Nuclear Reactions: Exploring Power Plants & Bombs

[WannabChemist]

(1)How does the nuclear reaction in a power plant differ, from the the one that occurs in a nuclear bomb?

(2)I understand how the bomb works, and how a nuclear power plant works. What I don't understand is: how do Uranium fuel rods boil water in a power plant? Do they actually detonate a sort of bomb inside a very solid structure that boils water?

(3)Or do they just let Uranium 235 and 238 decay passively by themselves overtime (producing just enough heat to boil the water.

(4)Are nuclear reactions possible without causing massive damage/radiation output?

(5)Can any element be used in a Nuclear Reaction, presumably to a much lesser effect than Uranium/Plutonium. Presumably, you can separate the nucleus of any atom...

I have searched for these answers, but have not found any that are satisfactory.

 

[malawi_glenn]

i) the reactions in power plant is under control, i.e the number of fission released neutrons per nucleus are constant in time.

ii) when neutron hits uranium nucleus in rod, the uranium nucleus split in two segments which gains lots of kinetic energy from the released binding energy (pot - energy) in the reaction. Temperature of a sample = mean kinetic energy of the constituents of a sample. The temperature of the rod ( about 1000K) will heat the water.

iii) No, the fission is induced by neutrons, the temperature the rod would get from ordinary decay is not enough to boil water.

iv) A nuclear reaction is of the form A + B = C + D, so there are many kinds of nuclear reactions; fusion, fission, alpha decay, beta decay, gamma decay, etc etc

v) Again, nuclear reaction is a process where nuclei change their properties, e.g 2H -> 1D etc. But not all reactions have the same properties etc.

Pick up any introductory textbook on Nuclear physics, this is also a good site:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/HFrame.html

 

[sir-pinski]

(1) The main difference between a nuclear reaction in a power plant and a nuclear bomb is the control and purpose of the reaction. In a power plant, the nuclear reaction is carefully controlled to produce heat, which is then used to generate electricity. This is achieved through a process called nuclear fission, where the nucleus of a heavy atom (such as uranium) is split into smaller fragments, releasing a large amount of energy. In a nuclear bomb, the reaction is uncontrolled and designed to release a massive amount of energy in a short period of time, resulting in an explosion. This is achieved through either nuclear fission or fusion, where the nuclei of atoms are combined to form larger, more stable nuclei.

(2) In a nuclear power plant, the uranium fuel rods are placed in a reactor core, where they undergo controlled nuclear fission reactions. The heat generated by these reactions is used to boil water, which then produces steam that drives turbines to generate electricity. The fuel rods themselves do not detonate like a bomb, but rather the nuclear reactions are carefully controlled and sustained to produce a steady supply of heat.

(3) The uranium fuel rods do not passively decay over time in a nuclear power plant. Instead, they are actively undergoing controlled fission reactions, which produce heat. The rate of these reactions can be controlled by adjusting the amount of uranium fuel and other factors in the reactor.

(4) Nuclear reactions can be controlled and used for peaceful purposes, such as generating electricity, without causing massive damage or radiation output. However, safety measures and regulations are in place to ensure that these reactions are carefully monitored and controlled to prevent accidents.

(5) While uranium and plutonium are the most commonly used elements in nuclear reactions, other elements such as thorium and neptunium can also be used. However, the amount of energy produced from these reactions may be much lower compared to uranium and plutonium. Additionally, not all elements can undergo nuclear reactions, as they may be too stable to split or fuse. The process of separating the nucleus of an atom, known as nuclear transmutation, is also very complex and requires advanced technology.