What is a thermal breeder reactor?

What is a thermal breeder reactor?

A breeder reactor in which the fission chain reaction is sustained by thermal neutrons.

What is the advantage of fast breeder reactor Programme in India?

A Fast Breeder Nuclear Reactor uses fast neutron to generate more nuclear fuels while generating power. It enhanced the efficiency of the use of resources. It uses a mixed oxide fuel of 20% plutonium dioxide and 80% uranium dioxide. The heat developed per unit volume of the core is less.

Where are breeder reactors used?

There are four countries in the world that currently have operating fast breeder nuclear reactors: China, Japan, India and Russia.

How fast does breeder reactor work?

A fast-breeder nuclear reactor produces more fuel than it consumes, while generating energy. Conventional reactors use uranium as fuel and produce some plutonium. Breeders produce much more plutonium, which can be separated and reused as fuel.

Which coolant is used in fast breeder reactor?

sodium
A liquid metal fast breeder reactor is so named because during conversion of the fertile material into fissile material use is made of high-energy (“fast”) neutrons and the coolant employed is sodium, which remains in the liquid state (“liquid metal”) at the prevailing high working temperatures.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of breeder reactors?

A breeder reactor creates 30% more fuel than it consumes. After an initial introduction of enriched uranium, the reactor only needs infrequent addition of stable uranium, which is then converted into the fuel. It can generate much more energy than traditional coal power plants.

What is the main function of a breeder reactor?

Breeder reactor, nuclear reactor that produces more fissionable material than it consumes to generate energy. This special type of reactor is designed to extend the nuclear fuel supply for electric power generation.

Is nuclear energy cheap or expensive?

Nuclear power plants are expensive to build but relatively cheap to run. In many places, nuclear energy is competitive with fossil fuels as a means of electricity generation. Waste disposal and decommissioning costs are usually fully included in the operating costs.