close
    How could nuclear reactors still be so hot

    I dont understand how the nuclear reactors could still be so hot? The fusion stopped and the rods supposedly dropped, so why does the news keep acting like fusion could still happen again. The rods become exposed again, which I assume means they are above the sea water, so what? How could fusion start again once it has been stopped. And once again, I understand these are fusion rods but why are they still so hot days later?

    0  Views: 1696 Answers: 1 Posted: 13 years ago

    1 Answer

    Heat is generated via fission (not fusion) through the heavy nucleus splitting into two or more lighter nuclei which in turn continue to split other nuclei--on and on. This creats lots of heat and the heat is carried off via water, gas, or liquid metal to steam generators that produces electricity.
    The reactor is cooled 2 ways 1. by the water being carried off and 2. by control rods that control the amount of nutrons being released.



    Top contributors in Uncategorized category

     
    ROMOS
    Answers: 18061 / Questions: 154
    Karma: 1101K
     
    Colleen
    Answers: 47270 / Questions: 115
    Karma: 953K
     
    country bumpkin
    Answers: 11322 / Questions: 160
    Karma: 838K
     
    Benthere
    Answers: 2392 / Questions: 30
    Karma: 760K
    > Top contributors chart

    Unanswered Questions

    vnnnew88
    Answers: 0 Views: 14 Rating: 0
    ManClub web
    Answers: 0 Views: 18 Rating: 0
    ManClub web
    Answers: 0 Views: 13 Rating: 0
    7ball
    Answers: 0 Views: 18 Rating: 0
    7ball
    Answers: 0 Views: 15 Rating: 0
    abd
    Answers: 0 Views: 18 Rating: 0
    ku19dev
    Answers: 0 Views: 15 Rating: 0
    55win55info
    Answers: 0 Views: 19 Rating: 0
    > More questions...
    452432
    questions
    719770
    answers
    754718
    users