What is difference between coolant and Moderator?
Answers
difference between coolant and moderator :-
Coolant- It is a substances which are good conductors of heat and can absorb thermal energy produced by fission from the core of steam generating equipment of the nuclear power plant. Eg. .heavy water, carbondioxide, liquid sodium.
Moderator- It slows down the fast (high energy)neutrons emitted in fission to such a speed that it leads to sustainable chain reaction. Eg. heavy water and biphenyl.
ANSWER
Both Cooler and Moderator are parts of Nuclear Reactor.
Coolant
1)It helps in removing the heat produced in the Nuclear Reactor during Fission Reactions.
2)Heavy Water i.e deuterium (D2O) which is a stable isotope of hydrogen is used in coolant as it a very good source for heat absorption. It is used as a primary coolant and transfers it to secondary coolant, light water.
3) In Gas-cooled reactors, carbon dioxide gas is used as a coolant. Coolant transports heat to secondary coolant, i.e. water for generation of steam at an appropriate pressure for running steam turbines.
Moderator
1)Moderator is used in Thermal reactors to slow down the neutrons produced in the reactor to have a controlled reaction in the form of a chain. These are also called chain sustained reaction.
2) Heavy Water, Graphite, Beryllium and Light water are used as a moderator due to the excellent capacity of slowing down power and low absorption cross-section for neutrons.
EXTRA INFORMATION
Heavy water (D2O)is very harmful to human but small amounts of deuterium is also used in Medical treatments and clinical studies.