Neutron absorbers

These assemblies are made of a spider on which 2,5 to 4 m long rods are welded. These rods (16 to 24 per assembly) contain neutron-absorbing material. The rod envelope is made of 0,5 to 1 mm thick steel. The rod diameter is approximately 10 mm. 

Europium has been identified spectroscopically in the sun and certain stars. Seventeen isotopes are now recognized. Europium isotopes are good neutron absorbers and are being studied for use in nuclear control applications. 

Boron trifluoride is also employed in nuclear technology by uti1i2ing several nuclear characteristics of the boron atom. Of the two isotopes, B and B, only B has a significant absorption cross section for thermal neutrons. It is used in " BF as a neutron-absorbing medium in proportional neutron counters and for controlling nuclear reactors (qv). Some of the complexes of trifluoroborane have been used for the separation of the boron isotopes and the enrichment of B as (84). 

Hafnium is obtained as a by-product of the production of hafnium-free nuclear-grade 2irconium (see Nuclear reactors Zirconiumand zirconium compounds). Hafnium s primary use is as a minor strengthening agent in high temperature nickel-base superakoys. Additionally, hafnium is used as a neutron-absorber material, primarily in the form of control rods in nuclear reactors. 

The fourth component is the set of control rods, which serve to adjust the power level and, when needed, to shut down the reactor. These are also viewed as safety rods. Control rods are composed of strong neutron absorbers such as boron, cadmium, silver, indium, or hafnium, or an alloy of two or more metals. 

The Model 412 PWR uses several control mechanisms. The first is the control cluster, consisting of a set of 25 hafnium metal rods coimected by a spider and inserted in the vacant spaces of 53 of the fuel assembhes (see Fig. 6). The clusters can be moved up and down, or released to shut down the reactor quickly. The rods are also used to (/) provide positive reactivity for the startup of the reactor from cold conditions, (2) make adjustments in power that fit the load demand on the system, (J) help shape the core power distribution to assure favorable fuel consumption and avoid hot spots on fuel cladding, and (4) compensate for the production and consumption of the strongly neutron-absorbing fission product xenon-135. Other PWRs use an alloy of cadmium, indium, and silver, all strong neutron absorbers, as control material. 

Control of the core is affected by movable control rods which contain neutron absorbers soluble neutron absorbers ia the coolant, called chemical shim fixed burnable neutron absorbers and the intrinsic feature of negative reactivity coefficients. Gross changes ia fission reaction rates, as well as start-up and shutdown of the fission reactions, are effected by the control rods. In a typical PWR, ca 90 control rods are used. These, iaserted from the top of the core, contain strong neutron absorbers such as boron, cadmium, or hafnium, and are made up of a cadmium—iadium—silver alloy, clad ia stainless steel. The movement of the control rods is governed remotely by an operator ia the control room. Safety circuitry automatically iaserts the rods ia the event of an abnormal power or reactivity transient. 

Approximately 5% of the U.S. consumption of is in agriculture. Boron is a necessary trace nutrient for plants and is added in small quantities to a number of fertilizers. Borates are also used in crop sprays for fast rehef of boron deficiency. Borates, when apphed at relatively high concentration, act as nonselective herbicides. Small quantities of borates are used in the manufacture of alloys and refractories (qv). Molten borates readily dissolve other metal oxides usage as a flux in metallurgy is an important apphcation. Other important small volume apphcations for borates are in fire retardants for both plastics and ceUulosic materials, in hydrocarbon fuels for fungus control, and in automotive antifreeze for corrosion control (see Corrosion and corrosion inhibitors). Borates are used as neutron absorbers in nuclear reactors. Several borates, which are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can be used for insecticidal purposes, eg, TIM-BOR. 

CP-1 was assembled in an approximately spherical shape with the purest graphite in the center. About 6 tons of luanium metal fuel was used, in addition to approximately 40.5 tons of uranium oxide fuel. The lowest point of the reactor rested on the floor and the periphery was supported on a wooden structure. The whole pile was surrounded by a tent of mbberized balloon fabric so that neutron absorbing air could be evacuated. About 75 layers of 10.48-cm (4.125-in.) graphite bricks would have been required to complete the 790-cm diameter sphere. However, criticality was achieved at layer 56 without the need to evacuate the air, and assembly was discontinued at layer 57. The core then had an ellipsoidal cross section, with a polar radius of 209 cm and an equatorial radius of309 cm [20]. CP-1 was operated at low power (0.5 W) for several days. Fortuitously, it was found that the nuclear chain reaction could be controlled with cadmium strips which were inserted into the reactor to absorb neutrons and hence reduce the value of k to considerably less than 1. The pile was then disassembled and rebuilt at what is now the site of Argonne National Laboratory, U.S.A, with a concrete biological shield. Designated CP-2, the pile eventually reached a power level of 100 kW [22]. 

