Thermal Reactor

As we all know that the nucleus disintegrates into two or many particles, two kinds of processes occur that lead to the disintegration of the nucleus. These are mainly nuclear fusion and nuclear fission.

In nuclear fusion, the two or more atomic nuclei join or fuse to form one or more types of atomic nuclei or charged particles

In nuclear fission. the two or more atomic nuclei break into one or more types of atomic nuclei or charged particles. The process of nuclear fusion and nuclear fission is widely seen at the nuclear power plants in the types of nuclear reactors that are installed there to preserve nuclear energy.

Nuclear Reactor – A detailed overview

A nuclear reactor also known as an atomic pile is a type of reactor that is installed at the nuclear power plant sites for the production of nuclear energy. Since the production of nuclear energy can happen by nuclear fusion and nuclear fission both, nuclear fission is highly used in the process of generation of nuclear energy in a nuclear reactor.

A nuclear reactor helps to control the nuclear fissions reactions in the nuclear power plant.

Nuclear reactors are used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity and in nuclear marine propulsion.

In a report published by IAEA in 2019, there are approximately 454 nuclear power reactors and 226 nuclear research reactors that are found to be operational all around the world.

The heat that is generated from nuclear fission is passed to the working fluid, mainly gas or water and that in turn is passed to the turbines that help in the running of the steam turbines. This generated heat is highly helpful in driving the propeller of the ship or in turning the electrical generator’s shaft.

In the industries, this steam is also helpful in generating heating at a large scale. In medical industries, this heat is highly useful in the production of the isotopes that are essential for the production of the various kind of medicines and in the defense industry, this steam finds its place in the manufacturing of high quality and durability nuclear weapons that are very efficient in combating the warlike situation in case of a nuclear emergency.

Heat Generation in the nuclear reactor

Just like the heat is generated into the thermal reactors, the nuclear reactors use the energy from nuclear fission to convert it into other types of mechanical energy.

Products used in the generation of the heat

In nuclear reactors, nuclear fission is only responsible for the production of heat.

A large nucleus containing particles such as Uranium and Plutonium that possess neutrons are used in nuclear fission.

These kinds of elements only participate in the process of nuclear fission. The heavy nucleus breaks down into lighter nuclei also called fission products and emits free neutrons, gamma radiations and other types of radiations.

To control the overproduction of the neutrons in this process, A control rod is used that contain neutron poisons or neutron moderators to control theirs over production.

In the new type of nuclear reactors, this control is done with the help of pre-installed devices to slow down the production of neutrons.

A nuclear reactor coolant is also used to control the amount of excess heat that is produced during the process of nuclear fission.

Thermal Reactor

A thermal reactor is a type of nuclear reactor that uses thermal neutrons to produce energy.

Thermal neutrons are the types of neutrons that possess less energy than fast neutrons.

Usually, most of the nuclear reactors that are found at the nuclear power plant site are thermal reactors that use thermal neutrons to conduct electricity.

The thermal reactors use neutron moderators or neutron poison to slow down the production of the neutrons and to slow down their speed until they reach the average kinetic energy of all the surrounding particles resulting in the low velocity of the thermal neutrons.

Uranium 235 is used in the thermal reactor.

Basic components of the thermal reactor.

A typical thermal reactor consists of the following:

1. Nuclear fuel or the reactant usually a sample of Uranium is used to initiate the process.
2. The nuclear moderator is used to control the overproduction of the free neutrons that happens during the process of nuclear fission.
3. A nuclear coolant is required to check the heat of the vessel and to lower the excess heat produced during the process.
4. A reactor pressure vessel is used that consists of the coolant and the reactor core.
5. A radiating shield is used to control the radiations emitted during the process and the people from the harmful radiations and also to protect the environment and the plant from these types of radiations.
6. The thermal reactor is installed in a containment area to prevent direct contact with the public.

The critical size of a thermal reactor is about 12-12.5 ft tall in height.

The other type of thermal reactor known as non-thermal plasma reactor uses two electrodes made up of metals to conduct the electricity. The heat produced in it is very high as it uses electrons that have a higher temperature than the neutrons.

Conclusion:

The nuclear reactors that are installed at the nuclear power plants are helpful in the defense industry as it helps in the establishment of a good nuclear defense.