tuumakütuseks

Tuumakütuseks refers to the material used in nuclear reactors to sustain a nuclear chain reaction. The most common form of tuumakütuseks is uranium, typically enriched uranium-235. This specific isotope of uranium is fissile, meaning it can undergo nuclear fission when struck by a neutron, releasing a significant amount of energy and more neutrons, which then continue the chain reaction. Other fissile materials, such as plutonium-239, can also be used as tuumakütuseks, though uranium remains the dominant choice.

The tuumakütuseks is usually fabricated into fuel rods, which are long, slender tubes containing ceramic pellets of the fissile material. These fuel rods are then bundled together to form fuel assemblies. Within the reactor core, these fuel assemblies are surrounded by a moderator, such as water or graphite, which slows down the fast neutrons released during fission, making them more likely to cause further fission events. Control rods, made of neutron-absorbing materials like cadmium or boron, are also present and can be inserted or withdrawn from the core to regulate the rate of the chain reaction and prevent it from becoming uncontrolled. The design and composition of tuumakütuseks are critical for the safe and efficient operation of nuclear power plants and other nuclear applications.

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