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In the nuclear reactor of a power plant:
(a) how do control rods control the rate of fission?
(b) how is heat removed from the reactor core, and what use is made of this heat?
(a) Control rods control the rate of fission by absorbing excess neutrons during the nuclear chain reaction of uranium or plutonium without fissioning themselves.
Explanation
The control rods are used in nuclear reactors by inserting them into the core and adjusted in order to control the fission rate of the nuclear chain reaction of uranium or plutonium and, thereby, the thermal power output of the reactor, the rate of steam production, and the electrical power output of the power station.
These rods are made of chemical elements, such as boron, cadmium, silver, or indium, that are capable of absorbing many neutrons without fissioning themselves. All these elements have different neutron capture cross sections for neutrons of various energies.
(b) Heat is removed from the nuclear reactor core with the help of liquid sodium, which acts as a coolant, therefore it absorbs the heat and transfer it to the heat exchanger.
This heat is used for converting water present in the heat exchanger into steam, which is then used to produce electricity by rotating a turbine connected to a generator through a shaft.
Image is posted for reference only.
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