Hint: The nuclear reactor is a device which produces an enormous amount of energy by controlled chain reaction.
Table of Contents
What is a nuclear reactor in physics?
nuclear reactor, any of a class of devices that can initiate and control a self-sustaining series of nuclear fissions. Nuclear reactors are used as research tools, as systems for producing radioactive isotopes, and most prominently as energy sources for nuclear power plants.
How does a nuclear reactor work a level physics?
A nuclear reactor is a device in which nuclear chain reactions are initiated, controlled, and sustained at a steady rate. The energy released is used to heat water, making steam, the pressure from which can be used to turnturbines and produce electricity (by electromagnetic induction ).
What are the three main parts of a nuclear reactor?
- The core of the reactor contains all of the nuclear fuel and generates all of the heat.
- The coolant is the material that passes through the core, transferring the heat from the fuel to a turbine.
- The turbine transfers the heat from the coolant to electricity, just like in a fossil-fuel plant.
What is a nuclear reactor used for?
Nuclear reactors are the heart of a nuclear power plant. They contain and control nuclear chain reactions that produce heat through a physical process called fission. That heat is used to make steam that spins a turbine to create electricity.
What is nuclear reactor explain its principle and working?
A nuclear reactor works on the principle of achieving control chain reaction in Uranium (238) enriched with Uranium (235) generating large amounts of energy. The reactor consists of fuel, moderators, control rods, radiation shielding and coolants.
What is nuclear reactor example?
A nuclear reactor is made of fuel, moderator, control rods, coolant, pressure vessel or pressure tubes, steam generator and containment. A nuclear reactor produces and controls the release of energy from splitting the atoms of certain elements.
How many types of nuclear reactors are there?
There are two basic types: the pressurized-water reactor (PWR) and the boiling-water reactor (BWR).
How does a nuclear power plant work step by step?
- The reaction is triggered.
- Water is heated.
- Hot water is circulated.
- Steam is created.
- Steam energy is converted to electrical energy.
- Electrical energy is passed to national grid.
- Electricity is sent through power lines to homes.
- The steam is cooled and recycled.
Why are control rods used in nuclear reactor?
A rod, plate, or tube containing a material such as hafnium, boron, etc., used to control the power of a nuclear reactor. By absorbing neutrons, a control rod prevents the neutrons from causing further fissions.
What energy is released in nuclear fission?
The energy of nuclear fission is released as kinetic energy of the fission products and fragments, and as electromagnetic radiation in the form of gamma rays; in a nuclear reactor, the energy is converted to heat as the particles and gamma rays collide with the atoms that make up the reactor and its working fluid, …
What are the 4 types of nuclear reactors?
- Pressurised water reactor (PWR)
- Boiling water reactor (BWR)
- Advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR)
- Light water graphite-moderated reactor (LWGR)
- Fast neutron reactor (FNR)
- Operable nuclear power plants.
Which is the most important component of nuclear reactor?
Main Components of a Nuclear Reactor The Core: It contains all the fuel and generates the heat required for energy production. The Coolant: It passes through the core, absorbing the heat and transferring into turbines. The Turbine: Transfers energy into the mechanical form.
What are the four components of nuclear reactor?
The short answer to “what are the components of nuclear reactor” is that nuclear reactors all contain several components in common such as fuel, control rods, moderator, and coolant.
What are 5 advantages of nuclear energy?
- 1) It Is Inexpensive. Nuclear power is generally considered to be the safest and most efficient energy source for generating electricity.
- 2) It Is Environmentally Friendly.
- 3) It Doesn’t Require Too Much Fuel.
- 4) It Is Stable.
- 5) It Is Completely Safe.
- Conclusion.
Which element is used in nuclear reactor?
Fuel. Nuclear reactors require the use of nuclear fuels, elements that can be readily altered and will release thermal energy. Uranium is the most common element used as a nuclear fuel, although thorium is also possible. The naturally occurring isotopes are found in countries such as Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia.
What is nuclear made of?
Nuclear energy is energy in the core of an atom Atoms themselves are made up of three particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Which uranium is used in nuclear reactor?
Most commercial reactor fuel uses low enriched uranium (LEU) enriched to between 3 percent and 5 percent 235U. Uranium between 3 and 5 percent 235U is sometimes referred to as “reactor-grade uranium.”
What is difference between fission and fusion?
The main difference between these two processes is that fission is the splitting of an atom into two or more smaller ones while fusion is the fusing of two or more smaller atoms into a larger one.
How big is a nuclear reactor?
As nuclear power generation has become established since the 1950s, the size of reactor units has grown from 60 MWe to more than 1600 MWe, with corresponding economies of scale in operation.
How hot is a nuclear reactor?
Organic-cooled, heavy-water-moderated reactors (OCHWRs) reach temperatures of about 400ยฐ, while liquid- metal fast breeder reactors (LMFBRs) produce heat up to 540ยฐ.
What are the two types of reactor?
There are two basic types: the pressurized water reactor and the boiling water reactor. The pressurized water reactor is the most common type of nuclear reactor used for the generation of electricity.
Which water is used in nuclear reactor?
Heavy Water is used as a primary coolant to transport heat generated by the fission reaction to secondary coolant, light water.
What is the most common type of nuclear reactor?
- Nuclear reactors come in many different shapes and sizes.
- Pressurised water reactors (PWRs) make up almost 70% of the global reactor fleet.
- Boiling water reactors (BWRs) are the second most common reactor type globally, making up approximately 15% of the global fleet.
What are the two types of nuclear power plants?
Nuclear power plants in the United States have either a boiling-water reactor or a pressurized-water reactor.