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Uranium-235 Uranium-238
• Radioactive – fissions and emits neutrons • Radioactive – emits helium nuclei, some fissions
• Fissionable – breaks when hit by neutrons • Nonfissionable – absorbs fast neutrons without fission
• Rare fraction of natural uranium (0.72%) • Common fraction of natural uranium (99.27%)
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Moderators 1 Moderators 2
• Hydrogen nuclei (protons) • Carbon
– Good mass match with neutron – Adequate mass match with neutron
– Excellent energy and momentum transfer – Adequate energy and momentum transfer
– Slight possibility of absorbing neutron – Little absorption of neutrons
• Deuterium nuclei (heavy hydrogen isotope) • Choosing a moderator
– Decent mass match with neutron – Deuterium is best, but it’s rare and reactive (hydrogen)
– Good energy and momentum transfer – Hydrogen is next best, but its reactive
– No absorption of neutrons – Carbon is acceptable and a convenient solid
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Nuclear Accidents Question:
• Windscale Pile 1 (Britain) A nuclear reactor is powered by nuclear fuel rods.
– Carbon moderator burned during annealing After being used for a while, those nuclear fuel
• Three Mile Island (US) rods are
– Cooling pump failed and core overheated (while off)
• Chernobyl Reactor 4 (USSR) 1. Heavier than when they were new
– Coolant boiled in overmoderated graphite reactor 2. Lighter than when they were new
– Exceeded prompt critical 3. The same weight as when they were new
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