Operation of a Nuclear Reactor (AQA A Level Physics): Revision Note

Components of a nuclear reactor

• In a nuclear reactor, a chain reaction is required to keep the reactor running

• When the reactor is producing energy at the required rate, two factors must be controlled:

  • the number of free neutrons in the reactor

  • the energy of the free neutrons

• The main components of a nuclear reactor are:

  • a moderator

  • control rods

  • coolant

Moderator

• The purpose of a moderator: To slow down neutrons

• The moderator is a material that surrounds the fuel rods and control rods inside the reactor core

  • Moderators are made from materials that are poor absorbers of neutrons, such as water or graphite

• The fast-moving neutrons produced by the fission reactions slow down by colliding with the molecules of the moderator, causing them to lose some momentum

• The neutrons are slowed down so that they are in thermal equilibrium with the moderator, hence the term ‘thermal neutron’

  • This ensures neutrons can react efficiently with the uranium fuel

Control rods

• The purpose of a control rod: To absorb neutrons

• Control rods are made of a material which absorbs neutrons without becoming dangerously unstable themselves

• The number of neutrons absorbed is controlled by varying the depth of the control rods in the fuel rods

  • Lowering the rods further decreases the rate of fission, as more neutrons are absorbed

  • Raising the rods increases the rate of fission, as fewer neutrons are absorbed

• This is adjusted automatically so that exactly one fission neutron produced by each fission event goes on to cause another fission

• In the event the nuclear reactor needs to shut down, the control rods can be lowered all the way so no reaction can take place

Coolant

• The purpose of a coolant: To transfer thermal energy efficiently between the water systems of a nuclear power plant

• There are multiple water systems in a nuclear power plant that need regulating:

  • The coolant (usually water) used in the reactor vessel

  • The water and steam that drives the turbine

  • The condenser that cools the steam 

• The heat exchanger mediates the thermal energy exchanges between these water systems

• The coolant is a substance, such as water, that is pumped into the reactor at a cold temperature to extract the heat released by the fission reactions

• In the heat exchanger, the coolant transfers the heat to water that is pumped in externally to produce steam

• This steam then goes on to power electricity-generating turbines

Moderation of fission reactors

• After each fission reaction, two or three high-energy neutrons are released

• The purpose of the moderator is to slow these neutrons down to maintain the chain reaction

• The first few collisions of a neutron transfer sufficient energy to excite nuclei in the moderator without being absorbed

  • When they subsequently de-excite, this energy is released as gamma radiation

• The following collisions of a neutron with the moderator are elastic

• In these collisions, momentum is transferred to the moderator atoms

  • With each elastic collision, the neutron slows down until the average kinetic energy of the neutrons corresponds to that of the moderator nuclei

• Eventually (after about 50 collisions), the neutrons reach speeds associated with thermal random motion (hence the name thermal neutron)

  • At these speeds, neutrons can cause fission rather than rebound off of the uranium nuclei

Materials used for nuclear reactor components

• Moderators must be made from light nuclei which are not fissionable and will not absorb neutrons but will absorb a large amount of energy from them

  • Graphite and water are commonly used for moderators

• Control rods must be made with non-fissionable materials

  • This is so that they can absorb excess neutrons without decaying themselves

  • Boron and cadmium are commonly used for control rods

• Often water is used as both the coolant and moderator

  • This is because it has a high specific heat capacity meaning it can transfer large amounts of thermal energy

• Other materials such as molten salt or inert gas (e.g. helium) are sometimes used as a coolant

• Another important component of a nuclear reactor is shielding

• Alpha and beta radiation can be stopped by a few cm of material

• However, gamma radiation is much more penetrating

  • Therefore, lead or concrete is needed to ensure there are no radiation leakages

• A summary of materials used are shown in the table below: