principle of working of a nuclear reactor
Answers
In a nuclear power reactor, material that may undergo nuclear fission is used in a controlled manner to produce a steady supply of heat. Uranium containing a low enrichment of uranium 235 (U-235) – typically below 5% – is the most common material, although a much higher enrichment of U-235, or plutonium 239 can be used with slightly different principles.
Fission of U-235 produces two lighter elements and heat, together with either two or three neutrons containing high energy. The fission process involves splitting the nuclei of atoms using neutrons. A “controlled” chain reaction is said to occur when the number of neutrons used to bombard U-235 atoms remains constant over time.
Nuclear fission creates heat. The main job of a reactor is to house and control nuclear fission—a process where atoms split and release energy. Reactors use uranium for nuclear fuel. ... The heat created by fission turns the water into steam, which spins a turbine to produce carbon-free electricity.