nuclear fuels

Fissile energy sources

Nuclear fuels are materials that release energy through nuclear reactions, typically fission or fusion.

Uranium and plutonium are the most common, used in reactors and weapons.

The fuel exists in various forms—pellets, rods, enriched compounds: The plant needs to replace its nuclear fuel every few years.

Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear fuels produce no carbon emissions during operation but generate radioactive waste.

Related

chain reaction · radioactive · enrichment · atomic energy · criticality · actinide · fusion · pellets · rods · deuterium · reactor core · weapons grade · half-life · control rods · centrifuge · yellowcake · alpha decay · beta decay

Opposites
energy source type

nuclear fuelsfossil fuels

Combustible prehistoric organic deposits

coal · oil · natural gas · petroleum · biomass

technological modernity

nuclear fuelsfirewood

Cut logs for burning

peat · charcoal · whale oil · wood · dung

Family

nuclear, fuel, fuels, nucleus, nuclei, nucleic, nucleate, fueled, fuelled

Familiarity
Top 50,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G