happen.
What is possible is some sort of failure in the reactor's pressure circuit, releasing the coolant and causing fuel to melt thus leaking radioactivity to the environment. This is what happened at Chernobyl, a steam pressure surge blew the top of the reactor off, and some fuel was ejected, then the remains of the reactor caught fire (it was graphite moderated) and released even more activity. It must be emphasised however that this did not happen during normal operation. It was due to an experiment that was badly planned and carried out, together with some design faults that had not been assessed thoroughly enough.
PWR's and BWR's used in the US and elsewhere are very different. A massive disruptive failure of the pressure vessel can be discounted because of design overkill and thorough inspection before use. Some smaller coolant circuit failures are deemed credible and are allowed for in safety studies. The main protection is that the reactor has secondary containment, this is the large dome that is characteristic of reactors seen from outside the plant.(Chernobyl did not have this). In the Three Mile Island incident coolant did leak out through a valve that the operators did not know was open. This shows the necessity of better instrumentation and this has been taken into account in new designs. No significant radiation exposure happened to the nuclear staff or the public nearby, though the reactor was damaged and has never operated since.
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What could happen if the water stopped flowing through a nuclear reactor?
If water stopped flowing through a nuclear reactor, the cooling system would fail, leading to a buildup of heat. This could result in the fuel rods overheating and potentially melting down, causing a severe nuclear accident like a meltdown. Cooling water is essential for regulating the temperature and preventing the reactor from overheating.
What happens when a nuclear reactor in a nuclear submarrine explodes?
It can't explode like a nuclear bomb. It could have a steam explosion, as can any steam power plant. It is also possible for it to build up hydrogen gas if it runs too hot and damages its fuel rods, the hydrogen could explode.
Can a nuclear reactor be used as a nuclear weapon?
No. LLNL even tested several Uranium-Hydride bombs in the 1950s. Even though their computer models said the devices should explode, none gave a nuclear yield. One could use the waste from the reactor as a Radiological Weapon, but the reactor itself is not useful as a weapon.
If the control rods in a nuclear reactor are removed would the condition be supercritical or subcritical?
If the control rods in a nuclear reactor were somehow to be instantly "jerked" out of the reactor, the reactor would go supercritical. If they were pulled at a normal rate and all of the control rods were pulled out, the reactor would start up and heat up and would end up running far too hot. Any one of several safety systems would shut the reactor down before this could happen. If the safety systems were disabled, the reactor would overheat and a meltdown may occur.
What if a nuclear reactor exploded?
If a nuclear reactor explodes, there can be radiation leakage in the atmosphere which could be dangerous for people. The Fall-out would not only damage the country that it is in but the whole world. The worst part is not the explosion but the Fall-out that comes after. This is really bad because The Radiative Fall-out never Goes away
What would happen if the fuel rods became too hot inside a nuclear reactor and could not be controlled?
Catholicism
How many houses could be powered with a nuclear reactor?
That depends on the power rating of the reactor.
What could happen if the water stopped flowing through a nuclear reactor?
If water stopped flowing through a nuclear reactor, the cooling system would fail, leading to a buildup of heat. This could result in the fuel rods overheating and potentially melting down, causing a severe nuclear accident like a meltdown. Cooling water is essential for regulating the temperature and preventing the reactor from overheating.
What on earth reaches 5200 degrees Fahrenheit?
A nuclear reactor could.
Can you make a real ark reactor?
An Ark reactor as currently describe in comic is very much like a Nuclear Fuel Cell. Possibly convert energy from Nuclear reaction to power. Possibly a plasma nuclear fusion reactor. I believe in the future it could be made. See the link and compare the similarity of fusion reactor and Ark reactor.
What happens when a nuclear reactor in a nuclear submarrine explodes?
It can't explode like a nuclear bomb. It could have a steam explosion, as can any steam power plant. It is also possible for it to build up hydrogen gas if it runs too hot and damages its fuel rods, the hydrogen could explode.
What could happen to the rocks when water freezes in the cracks?
It explodes...?
Could a type of bomb pierce the melting rods of a nuclear reactor?
yes
Could a reactor be fueled with americium?
The Russians are working on the problem of creating a nuclear reactor fuel out of americium, but they're still working the problem. In addition, they haven't built a reactor that uses americium as a nuclear fuel yet, either.
Can a nuclear reactor be used as a nuclear weapon?
No. LLNL even tested several Uranium-Hydride bombs in the 1950s. Even though their computer models said the devices should explode, none gave a nuclear yield. One could use the waste from the reactor as a Radiological Weapon, but the reactor itself is not useful as a weapon.
If the control rods in a nuclear reactor are removed would the condition be supercritical or subcritical?
If the control rods in a nuclear reactor were somehow to be instantly "jerked" out of the reactor, the reactor would go supercritical. If they were pulled at a normal rate and all of the control rods were pulled out, the reactor would start up and heat up and would end up running far too hot. Any one of several safety systems would shut the reactor down before this could happen. If the safety systems were disabled, the reactor would overheat and a meltdown may occur.
How do nuclear reactors meltdown?
The nuclear core goes into a process known as 'meltdown' if it becomes too hot. For a reactor to reach critical temperature something serious has to malfunction, this could be a lack of water inside the reactor, pressure loss inside the reactor or no control rods inside the reactor, all of these faults could lead to severe damage to the reactor core and a possible lead to a thermal explosion(not a mushroom cloud explosion).
