Answer:
Explanation:
A nuclear reactor is an installation capable of initiating, maintaining and controlling the chain fission reactions that take place in the reactor core, consisting of the fuel, coolant, control elements, structural materials and moderator in the case of nuclear thermal reactors.
The core is the part of the reactor where the nuclear chain reaction is produced and maintained.
Components of the core:
The fuel of a nuclear reactor is fissionable material.
Control rod beams provide a rapid means of controlling the nuclear reaction, allowing rapid changes in reactor power and eventual shutdown in case of emergency.
The neutrons produced in fission have a high energy in the form of velocity. Their speed should be reduced to increase the probability of other atoms fissioning and not to stop the chain reaction. This is achieved by elastic collisions of the neutrons with the nuclei of the moderator.
Most of the energy released by fission is in the form of heat. To be able to use this, a refrigerant must pass through the interior of the reactor that absorbs and transports this heat.
In a nuclear chain reaction, a certain number of neutrons tend to escape from the region where it is produced. This neutron leakage can be minimized by the existence of a reflecting medium, thus increasing the efficiency of the reactor.
When the reactor is in operation, a large amount of radiation is generated. Protection is needed to isolate the installation workers from radiation caused by fission products. Therefore, a biological shield is placed around the reactor to intercept these emissions.
A breeder reactor is a nuclear reactor that generates more fissile material in the fuel than it consumes. Considered highly attractive because of their superior fuel economy: a normal reactor consumes less than 1% of the natural uranium that starts the fuel cycle, while a 'breeder' can burn it almost completely. It also generates less waste for the same amounts of energy. Breeders can be designed to use thorium, which is more abundant than uranium. Currently, there is renewed interest in both breeder designs due to the increased price of natural uranium.
All commercial reactors breed fuel, but they have low (though still significant) breeding ratios when compared to machines that are traditionally considered breeders. In recent years, the commercial energy industry has been emphasizing high burn fuels, which last longer in the core of the reactor.
Reproduction of fissile fuel is a common feature in reactors, but commercial reactors are not optimized for this feature which is referred to as improved burning. Up to one-third of all electricity produced in the current U.S. reactor inventory comes from reproducible fuel, and the industry is working hard to increase that percentage over time.
The advantages are:
Generates a large amount of electricity
No production of greenhouse gases
Dependence on oil is reduced
Less damage to the environment
A major disadvantage is the difficult management of the nuclear waste generated.
Nuclear power plants have a limited lifetime. The investment for the construction of a nuclear plant is very high.