Nuclear electricity - To produce electricity, the amount of thorium and uranium 235 isotopes in nuclear fuel must be increased

Nuclear power 

Nuclear electricity - To produce electricity, the amount of thorium and uranium 235 isotopes in nuclear fuel must be increased so that thermal neutrons collide with it before being absorbed by water and a nuclear reaction takes place.

Researcher  and author: Dr.   (   Afshin Rashid)

Note: For this purpose, the amount of isotope 235 in the nuclear fuel must be increased so that the thermal neutron collides with it before being absorbed by water and the nuclear reaction takes place. As a result, there is a need to enrich uranium.

But because the percentage of neutron absorption by heavy water is much lower than normal water, so if we want to use normal uranium in the reactor, as a result, heavy water should be accumulated around the fuel rods in order to slow down the speed of neutrons and without absorbing it, it is possible Collision and absorption of thermal neutrons by uranium 235 should be provided.  Normal water has a high energy reduction power and a good retarding power, but because it absorbs more neutrons, it has a low retardation ratio compared to other retarders, but its abundance and cheapness make it justify its use. . Instead, heavy water's high retardation quality and lack of neutron absorption are neutralized by the extraordinary price of this material.  

 

According to the mentioned cases, it is not possible to use natural uranium, which has a small amount of 235, in a reactor where ordinary water is used as a retarder around its fuel rods.  

 

Creating a nuclear chain reaction in reactors

In short, to create a nuclear chain reaction in reactors, conditions must be provided so that among the neutrons created in each reaction, while reducing their speed and energy, only one neutron is able to perform the next reaction. So, if natural uranium is used, heavy water is chosen as the retarder, and if the goal is to use normal water, then enriched uranium will be used. In both cases, the final price will be the same. Also, the type of reactor and its cost depends on the facilities and technology in the user system.  The neutrons produced in the reactor, after being released, collide with the materials surrounding the fuel and their energy will decrease due to these collisions, and if after the energy decrease, they collide with the fissile nucleus (Uranium 235), it will be absorbed. and causes the next nuclear fission to occur. Of course, at this stage, neutrons may be absorbed by other elements in the reactor and removed from the reaction cycle.  

 

Conclusion:

 For this purpose, the amount of isotope 235 in the nuclear fuel must be increased so that the thermal neutron collides with it before being absorbed by water and the nuclear reaction takes place. As a result, there is a need to enrich uranium.

Researcher  and author: Dr.   (   Afshin Rashid)

Specialized doctorate in nano-microelectronics