Nuclear Reactors

a chain reaction

How old are they? If they are about 25 years old or more they will probably be very dim and should be replaced. The halflife of Tritium is only 12.26 years, so after 25 years their brightness would be about 1/4 of what it was new.

If they are less than 6 years old and not working right they are defective or broken, the tritium has probably escaped.

Either way there is nothing to clean that would help.

Getting a replacement Tritium ampule that fits may be difficult and/or expensive as the US has no dedicated Tritium production reactors since the shutdown of the Savanna River site in the 1990s.

Fission products and unused fuel were lofted by the smoke of the burning graphite moderator. This fell back down as fallout (not much different from fission bomb fallout, although no nuclear explosion was involved).

The primary danger in a nuclear meltdown is associated with the release of large quantities of high level radioactive material into the environment. This radioactive stuff can sicken people or even kill them, and can render large areas of the countryside uninhabitable. The toll on human life and the economic damage can soar beyond the comprehension of most.

Graphite was used as a moderator in the first atomic reaction to slow down neutrons released during the fission process. Slowing down the neutrons increases the likelihood of them causing further fission reactions, enabling a self-sustaining chain reaction.

Graphite rods in a nuclear reactor act as moderators, slowing down fast-moving neutrons to speeds at which they are more likely to cause fission in uranium fuel. This helps sustain the chain reaction necessary for power generation.

Nuclear fission, not to be confused with fusion.

By inserting the control rods which absorb neutrons using boron, cadmium, or other material with a large neutron capture crosssection.

If the reactor should begin to run out of control the SCRAM system will suddenly insert large amounts of neutron absorbing material, instantly stopping the neutron chain reaction.

The element found in the control rods of most nuclear reactors is usually made of a material called boron. Boron is used because it has a high neutron absorption rate, which helps control the nuclear fission process by absorbing excess neutrons and slowing down the reaction.

A nuclear power plant can explode if there is a criticality accident, where an uncontrolled nuclear chain reaction occurs, leading to a sudden release of energy. This could happen due to factors like operator error, equipment failure, or a sudden loss of coolant. However, it's important to note that nuclear power plants are designed with multiple safety systems to prevent such accidents from occurring.

Spent fuel rods are stored in pools of water because they continue to generate heat and radiation after being removed from the reactor. The water acts as a shield to absorb radiation and helps to cool the fuel rods. This method ensures the safe handling and storage of the radioactive material.

Reactor coolant water is kept contained in the primary loop to prevent contamination of the surrounding environment in case of a leak or accident. Mixing it with feed water or allowing it to leave through the cooling tower would increase the risk of radioactive release. Keeping it contained also helps maintain a closed system for efficiency and safety.

The range of a nuclear explosion can vary greatly depending on the size of the bomb and the environment in which it detonates. For example, a large nuclear bomb like the Tsar Bomba could have a range of over 50 miles for severe destruction, while smaller bombs may have a more limited range. The blast, heat, and radiation effects of a nuclear explosion can cause damage and casualties over a wide area.

Heavy water, also known as deuterium oxide, is used in nuclear reactors as a moderator to slow down neutrons to speeds where they are more likely to cause fission in uranium-235. Normal water can also work as a moderator, but heavy water is preferred as it does not absorb neutrons as readily, allowing for more efficient nuclear reactions. Additionally, heavy water is less prone to radioactive activation compared to ordinary water.

This event is commonly known as a "core meltdown" or "nuclear meltdown." It occurs when the fuel rods in the reactor overheat and melt, breaching the containment structures and potentially affecting the surrounding environment with radiation.

The original name of a nuclear reactor is an "atomic pile". The term was first used by Enrico Fermi to describe the experimental setup of the first controlled nuclear chain reaction in Chicago during the Manhattan Project in the 1940s.

Modern day nuclear reactors primarily use fission reactions, where the nucleus of an atom is split into smaller fragments, releasing large amounts of energy. Fission reactions are controlled in reactors to generate heat, which is used to produce electricity.

Nuclear fission is the primary type of nuclear reaction that occurs in a reactor. It involves the splitting of heavy atomic nuclei to release energy.

The moderator is there to slow down the neutrons produced by fission. These are produced with high energy, that is they move fast, but Uranium235 has a capture cross section much greater for slow neutrons, so they need to be slowed down to make the chain reaction more efficient. Graphite and heavy water are good moderators, and don't absorb too many neutrons, so they can be used even with natural (non-enriched) uranium. Normal water is not so good but it is ok if the uranium is enriched to about 4 percent U235.

The amount of energy released during nuclear fission reactions is primarily determined by the mass difference between the initial nucleus and the fission products. This mass difference is converted into energy according to Einstein's mass-energy equivalence principle (E=mc^2). Additionally, the way in which the fission process is initiated and controlled can also impact the amount of energy released.

There are many advantages. Unlimited power. It is undisputedly cleaner. There is zero pollution after construction. They left hates it! All great reasons to build them.

The disadvantage is the disposal of waste.

The creation of nuclear material is done by concentrating the material from tons of other non radio active material. This material is then used to generate heat, which turns turbines to make power. No radiation is created. None... zip... nada. We concentrate the material to make the issue more intense.

The honest and logical solution would be to take the spent rods that no longer work for reactors and return them from where they came. If we mixed this material with tons of non reactive material in the same ratios and returned it to the same location, what is the net difference? Free power.

Yes, uranium pellets are indeed used in fuel rods in nuclear reactors. These pellets undergo a process called nuclear fission, where they release energy in the form of heat that is used to generate electricity.