Nuclear electricity - the important and stable isotope of uranium 238 (U238) or fertile uranium in the production of nuclear electrical energy

(nuclear power)

Nuclear electricity - the important and stable isotope of uranium 238 (U238) or  fertile uranium  in the production of nuclear electrical energy

Researcher  and author: Dr.   (   Afshin Rashid)

Note: The more abundant uranium-238 is sometimes  called fertile.  Fission is relatively rare, and even under bombardment with high-energy neutrons, the probability of fission is very low. What mostly happens is that neutron absorption causes the nucleus to become unstable. After a few days, uranium-239 is fissionable to plutonium-239, a radioisotope  of plutonium-239 that is highly fissile to produce electricity and can also be used as nuclear fuel or a nuclear power generating material.

To produce (nuclear electricity) unstable materials emit energy to reach stability. They are usually fissile elements whose atomic mass is above 150, 235U and 238U are found in mines. 99.3% of uranium in mines is 238U; And only 0.7% of it is uranium-235. On the other hand, uranium-235 interacts with superthermal neutrons. 

Uranium  238U only works with fast neutrons, but it doesn't work well; Therefore, in industry and in nuclear power plants, uranium-235 is used as the main fuel; But because it is rarely found in nature. Uranium enrichment should be used, that is, to increase the concentration of Uranium 235 from 0.7% to 1-3%. By doing this, the energy density in the fuel increases and the useful working life of the fuel rods increases.

Many of the byproducts of a nuclear fission reaction are highly unstable, and as a result, the reactor core contains large amounts of high-energy neutrons, gamma rays, beta particles, and other particles. Any object placed in the reactor will be bombarded by all these various radiations. One of the uses of reactor radiation is the production of plutonium 239. This isotope, which has a half-life of about 24,000 years, is found in small amounts in the earth. Plutonium 239 has a property similar to uranium in terms of fission ability. To produce plutonium 239, uranium 238 is first placed in the heart of the reactor, and as a result of the reactions that take place, uranium 239 is formed. Uranium 239 is an unstable isotope that turns into neptunium 239 with a half-life of about 24 minutes through beta particle emission. Neptunium 239 also has a half-life of 2.4 days and emits beta particles and becomes the final product, plutonium 239.

Conclusion :

The more abundant uranium-238 is sometimes  called fertile.  Fission is relatively rare, and even under bombardment with high-energy neutrons, the probability of fission is very low. What mostly happens is that neutron absorption causes the nucleus to become unstable. After a few days, uranium-239 is fissionable to plutonium-239, a radioisotope  of plutonium-239 that is highly fissile to produce electricity and can also be used as nuclear fuel or a nuclear power generating material.

Researcher  and author: Dr.   (   Afshin Rashid)

Specialized doctorate in nano-microelectronics