NUCLEAR ENERGY

Main components of a nuclear reactor

Core – It’s the focal point of the reactor, where fuel is contained and nuclear fission reactions take place.

Fuel – Generally, fuel is made of small enriched uranium oxide rods, stacked so as to form cylinders. These rods are wrapped in metal sheathes (steel or zirconium alloy), which allow heat to pass through while blocking the radioactive elements produced by fission.

Moderator – This is a material placed in the reactor to slow down the neutrons produced by fission, in order to reach the most suitable speed allowing the chain reaction to continue.

Heat-transfer fluid (or coolant) - This fluid (liquid or gas) cools the core and carries outside the heat that is produced there. The most commonly used fluid is water.

Control rods – These are rods used in specific materials (silver, indium, cadmium or boron carbide) to control fission inside the core. 

Vessel – The large steel recipient containing the core, the control rods and the heat-transfer fluid.

All the components of the reactor are container in a solid concrete structure that guarantees further isolation from external environment. This structure is made of concrete that is one-metre thick, covered by steel. The most recent reactors sometimes contain two containment structures and are designed to defy all types of accidental events, even the impact of an aircraft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UwexvaCMWA

NUCLEAR REACTOR