fuel rod
Fissile material container
A fuel rod is a metal tube containing fissile material—typically uranium or plutonium pellets—used in nuclear reactors.
Bundles of fuel rods form the reactor core, where controlled nuclear fission generates heat for power production.
Spent fuel rods remain highly radioactive and require careful storage.
The reactor was shut down to replace aging fuel rods.
Element ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- pelletSmall rounded mass
- claddingOuter protective layer
- zirconiumElement number forty
assembly · bundle · sheath · end cap · spacer · spring · plenum · getter
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- neutronUncharged nuclear particle
- enrichmentImprovement through addition
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
- thermalPertaining to warmth
burnup · flux · cross-section · breeding · transmutation · resonance · moderation
Central essential portion
- coolantTemperature-regulating fluid
- moderatorOne who presates proceedings
- criticalityState of utmost importance
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
insertion · removal · positioning · lattice · channel · pool · shutdown · scram
Abnormal tissue enlargement
- corrosionChemical wearing away
- embrittlementMaterial losing flexibility, gaining fragility
- bowingBending forward in deference
- crackingBreaking without separating completely
rupture · leaker · defect · inspection · integrity
Deliberately untrue statement
- reprocessingHandling material again
- storageSpace for keeping goods
- disposalAct of throwing away
- caskWooden storage barrel
vitrification · repository · cooling · decommissioning · waste · transportation
uranium
Element ninety-two
zirconium · assembly · bundle · sheath · end cap · spacer · spring · plenum · getter · weld
fission
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- neutronUncharged nuclear particle
- enrichmentImprovement through addition
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
thermal · burnup · flux · cross-section · breeding · transmutation · resonance · moderation
core
Central essential portion
- coolantTemperature-regulating fluid
- moderatorOne who presates proceedings
- criticalityState of utmost importance
chain reaction · insertion · removal · positioning · lattice · channel · pool · shutdown · scram
swelling
Abnormal tissue enlargement
- corrosionChemical wearing away
- embrittlementMaterial losing flexibility, gaining fragility
- bowingBending forward in deference
cracking · rupture · leaker · defect · inspection · integrity
fabrication
Deliberately untrue statement
- reprocessingHandling material again
- storageSpace for keeping goods
- disposalAct of throwing away
cask · vitrification · repository · cooling · decommissioning · waste · transportation
- rodsdowel, pushrod, pole, shaft, axle
- nuclear radiationradiation exposure, radiation poisoning, radioactive isotopes, fallout, nuclear meltdown
- nuclear physicsnuclear energy, fission, nuclear fission, neutron, proton
- nuclear technologynuclear reactor, reactor, reactor core, reactor cores, fission reactor
- fast reactorsbreeder reactor, PRISM, liquid metal
- power plantspower plant, power station, generating station, nuclear plant, coal plant