Friday, November 7, 2008

Uranium Fission Reactor

Breeder Reactors

92238U can capture neutrons and become
92239U. On B radiation it becomes
93239Np. On beta radiation it becomes
94239Pu.


94239Pu when hit by neutron becomes 94240Pu, which is a fissionable material. Thus if out of the 2.47 neutrons produced on average in fission reaction, one neutron is absorbed by 238U we produce fuel equivalent to what is consumed. Such a reactor is called breeder reactor.

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