In nuclear power stations, nuclei are split by having neutrons fired at them, these release other neutrons as well as a large amount of energy. The energy is used to create electricity, and the radioactive by-products are disposed of.
Control rods can absorb neutrons. If there are two many neutrons the chain reaction could get out of control, so the control rods are lowered in to the reaction to absorb some neutrons and control the reaction.
The moderator slows neutrons down so that they are at the right speed to split nuclei, the moderator is usually water.
great blog! by the way, isn't graphite used as a moderator, not water? cheers :)
ReplyDeleteBy water I think she means "light water" such as hydrogen, and "heavy water" such as Deuterium. Carbon is also used as a moderator in the form of reactor-grade graphite or pyrolytic carbon.
DeleteSource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_moderator#Materials_used
graphite is usually used as a moderator when Co2 is the heat transfer
DeleteBoth can be used as moderators regardless of the nucleur scenario posed. You can use Graphite (Just repeating units of carbon atoms (C), or Water (H2O).
Deletetoo*
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