BRAINCAKENuclear Reactors
The thermonuclear reactor in a nuclear power station contains uranium-235 fuel rods in a steel vessel called the reactor core. The fuel rods are surrounded by a moderator (water) to slow down the neutrons. Control rods made of boron or cadmium absorb any spare neutrons and slow the reaction down. Water is pumped into the reactor at high pressure where it is used as a coolant. The water is heated and then passed through a heat exchanger where it is used to produce steam that can turn a steam turbine and generate electricity.
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More in Nuclear Energy
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- Nuclear Fission
- Nuclear Fusion
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All 8 lessons in Nuclear Energy · All OCR A-level Physics topics