Recent content by nuclear

hi guys, I am just wondering is it possible in reality to construct a fission reactor that will operate for decades or even centuries without refueling? Theoretically, we can do so if the macroscopic absorption cross section for the fertile nuclide equals that for the fissile species. and few...

another question. consider the possibility of designing a fission reactor that will operate for decades or even centuries without refueling. limit the investigation to thermal reactors with reaction rates = 2200 m/s cross section. Consider 3 fissile/fertile combinations: 1) Fissile= U-233...

oops sorry, i forgot to mention just now. i was asked to approach this problem based on the assumption that all neutron is absorbed in the fertile material. so i guess there should be no other material which will absorb the neutron. of course i can be wrong. i m just a newbie.

thank you mathman. the quantity of U-238 is not given, i was only asked how long will it take to produce 20-kg of Pu-239. based on the equation U-238 + n -> U-239 -> Np-239 -> Pu-239 i interpreted it as one mole of U-238 when irradiated by 1 neutron will produce one mole of Pu-239. And...

actually i was given a question that sound like this. using a portable neutron generator which generates 14 MeV neutrons at 1 * 10^12 neutrons/second via the D-T fusion reaction, how long does it take to produce 20kg of Pu-239? I am just wondering is that possible?

i m a newbie in nuclear field. i m just wondering how difficult plutonium is produced? is it that u just irradiate U-238 with a neutron and u will get a Pu-239? is there any constraint or technical difficulty for that?

no, the speed of the neutron is not given and i assumed the neutron travel at the speed of light to earth. is it reasonable? so i guess the answer won't differ too signigicantly since the law of physics works under different frame and just the classical mechanics is not that good dealing...

i was asked to calculate the time that the neutrons from the sun reach the earth. i had no problem with that but my problem comes from the 2nd part. i was asked "would you expect a solution based on classical mechanices to differ significantly from one based on special relativity and why?"...