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UNIT-2
INTRODUCTION
Many metals which produces nuclear energy are uranium,
thorium and plutonium.
Uranium is the most important nuclear fuel.
They exist in three different forms in nature having mass
numbers 234(99.28%), 235(0.714%), and 238(6.006%).
U235 is called primary fuels. It is naturally available upto 0.7%
in uranium ore.
U233 and PU239 are secondary fuels. Produced artificially from
Th232 and U238 respectively.
All the resources of uranium are situated in U.S.A(33%), South
Africa (20%), Australia(20%), and Canada (20%).
Low cost uranium are available in Australia and in India thorium
is available.
PROPERTIES
Properties required by Uranium fuels are
buckling.
iv)High conductivity to transfer the large amount of heat
released and to reduce thermal stresses.
v) Better corrosion resistance.
vi) Better machinability with higher ductility.
TYPES OF FUELS
FERTILE FUELS:
Some materials are not fissionable by themselves. They can be
converted into fissionable materials. They are called as fertile
fuels.
These materials absorb neutron and undergo spontaneous
change to produce fissionable materials.
U238 and Th232 are known as fertile fuels.
Nuclear fission
Splitting the
235
U Atom
The nuclear binding energy per fragment is more than that of heavy
nuclei. Thus, there is a considerable release of energy during the
process.
This process is accompanied by the emission of nuetrons and
gamma rays.
The excitation energy required to split the nucleus is called critical
energy. The critical energy should be more than the neutrons binding
energy.
The sum of the masses of these fragments is less than the original
mass. The missing mass has been converted into energy according to
EINSTEINS equations.
Possible different products are
235U + 1 neutron = 2 neutrons + 92kr + 142Ba + ENERGY
235U + 1 neutron = 2 neutrons + 92Sr + 140Xe + ENERGY
FISSION PROCESS
One of the laws of the universe is that matter and energy cant be created nor be
destroyed. But they can be changed in form.
According to Einstein,
E=mc2
E= Energy,
M= mass,
C= velocity or the speed of light.
CONTROLLED NUCLEAR
FISSION
In order to maintain a sustained controlled nuclear reaction,
for every 2 or 3 neutrons released, only one must be allowed
to strike the another uranium nucleus. If this ratio is less than
one, then the reaction will die out. And if the ratio is more than
one then the reaction is uncontrolled.
Most of the reactors are controlled by means of control rods
that are made up of a strongly neutron absorbent material such
as boron or cadmium.
In addition to the need of capturing neutrons, the neutrons
have too much kinetic energy. These fast neutrons are slowed
through the use of the moderator such as heavy water and
ordinary water. Some reactors use graphite as the moderator.