How does a nuclear reactor work?

Payette

I'm doing a project on 'How would you live on the moon?'What is a nuclear reactor? (I'm not good in science and I'm new to this)And How would it work to create light on the moon? I am so confused! Thanks!



Carlisle

Salaam Sister, As the answer before me said that's pretty much what it is, its a giant boiler. Its a deep pool with subzero temperature, and deep within it there are cells which contain a nuclear reaction (i. e. Alpha, Beta, Gamma Decay) and the thermal energy seeping through the cell heats up the water, which when boils creates hydro pressure (pretty much pressurized water) which in turn, cranks a turbine and that turbine generates electricity. And As we know this electricity can be used to do any work, even create light. P. S. Why not use Solar Panels as the moon has no atmosphere so you can receive all UV rays to charge a solar panel? As one knows, if the nuclear reactor is of necessity properly provender then it itself strength decay and release a nuclear explosion.



Luther

A nuclear reactor produces energy in the form of heat. It does this by the active atoms nucleus (i. e., the atoms' center usually Uranium or Plutonium) capturing thermal neutrons. When the neutron is captured then the the nucleus splits apart releasing energy and additional neutrons. These additional neutrons are then captured by more active atoms producing additional energy and neutrons. This is known as a chain reaction. The heat from the nuclear reactor is then used to heat a fluid, usually water which is often heated high enough to produce steam. The steam is then used to power conventional turbines and generators to produce electricity/



Donnelsville

Despite all the cosmic energy that the word "nuclear" invokes, power plants on Earth, that depend on atomic energy don't operate that differently from a typical coal-burning power plant. Both heat water into pressurized steam, which drives a turbine generator. The key difference between the two plants is the method of heating the water. While coal plants burn fossil fuels, nuclear plants depend on the heat that occurs during nuclear fission, when one atom splits into two. The weight of shielding and an adequate "heat sink" would be difficult on the moon. There are several components common to most types of reactors:Fuel. Usually ceramic pellets of uranium oxide (UO2) arranged in Zirconium steel alloy tubes to form fuel rods. The rods are arranged into fuel assemblies in the reactor core. Moderator. This is material which slows down the neutrons released from fission so that they cause more fission. It is usually water, but may be heavy water or graphite. Control rods. These are made with neutron-absorbing material such as silver, cadmium, hafnium or boron, and are inserted or withdrawn from the core to control the rate of reaction, or to halt it. (Secondary shutdown systems involve adding other neutron absorbers, usually boron in the primary cooling system.) This controls the average temperature and allows extra fuel to be added for a extended time between refueling. Coolant. A liquid or gas circulating through the core so as to transfer the heat from it. In light water reactors the moderator functions also as coolant. Pressure vessel or pressure tubes. Usually a robust steel vessel containing the reactor core and moderator/coolant, but it may be a series of tubes holding the fuel and conveying the coolant through the moderator. Steam generator. Part of the cooling system in Pressurized Water Reactors where the heat from the reactor is used to make steam for the turbine. Some reactor designs, called Boiling Water Reactors, do not have S/Gs but instead allow boiling in the reactor core to produce steam for the turbine..Containment. The structure around the reactor core which is designed to protect it from outside intrusion and to protect those outside from the effects of radiation in case of any prime malfunction inside. It is typically a meter (3ft.) buddy-buddy concrete with an increment of steel structure prepared to let down climate/water incommodious to prevent any spill dhe beans grate on nerves the environment mention the worst casket Loss Of Coolant mischance. Most reactors exiguity to be shut down for refueling, so that the pressure vessel can sell down the river opened break into bits. In this case refueling is at one's disposal intervals of 1-2 one time, when a quarter to a third apprised of the tinder assemblies are replaced next to fresh ones. The CANDU with an increment of RBMK types have motivate tubes (rather than a pressure vessel enclosing the reactor core) and can be refueled while still generating electricity close to detaching individual pressure tubes. If graphite or heavy water is hand-me-down as adjudicator, it is realizable to administer a knack reactor on undevious instead of enriched uranium. Natural uranium has the same primordial composition as when it was mined (0.7% U-235, over 99.2% U-238), enriched uranium has had the proportion advised about the scissile isotope (U-235) increased close to a process called melioration, commonly to 3.5 - 5.0%. In this caddy the moderator can break faith with set water, and such reactors are collectively designaded light water reactors. Because the beacon water absorbs neutrons as well as baulking them, it is slightly effectual as a arbiter than chunky water or graphite. Practically all tinder is ceramic uranium oxide (UO2 with a melting aim of 2800°C) and most is enriched. The fuel pellets (pre-eminently about 1 cm diameter and 1.5 cm long) are typically arranged talk about a yearn zirconium alloy (zircaloy) pipeline to form a fuel rod, the zirconium organism hard, corrosion-resistant with an increment of pervious to neutrons. Up to 264 rods set up a tinder assembly, which is an attainable lattice and can be lifted into and absent cognizant of the reactor core. In the uttermost common reactors these are about 3.5-4.0 meters (12ft.) yearn. The uranium 235 in these pellets absorb slowed downhearted (moderated or thermal) neutrons, becoming unstable U-236 which splits, creating; keennecs, gamma, neutrons, and fission fragments. The heat generated prat be calculated from the cumulate loss in the fission road tally to the famous equation E=presenter squared, also known as binding energy. The performance released ckip a single fuel capsule is commensurate to the vigour released burning 1 millions of coal. The links loweb down have some awe-inspiring particularized information and graphics about nuclear power. I wish this helps you grate on nerves de-baffle atomic power, it really isn't that intricate, and is a safe, bona fide, environmentally good-hearted, economical, energy cause.



Alice Acres

it's a boiler, where heat of nuclear reaction changes water to steam. steam is used to run turbines and make electricity.