To prevent reactor accidents during seismic events, safety control rods are fabricated from___________________?
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Answer: D. Boron or cadmium
Explanation
Boron and cadmium possess exceptionally high neutron absorption cross-sections that halt nuclear chain reactions. Inserting these specialized control rods rapidly quakes neutron populations during emergency reactor shutdown events. Their atomic properties enable them to capture free neutrons without undergoing rapid fission themselves. Control rods are movable components designed to regulate power levels or shut down commercial nuclear reactors. Seismic events require robust mechanical insertion systems to drop control rods safely into the reactor core. Cadmium and boron-10 are traditional poison materials used extensively in nuclear engineering applications.
Earthquake safety systems in nuclear power plants feature automated sensors that trigger immediate control rod insertion. Preventing core meltdowns during natural disasters relies on reliable mechanical and electrical safety mechanisms. Nuclear regulatory bodies enforce strict seismic qualification standards for all primary reactor shutdown systems. High carbon steel provides structural strength but lacks the necessary neutron absorption capacity for control rods. Molybdenum is utilized for high temperature structural alloys rather than for absorbing excess reactor neutrons. Zircaloy is valued for its low neutron absorption and corrosion resistance, making it ideal for fuel cladding.
- Subject
- Engineering
- Category
- Chemical Engineering
- Topic
- —
- Difficulty
- medium
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