EPRI Reactor Physics – Q’s And A’s
What are the special characteristics of nuclear technology? Correct Ans
- -nuclear fuel contains dense concentration of energy
-byproducts of nuclear power are radioactive
radioactive decay continues producing heat after reactor is shut down
How does a nuclear power plant generate electricity? Correct Ans -
-nuclear fission creates heat
-heat generates steam
-steam rotates turbine
-turbine turns the generator to produce electricity
What is fission? Correct Ans - a neutron interaction where a
nucleus absorbs a neutron, splits into two new nuclei and releases energy
How to turbines in a nuclear plant work Correct Ans - rotated by
expanding steam
what do the fission fragments emit Correct Ans - neutrons and
gamma rays and undergo radioactive decay
what is the fuel for a nuclear steam supply system Correct Ans -
enriched uranium
size of fuel pellets Correct Ans - 0.4in D by 0.5in L
Why do pellets have small diameters Correct Ans - so heat can be
removed effectively
fuel pellets are stacked into a... Correct Ans - 12 feet sealed fuel rod
what is the tube called Correct Ans - cladding
what is the cladding material Correct Ans - zirconium alloy
how thick is the cladding Correct Ans - 0.04inches
, why was the cladding material chosen? Correct Ans - -good at
transmitting heat
-does not absorb neutrons
-non-corrosive
what is a set of fuel rods called Correct Ans - fuel assembly
neutrons born in fission have... Correct Ans - high kinetic energy
(need to be slowed down)
what is used to slow down fast neutrons Correct Ans - moderator
(water)
what is used to remove heat from the reactor core Correct Ans -
coolant (water)
what is light water Correct Ans - no neutron in hydrogen atom
(water)
what is fission rate Correct Ans - number of fissions per second
how is fission rate controlled Correct Ans - by adding or removing
something that absorbs neutrons
what happens to fission rate when a neutron absorber is added Correct
Ans - slows down
one method of absorbing neutrons Correct Ans - control rods
(made of substance that absorbs neutrons)
other methods for controlling fission rate in PWR Correct Ans -
adding boric acid to moderator (it absorbs neutrons)
-add boric acid, slow fission rate
other methods for controlling fission rate in BWR Correct Ans - -
increasing recirculation pump speed
-increase pump speed, less steam voids, faster fission rate,
What are the special characteristics of nuclear technology? Correct Ans
- -nuclear fuel contains dense concentration of energy
-byproducts of nuclear power are radioactive
radioactive decay continues producing heat after reactor is shut down
How does a nuclear power plant generate electricity? Correct Ans -
-nuclear fission creates heat
-heat generates steam
-steam rotates turbine
-turbine turns the generator to produce electricity
What is fission? Correct Ans - a neutron interaction where a
nucleus absorbs a neutron, splits into two new nuclei and releases energy
How to turbines in a nuclear plant work Correct Ans - rotated by
expanding steam
what do the fission fragments emit Correct Ans - neutrons and
gamma rays and undergo radioactive decay
what is the fuel for a nuclear steam supply system Correct Ans -
enriched uranium
size of fuel pellets Correct Ans - 0.4in D by 0.5in L
Why do pellets have small diameters Correct Ans - so heat can be
removed effectively
fuel pellets are stacked into a... Correct Ans - 12 feet sealed fuel rod
what is the tube called Correct Ans - cladding
what is the cladding material Correct Ans - zirconium alloy
how thick is the cladding Correct Ans - 0.04inches
, why was the cladding material chosen? Correct Ans - -good at
transmitting heat
-does not absorb neutrons
-non-corrosive
what is a set of fuel rods called Correct Ans - fuel assembly
neutrons born in fission have... Correct Ans - high kinetic energy
(need to be slowed down)
what is used to slow down fast neutrons Correct Ans - moderator
(water)
what is used to remove heat from the reactor core Correct Ans -
coolant (water)
what is light water Correct Ans - no neutron in hydrogen atom
(water)
what is fission rate Correct Ans - number of fissions per second
how is fission rate controlled Correct Ans - by adding or removing
something that absorbs neutrons
what happens to fission rate when a neutron absorber is added Correct
Ans - slows down
one method of absorbing neutrons Correct Ans - control rods
(made of substance that absorbs neutrons)
other methods for controlling fission rate in PWR Correct Ans -
adding boric acid to moderator (it absorbs neutrons)
-add boric acid, slow fission rate
other methods for controlling fission rate in BWR Correct Ans - -
increasing recirculation pump speed
-increase pump speed, less steam voids, faster fission rate,
