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Yes, reactor number 3 is really in critical at Fukushima.

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Are control rods of nuclear reactors used to stop a leak?

No, control rods in nuclear reactors are not used to stop leaks. Control rods are used to regulate the power output of the reactor by absorbing neutrons and controlling the rate of nuclear fission. To stop a leak in a nuclear reactor, different containment and safety systems are employed to isolate and contain the leak.


How many wind turbines does it take to equal a nuclear reactor?

Nuclear reactors and wind turbines both vary in size and the amount of power they can generate, so an exact answer is really not possible. But, a nuclear reactor can typically generate in the neighborhood of 1100 Megawatts of power, and as of 2011, a typical wind turbine installed on a large wind farm can generate in the neighborhood of 2 Megawatts of power. So dividing 1100 by 2, you get 550. But this isn't the answer you want because wind turbines don't generate at their full capacity most of the time (while nuclear reactors do.) It would take 550 wind turbines to equal one nuclear reactor if they both operated at their maximum capacity all the time, which is not the case. To correct for this, you need adjust by what's called the capacity factor. For nuclear reactors this is around 90%. That means over the long run, they generate electricity at 90% of their maximum. The capacity factor for large wind turbines is much lower, 30-35%. So 90%/30% is 3, and we need to multiply the 550 number by 3 to get the real equivalent. 550 X 3 = 1650. So a reasonable number to quote for the number of turbines that equal one nuclear reactor is 1650.


Are nuclear reactors and nuclear power plants the same?

Not really. It depends on what you are trying to do. A nuclear power plant is a power plant that uses a nuclear reactor as its source of energy. A nuclear reactor, on the other hand, is a more generalized term for a device that uses nuclear energy (specifically the release of binding energy from the Strong Atomic Force) to do something. In the general case, we use the reactor to generate energy for the power plant to use in generating electricity. Sometimes, we use the reactor for other, research type things, such as generating a neutron flux to study the physics of nuclide activation.


What changes have been made since the accident in Chernobyl?

Since the Chernobyl accident in 1986, efforts have been made to contain the radiation, including the construction of the New Safe Confinement structure over the damaged reactor. The area surrounding Chernobyl has been turned into a restricted zone, with limited human access to minimize exposure. The accident also led to improvements in nuclear reactor safety regulations and emergency response procedures worldwide.


What if a nuclear reactor exploded?

If a nuclear reactor explodes, there can be radiation leakage in the atmosphere which could be dangerous for people. The Fall-out would not only damage the country that it is in but the whole world. The worst part is not the explosion but the Fall-out that comes after. This is really bad because The Radiative Fall-out never Goes away

Related Questions

Why is a conventional nuclear reactor not able to explode as a bomb?

Conventional nuclear power plants use critical mass in a way that is similar to how a fission bomb uses it, in a chain reaction. There are some very important differences, however. In a nuclear power plant, the reaction is controlled by a set of systems that moderate the amount and speed of neutrons, the temperature of the fuel, and so on. These prevent the reactor from getting too hot and melting down. This is not easy, but also not terribly hard. In the bomb, there is no provision for ongoing control of the chain reaction. Instead, there is a design that causes the critical mass to undergo the chain reaction while staying at critical mass for the process. This is really hard to do because as soon as the whole heats up a bit, it wants to fly apart, destroying the integrity of the critical mass. The design problems associated with maintaining critical mass were difficult enough that they were secret for a long time. In other words, in order for a critical mass to blow up as a bomb, it really has to be designed to be a bomb. And though a nuclear reactor can melt down and be very destructive in the process, and though the waste storage can be breached and be very destructive as a result, the nuclear explosion of a nuclear reactor is quite likely impossible. Explosions and meltdowns have happened, but the explosions are from steam or chemicals, rather than nuclear critical mass.


- Is there really a critical period for learning a second language?

yes there is critical period for learning becase that is second language.


How do you enter reactor code for i don't even game?

I don't REALLY... know for sure but did you try clicking on it and typing it in?


