Breeder Reactor

BREEDER REACTOR

Breeder reactor is the one which converts non-fissionable material (U²³⁸, Pu²³²) into fissionable material (U²³⁵, Pu²³⁹). Thus the reactor produces or breeds more fissionable material than it consumes.

Illustration

In breeder reactor, of the three neutrons emitted in the fission of U²³⁵, only one is used in propagating the fission chain with U²³⁵. The other two are allowed to react with U²³⁸. Thus, two fissionable atoms of Pu²³⁹ are produced for each atom of U²³⁵ consumed. Therefore, the breeder reactor produces more fissionable material than it uses. Hence Pu²³⁹ is a man made nuclear fuel and is known as secondary nuclear fuel.

Fig. 7.5 Principle of breeder reactor

Significance

1. The non-fissionable nucleides, such as U²³⁸ & Th²³², called fertile nucleides, are converted into fissile nucleides.

2. The fissionable nucleides such as U²³⁵ & Pu²³⁹ are called fissile nucleides.

3. As regeneration of fissile nucleides takes place, its efficiency is more.