Chapter 19, Problem 60A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: A breeder reactor needs to be defined. The difficulties poses due to which it is not used in USA for generating electricity needs to be explained.

Concept introduction: One potential problem facing the nuclear power industry is the limited abundance of $U$ . It is believed by some scientists we have almost depleted the uranium deposits enriched in $U$ which makes the production of nuclear fuel economically feasible. Because of this possibility, reactors have been developed in which fissionable fuel is actually produced while the reactor runs.

Answer to Problem 60A

Due to some safety and handling problem breeder reactor is not used USA.

Explanation of Solution

Breeder reactor: It is a reactor where non-fissionable natural uranium $U$ is converted to fissionable $Pu$ . The reaction involves absorption of a neutron, followed by production of two beta particles.

The schematic representation of the reaction is,

  $U+n\to U\to Np+e\to Pu+e$

As the reactor runs and $U$ is split, some of the excess neutrons are absorbed by $U$ to produce $Pu$ .The $Pu$ is then separated out and used to fuel the reactor. Such a reactor thus “breeds” nuclear fuel as it operates.

The main reason breeder reactor is not used USA is because of safety problem. Handling plutonium is hazardous because it is toxic and flammable when in contact with air. Apart from that breeder reactor is costly to build.

Conclusion

Due to some safety and handling problem breeder reactor is not used USA.