Fertile: Difference between revisions
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<onlyinclude>'''Fertile''' is a term used to describe an [[isotope]] that is not itself [[fissile]] (it cannot simply undergo [[fission]] by thermal [[neutron]]s), but can be converted into a fissile material through [[irradiation]] in a [[nuclear reactor]]. After this, the fission of this isotope could result from a [[radioactive decay]].</onlyinclude><ref>World Nuclear Association. (June 16, 2015). ''Glossary'' [Online]. Available: http://www.world-nuclear.org/Nuclear-Basics/Glossary/#F</ref> [[Uranium]]-238 and [[thorium]]-232 are known as fertile materials, and the production of fissile materials from them after capturing a neutron is known as '''breeding'''.<ref>IEER. (June 16, 2015). ''Fertile Materials'' [Online]. Available: http://ieer.org/resource/factsheets/basics-nuclear-physics-fission/</ref> When these fertile materials capture neutrons, they are converted into fissile [[plutonium]]-239 and uranium-233, respectively.<ref>NRC Glossary. (July 6, 2015). ''Fertile Material'' [Online]. Available: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/fertile-material.html</ref> | <onlyinclude>'''Fertile''' is a term used to describe an [[isotope]] that is not itself [[fissile]] (it cannot simply undergo [[fission]] by thermal [[neutron]]s), but can be converted into a fissile material through [[irradiation]] in a [[nuclear reactor]]. After this, the fission of this isotope could result from a [[radioactive decay]].</onlyinclude><ref>World Nuclear Association. (June 16, 2015). ''Glossary'' [Online]. Available: http://www.world-nuclear.org/Nuclear-Basics/Glossary/#F</ref> [[Uranium]]-238 and [[thorium]]-232 are known as fertile materials, and the production of fissile materials from them after capturing a neutron is known as '''breeding'''.<ref>IEER. (June 16, 2015). ''Fertile Materials'' [Online]. Available: http://ieer.org/resource/factsheets/basics-nuclear-physics-fission/</ref> When these fertile materials capture neutrons, they are converted into fissile [[plutonium]]-239 and uranium-233, respectively.<ref>NRC Glossary. (July 6, 2015). ''Fertile Material'' [Online]. Available: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/fertile-material.html</ref> | ||
Generally, larger nuclei with even [[atomic mass]]es (such as thorium-232, plutonium-238, and uranium-238) are | Generally, larger nuclei with even [[atomic mass]]es (such as thorium-232, plutonium-238, and uranium-238) are fertile materials, but by absorbing a neutron and turning into nuclei with odd atomic masses they become fissile material.<ref name=elib>C.Ferguson. ''Nuclear Energy: What Everyone Needs to Know'', 1st ed. Cary, NC, USA: Oxford University Press, USA, 2011.</ref> Generally, this absorption results in an energetically unstable product and thus this product undergoes a radioactive decay fairly quickly until it reaches a fissile product that can be used as a [[nuclear fuel]].<ref name=elib/> | ||
==Breeder Reactors== | ==Breeder Reactors== | ||
Revision as of 23:58, 21 March 2016
Fertile is a term used to describe an isotope that is not itself fissile (it cannot simply undergo fission by thermal neutrons), but can be converted into a fissile material through irradiation in a nuclear reactor. After this, the fission of this isotope could result from a radioactive decay.[2] Uranium-238 and thorium-232 are known as fertile materials, and the production of fissile materials from them after capturing a neutron is known as breeding.[3] When these fertile materials capture neutrons, they are converted into fissile plutonium-239 and uranium-233, respectively.[4]
Generally, larger nuclei with even atomic masses (such as thorium-232, plutonium-238, and uranium-238) are fertile materials, but by absorbing a neutron and turning into nuclei with odd atomic masses they become fissile material.[5] Generally, this absorption results in an energetically unstable product and thus this product undergoes a radioactive decay fairly quickly until it reaches a fissile product that can be used as a nuclear fuel.[5]
Breeder Reactors
There is a special type of reactor that makes use of fertile isotopes to create nuclear fuel. These reactors are known as breeder reactors as they irradiate a fertile isotope inside of the reactor, causing the isotope to absorb a neutron and decay to a fissile isotope. In these reactors, fissile plutonium-239 is generally created by bombarding uranium-238 with neutrons. These reactors create fissile material more quickly than they could use a different fissile material (such as uranium-235) as fuel.[6]
References
- ↑ Wikimedia Commons. (July 6, 2015). Uranium238 [Online]. Available:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Uranium238.jpg#/media/File:Uranium238.jpg
- ↑ World Nuclear Association. (June 16, 2015). Glossary [Online]. Available: http://www.world-nuclear.org/Nuclear-Basics/Glossary/#F
- ↑ IEER. (June 16, 2015). Fertile Materials [Online]. Available: http://ieer.org/resource/factsheets/basics-nuclear-physics-fission/
- ↑ NRC Glossary. (July 6, 2015). Fertile Material [Online]. Available: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/fertile-material.html
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 C.Ferguson. Nuclear Energy: What Everyone Needs to Know, 1st ed. Cary, NC, USA: Oxford University Press, USA, 2011.
- ↑ Hyperphysics. (July 6, 2015). Fast Breeder Reactors [Online]. Available: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nucene/fasbre.html
