Question

short note on moderator in nuclear reactor

Answer 1

A nuclear reactor, formerly known as an atomic pile, is a device used to initiate and control a self-sustained nuclear chain reaction. Nuclear reactors are used at nuclear power plants for electricity generation and in propulsion of ships. Heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid (water or gas), which in turn runs through steam turbines. These either drive a ship's propellers or turn electrical generators' shafts. Nuclear generated steam in principle can be used for industrial process heat or for district heating. Some reactors are used to produce isotopes for medical and industrial use, or for production of weapons-grade plutonium. Some are run only for research. As of April 2014, the IAEA reports there are 435 nuclear power reactors in operation, in 31 countries around the world.[ By 2017, this increased to 447 operable reactors according to the World Nuclear Association

Answer 2

Plutonium is fissionable with both fast and thermal neutrons, which make it ideal for either nuclear reactors ornuclear bombs. Most reactor designs in existence are thermal reactors and typically use water as a neutronmoderator (moderator means that it slows down the neutron to a thermal speed) and as a coolant.


hope I can help you