![]() ![]() The containment vessel: This is a thick concrete shield that absorbs neutrons and ionising radiation.The coolant: This is a liquid or gas that transfers energy from reactor to the heat exchanger.The control rods: normally made of Boron, these help control the fission reaction.The moderator: the fuel rods are encased in the moderator (graphite is sometimes used) and help the fission reaction to proceed efficiently.The fuel rods: source of enriched Uranium fuel that undergoes fission reactions.This drives the generator to produce electricity - kinetic to electrical energy.The steam drives the turbine (heat to kinetic energy – the same as a conventional power station). ![]() (The water in the boiler NEVER actually comes into contact with the same coolant that is used in the reactor but is transferred from the reactor to the external water by using a HEAT EXCHANGER.) Heat from the nuclear reaction is used to change water into steam in the boiler.In times of low demand, control rods are lowered to absorb neutrons and hence decrease the number of reactions less reactions = less heat energy produced. In times of high energy demand, control rods are raised allowing more reactions to take place. When the Boron absorbs the neutrons then the chain reaction will slow down due to lack of neutrons producing reactions. This means it will not undergo a fission reaction when bombarded with neutrons. The chain reaction is controlled by Boron control rods. In a nuclear power station nuclear fuel undergoes a controlled chain reaction in the reactor to produce heat - nuclear to heat energy. The main nuclear fuels are uranium and plutonium. ![]()
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