The discovery of the neutron was the precursor of the atomicthe era of mankind, because in the hands of physicists there was a particle capable, due to the absence of charge, to penetrate into any, even heavy, nuclei. In the course of experiments on the bombardment of uranium nuclei with neutrons, carried out by the Italian physicist E. Fermi, radioactive isotopes and transuranium elements — neptunium and plutonium — were obtained. Thus, it became possible to create a nuclear reactor - an installation that is superior in energy to all that was previously created by mankind.
An atomic reactor is an apparatus wherecontrolled reaction of nuclear decay, based on the chain principle. This principle is as follows. The nuclei of uranium, bombarded by neutrons, decay and form several new neutrons, which, in turn, cause the division of the following nuclei. With this process, the number of neutrons is increasing rapidly. The ratio of the number of neutrons in one phase of fission to the number of neutrons of the previous phase of nuclear decay is called the multiplication factor.
So that the nuclear reaction is controlled, andan atomic reactor is required, which is used at nuclear power plants, submarines, atomic icebreakers, in experimental nuclear installations, etc. Uncontrolled nuclear reaction inevitably leads to an explosion of tremendous destructive power. This type of chain reaction is used exclusively in nuclear bombs, the explosion of which is the goal of nuclear decay.
Nuclear reactor in which the releasedneutrons move with great speed, in order to control the reaction, they are equipped with special materials that absorb part of the energy of elementary particles. Such materials, which have the ability to reduce the speed and reduce the inertia of neutron motion, are called nuclear reaction retarders.
The principle of operation of an atomic reactor isnext. The internal cavity of the reactor is filled with distilled water circulating inside the special tubes. The atomic reactor is automatically switched on when graphite rods absorbing a part of the neutron energy are removed from the core. With the onset of the chain reaction, a huge amount of thermal energy is released, which, circulating in the reactor core, reaches the fuel cells. When this water is heated to a temperature of 320 aboutFROM.
Then the water of the primary circuit, moving inside alongthe tubes of the steam generator, gives thermal energy received from the reactor core, the water of the second circuit, while not in contact with it, which eliminates the ingress of radioactive particles outside the reactor hall.
The further process is no different fromWhat happens in any thermal power plant is secondary water that has turned into steam, which gives rotation to the turbines. And the turbines activate giant electric generators, which generate electrical energy.
Nuclear reactor is not strictly humanan invention. Since the same laws of physics operate in the entire Universe, the energy of nuclear decay is necessary to maintain the harmonious structure of the cosmos and life on Earth. Natural natural nuclear reactor are stars. And one of them is the Sun, which by its energy of thermonuclear fusion created all the conditions for the origin of life on our planet.