Does nuclear reactors contain uranium-235?

It really depends on the nuclear reactor, but many are built to work specifically with that isotope.


Where was chernobyl?

Chernobyl started from an inherently unstable design, it's considered a breeder reactor, really good at making weapons grade plutonium but functionally unstable. The actual incident occurred during testing of the reactor to see how far it could be pushed.


Are control rods of nuclear reactors used to stop a leak?

No, control rods in nuclear reactors are not used to stop leaks. Control rods are used to regulate the power output of the reactor by absorbing neutrons and controlling the rate of nuclear fission. To stop a leak in a nuclear reactor, different containment and safety systems are employed to isolate and contain the leak.


What is the paranoid critical theory?

This is how Salvador Dalí termed his paintings. He probably did not want anybody to really understand.


What are critical parts to the operation and maintenance of the ISS?

it is really hard to keep suplies to make it run right


What is the length of a reactor core with 1 cm diameter fuel rods?

Specifying the diameter of fuel rods (1 cm) does not really allow estimates of the length of the reactor core in which they are used. (How many rods in a fuel bundle, and how many fuel bundles in the core?) Keep in mind that the core will end up in a shape that is engineered to use the fuel most efficiently. This means that really short and fat core geometry is out, and so is long skinny geometry. The ideal core shape will probably end up roughly cylindrical, and perhaps with it being roughly as long as its diameter. If you have a lot of fuel rods in a lot of fuel bundles, then they will be longer than a more modest amount of fuel rods in a smaller number of bundles. A reactor core in a shape that approximates a soda can or tuna can is going to be avoided, and a shape somewhat more like a soup can is better. Of the first two, the former would be a bit too long, and the latter too short. The "soup can" geometry will support better operation, more even fuel burn, and more desirable operating characteristics.


How do you attain stability in nuclear fission process?

Stability in a nuclear fission process can be attained by controlling the rate of fission reactions through the use of control rods to absorb excess neutrons, maintaining proper coolant flow to regulate temperature, and ensuring proper fuel enrichment levels to sustain the chain reaction without causing it to become uncontrollable. Continuous monitoring and adjustments are key to achieving stability in nuclear fission reactions.


Is fiber optic cable related to refraction?

Not really. More to do with reflection and the critical angle which gets it to reflect for infinity .


How does fission reaction happen?

Fission is started in nuclear power plants by withdrawing the control rods. The rods are pulled in groups beginning around the perimeter of the reactor. These are extracted and pulled all the way out. The reactor design permits this to happen without starting the reactor up. Then the middle rods are pulled. These actually permit the reactor to start up. The rods being pulled last are the "control group" because they are going to set up the operating conditions. Rods pulled to control the reactor, those in the middle, permit a more uniform burn of the fuel. If it was done differently, the fuel in the middle would burn more quickly. And the fuel around the perimeter would not be used as efficiently. Here's the scoop. The control rods are a neutron absorbing material. They have to be because they must be able to absorb neutrons to control or shut down the reactor. Boron works really well because 1) boron has a fairly high neutron absorption cross section (it is a good or "big" target for a neutron), and 2) as boron is transmuted by neutron absorption, it (usually) becomes another boron isotope, and boron's isotopes all have good neutron absorption cross sections so they all continue to be pretty good neutron absorbers. The rods are pulled to a point where there is not enough of them in the reactor to absorb the neutrons that are spontaneously being generated by the fuel. (It always generates a few neutrons. Always. And that's the hinge for critical mass.) So the rods are pulled and the effective critical mass is reached and the chain begins. Monitoring instruments pick up the increase in neutron flux. Operators know the chain has begun and is building. Then by gradually heating things up and incrementally pulling the rods a bit more, the plant is brought to operating temperature and is able to provide heat to generate steam in a secondary system. The secondary system is gradually heated by bleeding steam when things in the primary are heated up. That way the secondary system can be brought on line efficiently and power production can begin. There are more subtle aspects to reactor operations, but this is a good start on a path to understand the workings of the reactor.