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A breeder reactor is a nuclear reactor that creates more fissile material than it consumes. It requires an initial charge of fissile material, such as highly enriched uranium or plutonium, and a supply of fertile material, such as natural uranium, depleted uranium or thorium. Excess neutrons generated in the fission reaction are absorbed by the fertile isotope, which is transmuted to a fissile isotope.
Breeder reactors can utilize nearly 100% of the energy contained in uranium and thorium ores, while the reactors currently used for nuclear power generation can use at most 1%. They can also reuse waste from existing reactors as fuel, until nothing but fission products is left. Since the supply of fertile materials on Earth is extremely large, the introduction of breeder reactors would turn fission-based nuclear power into a technology that is sustainable for nearly as long as solar power, i.e. until the Sun burns out.
Types of fuel cycles used 1. Uranium-plutonium fuel cycle: The fertile material is uranium-238, the major isotope in natural uranium. The fissile material is plutonium. 2. Thorium-uranium fuel cycle: The fertile material is thorium-232, the only naturally occurring isotope of thorium. The fissile material is uranium-233.
Types of breeder reactors 1. Fast breeder reactor or FBR: A fast reactor is a nuclear reactor which does not use a moderator - a substance that slows down neutrons. The superior neutron economy of a fast neutron reactor makes it possible to build a reactor that, after its initial fuel charge of plutonium, requires only natural (or even depleted) uranium feedstock as input to its fuel cycle. This fuel cycle has been termed the plutonium economy. 2. Thermal breeder reactor: A thermal reactor uses moderator to slow down neutrons substantially. This is called a "thermal" spectrum, and its neutrons are called "thermal" neutrons. The most common moderator is water, and graphite is also common. The excellent neutron capture characteristics of fissile uranium-233 make it possible to build a moderated reactor that, after its initial fuel charge of enriched uranium, plutonium, requires only thorium as input to its fuel cycle. Thorium-232 produces uranium-233 after neutron capture and beta decay.
By: Dr. Vivek Rana ProfileResourcesReport error
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