Question

5 Neutron scattering.

a) State the simple relationship between neutron energy loss and nuclei atomic weight for direct hit collisions in nuclear reactors.

b) Suggest how this is relevant to materials selection for a range of components in both thermal and fast breeder reactors.

Answer 1

Generally fast reactor is regarded as the most promising concept for breeding. In addition to the fact that fission by fast neutrons produces a large number of free neutrons, the fast neutrons are not absorbed as easily as thermal neutrons by the structural material and reactor coolant. Further, the fast neutrons can occasionally cause atoms of fertile material to undergo fission and thus create a few extra neutrons. These extra neutrons contribute appreciably to the amount of breeding that is possible with fast reactors