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When nuclear power started to be considered for electricity production there were three serious contenders in the slow (ie moderated) category: graphite, heavy water, and light water.
In the UK, the use of natural uranium was preferred, and was also seen as a route to getting plutonium without the high costs of gaseous diffusion of uranium for enrichment. Heavy water was not available in quantity so graphite and carbon dioxide cooling was the adopted route, giving the magnox design. This was later developed into the AGR design using enriched uranium in oxide form, allowing higher gas temperature and efficiency. These reactors were quite successful eventually, but turned out to be very expensive to build and have reached the end of the line, I don't think any more will ever be built.
In Canada heavy water could be produced with cheaper hydro power, and the Candu type was developed, again with natural uranium.
In th US, which had a good start in uranium gaseous diffusion in the Manhattan Project, the possibility of building small enriched uranium reactors to go in submarines was the main incentive to developing the PWR. Thse later transmuted to large central power station designs. Also the BWR was developed in parallel. These two types now are the most built world wide. The principles are much the same as they were 40 years or more ago, the main advances have been in making the plants more reliable and easier to operate, and adding extra safety features.
There are many other possible reactors: fast breeders with liquid metal coolant, helium cooled with gas turbines and pebble bed fuel, thorium fuel, and others, but I don't think any have commercial appeal to companies that are only interested in pumping out electricity, so it is unlikely any of these will be built unless Government feels it worth investing in prototypes, and with the financial state of affairs as it is now this seems very unlikely, whilst there is no shortage of uranium for PWR's and BWR's.
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How are Nuclear energy transformed into usable energy?
Nuclear energy is used to produce steam. This steam used to rotate turbines
What is the method used to produce nuclear energy in power plants?
nuclear fission
How is nuclear energy used to produce electricity?
Nuclear energy, or nuclear power, uses exothermic nuclear processes to produce electricity. Nuclear power plants provide around 10% of the world's electricity.
What type of energy is uranium used to produce?
Nuclear energy via radiation.
Name the rock used to produce nuclear energy?
Phosphate
Is nuclear energy and nuclear fuel different?
Nuclear fuel is the fuel used to produce nuclear energy.
What technology is uranium used for?
The uranium is used in nuclear technology. Uranium are used because they are isotopes, they produce radiations and when applied force their's atom's nuclei's may break which can cause a lot of produce of energy. It can be also used in thermal studies.
How are Nuclear energy transformed into usable energy?
Nuclear energy is used to produce steam. This steam used to rotate turbines
What is the main use of nuclear energy?
The main use of nuclear energy is to produce electricity. Nuclear energy is also used in the field of medicine and military purposes.
What nuclear reaction is currently used to produce nuclear energy in nuclear reactors?
We use nuclear fission in nuclear reactors to tap nuclear energy.
What are the relationships between electrical energy and nuclear energy?
Nuclear energy is used to produce electrical energy, but there is no direct relationship
What kind of atoms are in nuclear energy?
A fission of energy atoms generating nuclear energy that is used to produce electricity.
What is the method used to produce nuclear energy in power plants?
nuclear fission
How is nuclear energy used to produce electricity?
Nuclear energy, or nuclear power, uses exothermic nuclear processes to produce electricity. Nuclear power plants provide around 10% of the world's electricity.
What kind of technology is used in a weather instrument?
nuclear energy
What are the positive effects of nuclear energy?
Nuclear energy may be used to produce electricity and may be used to uplift the space shuttles.Nuclear energy may be used to produce electricity and may be used to uplift the space shuttles.
Does 'Technology is Dangerous'?
Nothing is dangerous by its self. We are living in 21st century that is the century of technology advancement. No Technology is dangerous but its use of this who makes it dangerous or useful for mankind, e.g. Nuclear that can be used to produce energy and we can also make nuclear bomb. Its all about how to use technology positive or negative.
