Nuclear energy Flashcards

1
Q

What is nuclear energy

A

Nuclear energy is the energy in the nucleus, core of the atom that holds it together.

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2
Q

What is fission

A

Fission is when the nucleus is split into two nuclei. This releases energy

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3
Q

What is fusion

A

Two light nuclei merge to form a single heavier nucleus

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4
Q

Does the sun do fission or fusion

A

fusion

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5
Q

How many radioactive elements are there

A

37

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6
Q

How many of the radioactive elements are manmade

A

26

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7
Q

What are the types of radiation

A

Alpha radiation, beta radiation, gamma rays, neutron emissions

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8
Q

Is alpha penetration power or beta penetration power higher

A

beta

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9
Q

Fill in the blanks with alpha and beta:
_______ could be blocked by sheet of papers but _______
could by plastics or thin layers of aluminum

A

alpha
beta

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10
Q

Fill in the blanks with alpha and beta:
______ particles consists of two protons and two
neutrons whereas ______ particles consist of high-energy
electrons and positrons. ______ has two positive charges (because of protons)
while _______ has negative and positive charges.

A

alpha
beta
alpha
beta

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11
Q

During the fission of heavier elements, alpha radiation is released as ___ protons and ___ neutrons

A

2
2

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12
Q

Define half life

A

The time taken for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay.

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13
Q

What does the decay law describe

A

The Decay Law describes how the quantity of a radioactive substance decreases over time.

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14
Q

What is Activity (A) measured in and what does it represent

A

Activity (𝑨) is measured in units of Becquerels (Bq) and Curies (Ci), where one Curie
is equivalent to 3.7Γ—1010 Becquerels

The number of disintegrations, or decays, per second (dps) of a radioisotope.
𝑨=𝝀𝑡

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15
Q

What’s the world total quantity of uranium. in tons

A

6,147,800

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16
Q

What 3 countries account for more than 2/3 of the total world production of uranium

A

Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia

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17
Q

Fill in the blanks:
The nuclear fuel
cycle includes all activities involved in __________, _________, and ___________
nuclear fuel

A

procuring, refining, and utilizing

18
Q

Define front end cycle

A

The steps taken before the nuclear reactors power generation

19
Q

Define Back end cycle

A

The steps taken to safely handle, prepare, and dispose of used nuclear fuel

20
Q

What steps are included in the front end cycle

A

mining, milling, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication

21
Q

What steps are included in the back end cycle

A

interim storage, spent fuel reprocessing, final disposition

22
Q

Which step of the nuclear fuel cycle is not in the front end cycle or the back end cycle

A

nuclear reactor step

23
Q

List the steps in the nuclear fuel cycle

A

mining, miling, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, nuclear reactor, interim storage, spent fuel reprocessing(goes back to enrichment and fuel fabrication), final disposition

24
Q

What are the types of nuclear reactors

A

Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor(AGR), Gas-cooled reactor(Magnox), High-temperature gas reactor (Fast Breeder), Pressurized Water Reactor(PRW), Graphite boiling water reactor (GBWR), boiling water reactor (BWR), Canadian deuterium uranium(CANDU)

25
What are the three main components of the pressurized water reactor
Primary cooling loop, secondary cooling loop, steam generation and usage
26
Describe a pressurized water reactor and how it creates electricity
1. Primary cooling loop transports heat from the reactor core, the water flows from the core to a steam generator through a pressurizer 2. Secondary cooling loop is at a lower pressure and receives water slightly below boiling temperature. 3. Steam generation process is when the water becomes steam that drives turbines to produces electrical power.
27
Describe how the boiling water reactor works
At an intermediate pressure water flows through the reactor core and is directly boiled into steam within the reactor vessel. Separators and dryers convert the saturated steam into superheated steam, powering a steam turbine to produce electricity
28
Which nuclear reactor is the graphite boiling water reactor similar to? and how is it set apart from that one
Similar to the boiling water reactor. It is set apart due to its use of graphite and oxygen in the control rods, differing from traditional BWR designs
29
What is the dual-use potentials of the GBWR
power generation and plutonium production
30
What is the fuel type of the Canadian deuterium uranium
natural uranium
31
What is the fuel assembly design for CANDU
composed of zirconium alloy-clad tubes contains natural uranium dioxide pellets
32
For the CANDU, can the fuel assemblies be changed while the reactor is operational
yes New assemblies are inserted at one end of the pressure tube; spent fuel is removed from the opposite end.
33
What is the advantage for the CANDU
It allows higher capacity ratios compared to other reactor types. This means the ratio of actual output energy over maximum possible energy that could be
34
What is the fuel type and moderator for the gas-cooled reactor(Magnox)
fuel type is natural uranium moderator is graphite
35
What is the coolant and primary use location for the Magnox
CO2, alternative helium Predominantly UK and France
36
What is the type of fuel rod cladding used for the Magnox
magnesium aluminum alloys
37
Does the advanced gas-cooled reactor use natural uranium or enriched uranium
enriched uranium
38
What type of coolant does the advanced gas-cooled reactor use
CO2 or helium
39
What are the fuel types of the high-temperature gas reactor (fast breeder)
uranium-235, uranium-238, and plutonium-239
40
What is the cooling system for the high-temperature gas reactor(fast breeder)and what is the outlet temperature
helium-cooled system outlet temp of 8500Β°C
41
Which reactor is still in the developmental stages
high-temperature gas reactor - fast breeder
42
What are the safety concerns of the high temperature gas reactor
It employs liquid sodium in the main cycle which present risks due to the flammability with air and explosiveness with water