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Nuclear reactor physics is the field of physics that studies and deals with the applied study and engineering applications of chain reaction to induce a controlled rate of fission in a nuclear reactor for the production of energy.
A nuclear reactor is a device used to initiate and control a fission nuclear chain reaction. They are used for commercial electricity, marine propulsion, weapons production and research. Fissile nuclei (primarily uranium-235) absorb single neutrons and split, releasing energy and multiple neutrons, which can induce further fission.
Criticality is the normal operating condition of a nuclear reactor, in which nuclear fuel sustains a fission chain reaction.A reactor achieves criticality (and is said to be critical) when each fission releases a sufficient number of neutrons to sustain an ongoing series of nuclear reactions.
The fuel for energy purposes, such as in a nuclear fission reactor, is very different, usually consisting of a low-enriched oxide material (e.g. uranium dioxide, UO 2). There are two primary isotopes used for fission reactions inside of nuclear reactors. The first and most common is uranium-235.
When nuclear fission occurs inside of a nuclear reactor, neutrons are produced. [1] These neutrons then, to state it simply, either react with the fuel in the reactor or escape from the reactor. [1] These two processes are referred to as neutron absorption and neutron leakage, and their sum is the neutron loss. [1]
Nuclear engineering was born in 1938, with the discovery of nuclear fission. [7] The first artificial nuclear reactor, CP-1, was designed by a team of physicists who were concerned that Nazi Germany might also be seeking to build a bomb based on nuclear fission.
Prompt criticality will result in an extremely rapid power rise, with the resultant destruction of the reactor, unless it is specifically designed to tolerate the condition. A cent is 1 ⁄ 100 of a dollar. In nuclear reactor physics discussions, the symbols are often appended to the end of the numerical value of reactivity, such as 3.48$ or 21 ...
A fission nuclear power plant is generally composed of: a nuclear reactor, in which the nuclear reactions generating heat take place; a cooling system, which removes the heat from inside the reactor; a steam turbine, which transforms the heat into mechanical energy; an electric generator, which transforms the mechanical energy into electrical ...