Multimedia: Fuel Cycle

Reactor
In a nuclear reactor, some of the U-235 in the fuel elements undergoes fission in a controlled chain reaction. This chain reaction produces heat and other forms of energy that can be converted into electrical power.

Some of the U-238 atoms in the fuel elements will absorb a neutron and become atoms of plutonium. About half of this plutonium will then also fission and contribute to the reactor's energy output.

 

Fuel Cycle, page 6 of 9

This material is produced independently for NTI by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents.
Copyright © 2005 by MIIS.