Spent nuclear fuel
Spent Nuclear Fuel
Spent nuclear fuel (pronunciation: /spɛnt 'njuːklɪər fjuːl/), often abbreviated as SNF, is a term used to describe nuclear fuel that has been used in a nuclear reactor and is no longer efficient in sustaining a nuclear reaction.
Etymology
The term "spent nuclear fuel" is derived from the fact that the fuel is "spent" or used up after it has been in the reactor for a period of time and can no longer efficiently sustain a nuclear reaction.
Description
Spent nuclear fuel is composed of various types of isotopes, including plutonium, uranium, and other fission products. These isotopes are produced during the nuclear fission process in a nuclear reactor. After the fuel has been in the reactor for a period of time, the concentration of these isotopes decreases to a point where the fuel is no longer efficient in sustaining a nuclear reaction. At this point, the fuel is considered "spent" and is removed from the reactor.
Handling and Storage
Spent nuclear fuel is highly radioactive and must be handled with care. It is typically stored in spent fuel pools at the nuclear power plant where it was used. These pools are designed to cool the spent fuel and shield the surrounding environment from radiation. After a period of time, the spent fuel may be moved to dry cask storage, which provides a higher level of protection and allows for longer-term storage.
Disposal
The disposal of spent nuclear fuel is a complex and controversial issue. Currently, most spent nuclear fuel is stored on-site at the nuclear power plants where it was used. However, there is ongoing debate about the best long-term solution for spent nuclear fuel disposal, with options including deep geological repositories, reprocessing, and transmutation.
Related Terms
- Nuclear reactor
- Nuclear fission
- Spent fuel pool
- Dry cask storage
- Deep geological repository
- Reprocessing
- Transmutation
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Spent nuclear fuel
- Wikipedia's article - Spent nuclear fuel
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