Inside the reactor vessel, the fuel rods
are immersed in water, which acts as both
a coolant and a moderator. The moderator
helps slow down the neutrons produced
by fission to sustain the chain reaction.
Control rods can then be inserted into the
reactor core to reduce the reaction rate or
withdrawn to increase it.
The water turns into steam by the heat
created by fission. The steam spins a turbine
to produce carbon-free electricity.
Radioactive materials that are used for the
chain reactions are hazardous.
Nuclear radiation can ionize chemicals in
the cells, which changes the way the cells
behave. It can also deposit large amounts
of energy into the body within a few seconds,
which can damage or destroy cells.
The risk associated with radioactive materials depends on the amount of dose we get. In
other words the time of exposure. Being exposed to highly radioactive materials or being exposed
to radioactive materials for long periods or regularly, increase the dose received, which
in turn increase the risk.
The world witnessed the first nuclear power plant disaster in April 1986. The disaster
happened at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine. It was the product of a flawed
Soviet reactor design, coupled with serious mistakes made by the plant operators. It was a
direct consequence of the Cold War.
GAUGE Magazine
University of Peradeniya
Page
39