Reactores Nucleares (Ingles)

Nuclear Reactors for Non Engineers

Nuclear reactor is a device that initiates, controls, and sustains nuclear chain reactions. These chain reactions are used to create either mechanical energy orelectrical energy. The process that nuclear reactors use to create energy is called fission. Fission is where a nucleus of a radioactive element, such as uranium, is spilt by bombarding it withneutrons (Brain, 1998-2008). The splitting of the nucleus releases energy as well as other neutrons to continue the chain reaction (Brain, 1998-2008). The heat energy created by fission is captured by thecoolant which is used to convert water into steam which turns a turbine that creates either electricity or mechanical energy.
Figure 1: Uranium dioxide pellets
Source: Nuclear Energy Institute(n.d.)
http://www.nei.org/howitworks/nuclearpowerplantfuel/
There are many pieces that make up a nuclear reactor. The fuel is the material, usually pellets of uranium dioxide (refer to figure one),that is used to feed the nuclear chain reactions and is stored in a series of metal tubes called the core. The core is surrounded by a liquid called the moderator which is a substance that slows down theneutrons produced by the fuel so that they can cause more fission (WNA, 2008). Examples of moderators include water, heavy water, or graphite (WNA, 2008). After circulating in the core, the moderatortransfers the acquired heat to the cooling system (WNA, 2008). The substance that circulates throughout the cooling system is called the coolant, which could vary from a variety of substancesincluding regular water, heavy water, carbon dioxide, and liquid sodium (WNA, 2008). In order to make sure that fission is controlled within the reactor is and that the reactor itself does not become anuclear bomb, control rods which are comprised of a neutron-absorbing material, such as boron, are used and if Figure 2: Pressurized Water reactor
Source: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (n.d.)...