Nuclear Reactors

• sun, fusion of hydrogen nuclei making helium nuclei (not radioactive)
• nuclear reactor, fission of uranium nuclei making a wide variety of different fission product isotopes having mass numbers from 72 to 161 (all very radioactive)

Nuclear power plants generate electrical energy through nuclear fission, which is the splitting of atoms to produce heat that is used to create steam and drive turbines. This process converts nuclear energy into electrical energy.

No, control rods in nuclear reactors are not made of graphite. The control rods have to be able to gather up the neutrons to shut the reactor down, so boron is often selected. Graphite is used in some reactors as a moderator, and a moderator slows down neutrons. The slower neutrons have a greater ability to undergo neutron capture to continue the chain.

Nuclear reactors are controlled using control rods that absorb neutrons and regulate the rate of fission in the reactor core. By adjusting the position of these control rods, operators can manage the nuclear reaction and control the power output of the reactor. Additionally, coolant flow and reactor temperature are also monitored and adjusted to ensure safe and stable operation.

The three main sections of a nuclear power plant are the reactor, where nuclear reactions occur to produce heat; the turbine, which converts the heat energy into mechanical energy; and the generator, which converts the mechanical energy into electricity.

Hydrogenic materials, like water or heavy water, are used as moderators in nuclear reactors because they are effective at slowing down neutrons through elastic scattering. Slowing down neutrons is important to make them more likely to interact with other nuclei, initiating a chain reaction in the reactor. Hydrogen atoms in these materials have a similar mass to neutrons, making them efficient at transferring kinetic energy and slowing down the neutrons.

We don't have nuclear fusion reactors. We have not been able to sustain a controlled fusion reaction for more than a brief moment in time, and of more than a small amount of power.

Only the Sun and stars have controlled fusion reactions, and Hydrogen bombs have uncontrolled fusion reactions.

The problem is in maintaining the extremely high temperature and pressure required to sustain a fusion reaction, while at the same time containing the plasma that results from it. It is so hot that no container will hold it. We can build magnetic "bottles" so to speak, but the enormous flux required to do that requires super magnets, and that requires super-conductors and super-cold temperatures. Placing a super-hot plasma flow within the boundaries of a super-cold magnet is just not something we have accomplished yet.

We are working on it, but, barring any stupendous discovery, I think controlled fusion reactors are at least 50 or a 100 years away.

The source of energy in almost all nuclear power plants is fission or the splitting of the atom. There are a few experimental fusion power plants, (or the joining of the atoms), but, there are few of them, since the energy needed to produce fusion is extremly high, and only last a few seconds.

Around 99.99% of nuclear power plants are fission power plants.

Nuclear power is a low-carbon energy source that can generate significant amounts of electricity. It produces a large amount of energy from a small amount of fuel, but also comes with challenges such as radioactive waste disposal and the potential for accidents. Overall, it is a controversial energy source with both benefits and risks.

The electricity produced by a nuclear reactor can vary depending on its size and design, but a typical nuclear reactor can generate anywhere from 500 megawatts to 1,500 megawatts of electricity.

The ionization-type smoke detectors use a tiny Americium source to generate alpha particles. Cobalt-60 does not generate alpha particles. Alpha radiation is actually a helium-4 nucleus - two protons and two neutrons. It has very limited penetrating power because it is a big, heavy particle and it tends to collide (scatter) when it tries to go through anything, even just air. The detector makes use of the fact that alpha particles ionize the heck out of air, and are scattered by anything in the air. The cobalt-60 decays by beta and gamma emission, and that kind of radiation has "too much" penetrating power to make the detector usable the way it is set up.

Radioisotopes are used in nuclear reactors as fuel to generate heat through nuclear fission. The heat produced is used to generate steam, which drives turbines to generate electricity. Radioisotopes such as uranium-235 and plutonium-239 are commonly used in nuclear reactors.

The payback time for nuclear power stations varies depending on factors such as construction costs, operating expenses, and maintenance costs. Generally, it can range from 10 to 20 years. However, nuclear power stations have a long operational lifespan, so they can generate electricity for many years once the initial investment is recouped.

Coolant is important in a nuclear reactor to transfer heat away from the reactor core, preventing it from overheating. It helps regulate the temperature within safe limits by absorbing and removing the heat generated during the nuclear fission process. Additionally, coolant also serves to slow down neutrons to facilitate efficient fission reactions.

Nuclear fuel is generated in nuclear reactors, where a process called nuclear fission converts uranium isotopes into energy. This energy is harnessed to generate electricity in power plants. The fuel is typically produced in specialized facilities where uranium is enriched and fabricated into fuel rods before being loaded into reactors.

The nuclear reactions in the Sun primarily involve fusion of hydrogen nuclei to form helium, releasing energy in the process. In a nuclear reactor, the reactions typically involve fission of heavy nuclei like uranium or plutonium, releasing energy through splitting these nuclei. The conditions and mechanisms governing the reactions in the Sun and in a nuclear reactor are different due to the vastly varying scales and environments of the two systems.

Plutonium is primarily used by nations for nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors. It is a highly regulated material due to its potential for use in weapons. Scientists also use plutonium for research and testing purposes.

Control the reaction rate by absorbing neutrons that are generated but not needed. They are typically made of cadmium or boron, elements that have very large neutron capture crosssections (a measurement of the statistical probability of a given nuclear interaction).

The cannot as they are inserted in holes in steel support frames that hold several dozen fuel rods. When changing fuel, complete steel support frames are switched and individual rods are not handled.

The condition known as going solid means that the reactor is shut down and cooled down, and the pressurizer is completely filled with water. The pressurizer is a component of the nuclear power plant that maintains high pressure on the coolant to keep it from flashing into steam. There is a steam bubble (a large volume) in the top of the pressurizer when the plant is online. Once cooled down and depressurized, we can pump more coolant into the plant to completely fill the pressurizer. The plant is then said to go solid when this happens.

Light water reactors are generally considered safer than graphite moderated power reactors. This is because light water reactors use water as a coolant and moderator, which has lower risk of reactor core overheating and graphite fires compared to reactors that use graphite as a moderator. Light water reactors also have more robust safety features that make them more resistant to accidents.

Uranium-235 consists of 92 protons and 143 neutrons in its nucleus.