0
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.
What else can I help you with?
Why moderator is not use in bleeder reactor?
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.
What reactors produces heat and a new supply of the radioactive isotope Pu-239?
Breeder reactors are designed to produce both heat and Pu-239 as a byproduct. These reactors use fertile material such as uranium-238 to breed plutonium-239 through neutron capture, resulting in a self-sustaining chain reaction. The produced Pu-239 can then be used as fuel in nuclear reactors or for nuclear weapons.
What kind of reactor produces plutonium 239?
Plutonium 239 is obtained in all reactors using uranium as nuclear fuel.
What is the function of a moderator in a reactor?
A moderator in a nuclear reactor slows down fast-moving neutrons to increase the likelihood of fission reactions. By reducing the speed of neutrons, the moderator helps maintain a chain reaction within the reactor core. This process helps control the nuclear reaction and sustain the reactor's power output.
What is split in a nuclear reactor to create energy?
Generally, atoms of Uranium-235 are split in a nuclear fission reactor to create energy. Other nuclides are sometimes involved, such as Plutonium-239, Uranium-238 (in a breeder), and Thorium-232/-233.
How is plutonium-239 produced in a breeder reactor?
Plutonium-239 is produced in a breeder reactor when uranium-238 absorbs a neutron and undergoes two beta decays to become plutonium-239. This process allows the breeder reactor to create more fissile material than it consumes, making it a sustainable source of nuclear fuel.
What is produced from uranium-238 in a breeder reactor?
In a breeder reactor, uranium-238 absorbs a neutron and transmutes into plutonium-239, which is a fissile material that can sustain a nuclear chain reaction. This plutonium-239 can then be used as fuel in the reactor to produce energy.
Which Fuel is used in Fast Breeder Reactor?
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.
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 moderator is not use in bleeder reactor?
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.
What reactors produces heat and a new supply of the radioactive isotope Pu-239?
Breeder reactors are designed to produce both heat and Pu-239 as a byproduct. These reactors use fertile material such as uranium-238 to breed plutonium-239 through neutron capture, resulting in a self-sustaining chain reaction. The produced Pu-239 can then be used as fuel in nuclear reactors or for nuclear weapons.
What kind of reactor produces plutonium 239?
Plutonium 239 is obtained in all reactors using uranium as nuclear fuel.
How is plutonium-239 produced in a reactor?
When a fast-moving neutron hits a nonfissionable uranium-238 (U-238) nucleus and is absorbed, an atom of fissionable plutonium-239 (Pu-239) is produced.
What fuel is used in fast breeder reactor?
Mainly Plutonium fuel. They are usually started on highly enriched uranium (i.e., weapons grade) fuel, with a breeding blanket of depleted uranium surrounding the core. Over time the breeding blanket is periodically changed and the old one reprocessed to extract plutonium; which is used to make replacement fuel for the reactor (and sometimes others). So the reactor starts on uranium fuel and each time the fuel is replaced it transitions gradually to plutonium fuel. It is also possible to tune a breeder reactor to operate as a plutonium burner (without breeding new fuel). Such a reactor would burn plutonium only. This has been suggested as an effective means of disposing of the current "excess" of plutonium removed from retired nuclear weapons.
What element uses breeder reactor uranium or plutonium?
A breeder reactor uses uranium-238 or plutonium-239 as fuel. These elements can undergo fission reactions and produce additional fuel as a byproduct, making breeder reactors efficient in generating more nuclear fuel than they consume.
What does the word fast refer to in the term liquid metal fast breeder reactor?
In a fast reactor there is no moderator, which in most (almost all) fission reactors used for power production is provided to slow down the neutrons produced in the fission reaction. This is because the capture cross-section of U-235 and PU-239 is much larger for slow neutrons, enabling the use of low enrichment fuel, or even natural uranium fuel with a graphite or heavy water moderator. In a fast reactor the fission chain reaction is sustained by fast neutrons, ie as produced by the nuclear fissions. This requires a higher enrichment of the fuel. Typically this could be 20 percent Pu-239, and the remainder Uranium. This type of reactor can actually breed more plutonium from the U-238 in the fuel and in a blanket around the reactor, since neutrons are absorbed into the U-238 turning it into Plutonium. However liquid metal (sodium or sodium/potassium) is nasty stuff to handle and the costs of the engineering involved have not been attractive enough for commercial use so far.
Is plutonium reusable?
Directly, no. Once fissioned the plutonium is gone (it has transformed to other lighter elements). However indirectly using a breeder reactor, yes. A plutonium fueled breeder reactor with a uranium breeding blanket will produce more plutonium (from uranium-238) than it consumes. This breeder reactor can at the same time be generating electricity like any other power reactor.