Control of the nuclear chain reaction in a reactor is maintained by the insertion of rods containing neutron absorbing materials such as boron, boron carbide, or borated steel. In state-of-the-art high temperature reactor designs, such as the Gas... 

The effect of the lanthanide contraction on the metal and ionic radii of hafnium has already been mentioned. That these radii are virtually identical for zirconium and hafnium has the result that the ratio of their densities, like that of their atomic weights, is very close to Zr Hf = 1 2.0. Indeed, the densities, the transition temperatures and the neutron-absorbing abilities are the only common properties of these two elements which differ... 

The net yield of thermal neutrons from the fission of is higher than from that of and, furthermore, Th is a more effective neutron absorber than As a result, the breeding of is feasible even in thermal reactors. Unfortunately the use of the Th/ U cycle has been inhibited by reprocessing problems caused by the very high energy y-radiation of some of the daughter products. 

Moderators. Neutrons are most effectively slowed by collisions with nuclei of about the same mass. Thus the best moderators are those light atoms which do not capture neutrons. These are H, " He, Be and C. Of these He, being a gas, is insufficiently dense and Be is expensive and toxic, so the common moderators are highly purified graphite or the more expensive heavy water. In spite of its neutron-absorbing properties, which as mentioned above must be offset by using enriched fuel, ordinary water is also used because of its cheapness and excellent neutronmoderating ability. 

Control rods. These are usually made of boron steel or boron carbide (p. 149), but other good neutron absorbers which can be used are Cd and Hf. 

Many of the fission products formed in a nuclear reactor are themselves strong neutron absorbers (i.e. poisons ) and so will stop the chain reaction before all the (and Pu which has also been formed) has been consumed. If this wastage is to be avoided the irradiated fuel elements must be removed periodically and the fission products separated from the remaining uranium and the plutonijjm. Such reprocessing is of course inherent in the operation of fast-breeder reactors, but whether or not it is used for thermal reactors depends on economic and political factors. Reprocessing is currently undertaken in the UK, France and Russia but is not considered to be economic in the USA. 

But numerous papers published during rece t decades showed that hydrogen can be a very useful alloying element for production of new materials (such as hydrogen accumulators, neutron absorbers, etc.) or new technologies for alloy processing with improved treatment parameters as well as with the improved final properties of the alloys. ... 

The energy of the detected neutrons has an epithermal component because a high percentage of the incoming thermal neutron flux is absorbed as it passes through a 1 in. of drill collar steel. Furthermore, a wrap of cadmium under the detector banks shields them from the thermal neutron arriving from the inner mud channel. This mainly epithermal detection practically eliminates adverse effects caused by thermal neutron absorbers in the borehole or in the formation, such as boron. 

The nuclear reactor also must be shielded against the emission of radioactive material to the external environment. Suitable radiation controls include both thermal and biological shielding systems. Radiation from alpha particles (a rays) and beta particles ((3 rays) has little penetrating power, but gamma rays have deep penetration properties. Neutron radiation is, however, the primary area of risk. Typically, extremely thick concrete walls are used as a neutron absorber, but lead-lined concrete and special concretes are also used. 

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If the rate of the chain reaction exceeds a certain level, the reactor will become too hot and begin to melt. Control rods—rods made from neutron-absorbing elements, such as boron or cadmium, and inserted between the fuel rods—help to control the number of available neutrons and the rate of nuclear reaction. 

The central wire, made of a neutron-absorbing material, absorbs a neutron and undergoes beta decay. 

A chain reaction is a reaction that sustains itself once it has begun and may even expand. Normally, the limiting reactant is regenerated as a product to maintain the progress of the chain. Nuclear fission processes are considered chain reactions because the number of neutrons produced in the reaction equals or is greater than the number of neutrons absorbed by the fissioning nucleus. 

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