5. Nuclear reactor

Section D: Give a long answer to the question given below.

 

ii. What is nuclear reactor? Explain its essential parts with their functions.

 

A Nuclear reactor is a device in which the nuclear fissionnuclear fusionbeta decayalpha decay reaction takes place in a induced and controlledself-sustained and controlledself-sustained and uncontrolledinduced and uncontrolled manner to produce electricity. 

 

The nuclear reactor used for generating electricity has five major components such as,

 

i. Fuel: Nuclear fuel is the most important part of the reactor made of fissile (or) non-fissile materialfissile materialnon-fissile material. The commonly used fuel material is graphite and heavy wateruraniumboron or cadmiumWater, air and helium.

ii. Moderator: A moderator is utilised to quickenspeed upslow downaccelerate the high-energy, fast-moving neutrons to produce slow neutrons.Graphite and heavy waterUraniumBoron or cadmiumWater, air and helium are the commonly used moderators.

iii. Control rod: Control rods are used to reduceremoveincreasemaintain the chain reaction by controlling the number of neutrons. Mostly Water, air and heliumgraphite and heavy wateruraniumboron or cadmium rods are used as control rods. They absorb the neutrons.

iv. Coolant: A coolant is used to maintainincreasereduceremove the heat produced in the reactor core, to produce steam. This steam is used to run a turbine in order to produce electricity. graphite and heavy wateruraniumWater, air and heliumboron or cadmium are some of the coolants.

v. Protection wall: A thick concrete lead wall is built around the nuclear reactor in order to prevent the harmful radiationsallow the harmful radiations from escaping into the environment.