1. Nuclear Reactor Design

2. Fuel Enrichment  Enriching Uranium results in a greater number of atoms that can be split through fission, releasing more energy  U-235 is the most common enriched fuel source  Normally, the concentration of U-235 is only about 0.7%, however enriching the fuel increases this to approximately 5%  There are two methods to enrich Uranium: Gaseous Diffusion: Uses Uranium Hexafluoride. Similar to a mass spectrometer Laser Separation: Also uses Uranium Hexafluoride. Lasers impart higher amount of energy on lighter particles. These high-energy particles travel faster and can be collected in a process similar to mass spectrometry.

3. Energy Transformations  Radioactivity= emission of smaller particles from a larger atom Alpha particles- A hydrogen 4 atom is released Beta particles- An electron is released Gamma particles- A high-energy photon is released  These particles contain large amounts of kinetic energy.  Water is pumped through the reactor chamber through metal pipes.  The high energy particles collide with the pipes and water and heat the water.  The water is vaporized and converted to steam  The steam is channeled through pipes to huge turbines  The turbines are turned and convert the kinetic energy of the steam into electric energy.

4. Moderators and Control Rods Heat Exchanger  Enormous rods made out of carbon  Raised or lowered to control output of neutrons  Less neutrons traveling in reactor= lower heat  They do not actually remove neutrons, simply slow them down  Large reservoir of water  Pumped through the chamber to absorb excess heat  Vaporizes, but instead of turning turbines it is immediately re-condensed

5. Production of Plutonium-239 Uses of Plutonium-239  Plutonium is produced when high-energy neutrons hit other atoms of uranium. They are absorbed and the uranium is converted to Plutonium-239  This Plutonium is produced in very small quantities  Plutonium is very high energy  Similar to highly enriched Uranium  Capable of weapon use

6. Pebble-Bed Nuclear Reactor  Uses fuel spheres instead of fuel rods  Little to no chance of meltdown  Non Radiation-emitting  “Pebbles” are made up of several layers consisting of carbon, polymer, and a core of Uranium

7. Bibliography http://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cycle-fac/ur-enrichment.html https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Pebble_bed_reactor. htmlhttps://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Pebble_bed_reactor. html http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle/Conversion-Enrichment- and-Fabrication/Uranium-Enrichmenthttp://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle/Conversion-Enrichment- and-Fabrication/Uranium-Enrichment http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Booklets/NuclearFuelCycle/nfc0811.pdf http://www.energy.gov/ne/nuclear-fuel-cycle