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It can be light water, heavy water, or graphite

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What is the moderator in nuclear power plants?

The moderator in a nuclear power plant is the substance that is used to slow down neutrons that are generated by the fission reactions. When fissile material fissions, fission fragments appear, as do neutrons. These neutrons, which leave the fission reaction with a heap of kinetic energy, might go on to cause more fissions (in a chain reactions) if they can be thermalized (slowed). Slowing (moderating) the neutrons increases the probability that they will be absorbed to cause another fission.Depending on the plant design, a few common ones now are:waterheavy watergraphitenone (in fast breeder reactors)


Which coolant is used in kalpakkam nuclear power plant?

The Kalpakkam nuclear power plant uses heavy water (deuterium oxide) as a coolant and moderator in its Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). Heavy water has a higher density than regular water, allowing it to efficiently slow down neutrons and regulate the nuclear reaction in the reactor core.


How much graphite is used in a nuclear power plant per year?

United States nuclear power plants do not use graphite for operation and thus the answer is "none". Graphite is used in some reactor designs as a "moderator", which is the reactor feature that slows down neutrons so that the chain reaction will continue. US nuclear plants are "light water reactors" which means that they use regular water as the moderator. Canadian plants, for example, are "heavy water" plants which use duterium as a moderator. Chernobyl, the Ukranian plant that exploded in the 1980's, used graphite as a moderator.


Can you shut down a nuclear power plant?

Yes, nuclear power plant can be shut down.


What does a moderator do in nuclear power plants?

The moderator slows (moderates their speed/energy) neutrons from the 1 MeV that they have when emitted in fission to less than 1 eV.The reason a moderator is needed in most reactors is that their fuel is still mostly Uranium-238, which easily captures 1 MeV neutrons and potentially stopping the neutron chain reaction but is unable to capture neutrons less than 1 eV which still easily fission the small percentage of Uranium-235 in the fuel.

Related Questions

What are the main components of a nuclear power plant?

shielding, fuel, control rods, moderator, and coolant


What is the moderator in nuclear power plants?

The moderator in a nuclear power plant is the substance that is used to slow down neutrons that are generated by the fission reactions. When fissile material fissions, fission fragments appear, as do neutrons. These neutrons, which leave the fission reaction with a heap of kinetic energy, might go on to cause more fissions (in a chain reactions) if they can be thermalized (slowed). Slowing (moderating) the neutrons increases the probability that they will be absorbed to cause another fission.Depending on the plant design, a few common ones now are:waterheavy watergraphitenone (in fast breeder reactors)


Existing nuclear power plant?

what is the existing of nuclear power plant?


What is the positive of nuclear power plant?

what is negative of the nuclear power plant


Where is the Nuclear Fission Power plant in Alaska?

There is no nuclear power plant in Alaska.


Which coolant is used in kalpakkam nuclear power plant?

The Kalpakkam nuclear power plant uses heavy water (deuterium oxide) as a coolant and moderator in its Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). Heavy water has a higher density than regular water, allowing it to efficiently slow down neutrons and regulate the nuclear reaction in the reactor core.


What kind of fallout will we see from a nuclear power plant?

Nuclear Fallout comes from a nuclear power plant.


Where is the method of producing electricity from a nuclear power plant used?

In a nuclear power plant


What is the name of the nuclear power plant that expoded in 1986?

Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.


How do you make a working model of nuclear power plant?

You would not be able to obtain the fissile material necessary to build a working model of a nuclear power plant. You could build a model, for sure, but it would not be a working model.


What are some of the issues of nuclear power plants?

Nuclear power amounts for a somewhat large portion of our the energy that we use. However, nuclear spills can be devastating. When a nuclear power plant leaks, radioactive material is released into the environment. This material is extremely harmful to humans and can cause many health problems and cancer. Radiation is spread through the air. It can take many years for the harmful material in the environment to go away. One of the most well-known nuclear accidents was the disaster at Chernobyl. Also, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan recently had a spill.


Is a nuclear power plant same as nuclear power station?

Yes, it generally is but a nuclear plant could refer to nuclear reactors which are basically the things that produce the power. So in essence, yes, a nuclear plant is the same thing as a nuclear power station