FuelRod
Okay kiddo, have you ever seen a battery? Yes, the one that powers your toys and devices. A fuel rod works in a similar way but it produces energy for a machine called a nuclear reactor instead of toys.
A fuel rod is like a cylinder-shaped metal tube that’s filled with really tiny, tiny balls (or pellets) of uranium, a heavy metal found in the earth’s crust. The uranium pellets are the fuel for the reactor. The fuel rods are grouped together and placed inside the reactor core, where nuclear reactions happen.
Inside the reactor, the uranium pellets (fuel) start to release their energy through a process called fission. Fission splits the uranium atoms into smaller pieces and releases a lot of heat, enough to boil water. The heat is then used to create steam, which spins a turbine and generates electricity.
However, atoms continue to split, releasing a lot of energy and radiation, which can damage the fuel rods after a certain period of time. That's why fuel rods need to be replaced or refueled after a few years.
In short, a fuel rod is the power source for a nuclear reactor, just like a battery is for your toys. It contains uranium fuel, which is used to create energy, which is then turned into electricity.
A fuel rod is like a cylinder-shaped metal tube that’s filled with really tiny, tiny balls (or pellets) of uranium, a heavy metal found in the earth’s crust. The uranium pellets are the fuel for the reactor. The fuel rods are grouped together and placed inside the reactor core, where nuclear reactions happen.
Inside the reactor, the uranium pellets (fuel) start to release their energy through a process called fission. Fission splits the uranium atoms into smaller pieces and releases a lot of heat, enough to boil water. The heat is then used to create steam, which spins a turbine and generates electricity.
However, atoms continue to split, releasing a lot of energy and radiation, which can damage the fuel rods after a certain period of time. That's why fuel rods need to be replaced or refueled after a few years.
In short, a fuel rod is the power source for a nuclear reactor, just like a battery is for your toys. It contains uranium fuel, which is used to create energy, which is then turned into electricity.