Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Re: a new nuclear option?



I'm sure we are all grateful to Ludwik for his information on plutonium.
I will add a small bit to it. The CANDU (Canadian Deuterium And Natural
Uranium*) system produces about as much Pu-239 as it burns U-235 during
its productive life in the reactor. One might ask "Why take it out then?
Why not leave it in to finish burning the Pu, too?" I think (but I'm not
sure) that the answer is the poisons (again a metaphor for nuclides with
large thermal neutron capture cross-sections) that build up in the mixed
fission products reduce the effectiveness of the fuel rods and they are
replaced with poison free new fuel. Perhaps someone can help me out on
that surmise.

Leigh