Nuclear reactors manufactured by humans depend on the properties of the uranium component. Uranium possesses two natural counterparts different from each other by the number of neutrons.
The first peer is U 238, which is the most prevalent in nature while U 235 is about 0.72% of the uranium atoms in nature
This ratio between the two peers is constant everywhere on the globe and the "uranium enrichment" operations rely on an increase of U 235 in nuclear fuel with the aim of obtaining controlled chain reaction within an interactive pot is the nuclear reactor
The uranium nucleus U 235 is divided by collision with a slow neutron , which produces very large heat power and produces other neutrons.
The neutrons resulting from nuclear fission is very fast and therefore unable to split new uranium nuclei so that the reaction does not continue and stops at an early stage
This problem is resolved in nuclear reactors by supplying the reactor with soothing materials (heavy water ) that absorb the energy of the neutrons fast and converted to slowly neutrons that capable of splitting new uranium nuclei and therefore the nuclear reaction continues and the thermal power production
Of all this we find that there are three conditions for achieving continued fission nuclear interaction and thus acquiring a nuclear reactor. These conditions are:
- Having a sufficient amount of uranium U 235
- Having a source of neutrons. It is the U 235 uranium itself, as the rapid neutrons represent one of its fission products.
- A substance that absorbs the energy of these fast neutrons and converts them to slowly neutrons
so can these conditions meet somewhere in nature?!
The answer is YES.
This is what happened at the Natural nuclear reactor located in mine in Gabon .
- The first condition was achieved as a result of large quantities of natural uranium containing the isotope uranium U 235
- The second condition was the existence of uranium 235, which naturally releases neutrons
- The third condition which is the hardest (the presence of the sedative material) has been achieved through the availability of groundwater that has served as a natural sedative slowing down the speed of neutrons.
Unfortunately, the good news doesn't last long. Uranium U 235 levels have been consumed and reduced to a level that is no longer sufficient to maintain a clear nuclear reaction, leading to a slowdown and a halt to the nature reactor.
Source:Naturally Occurring Nuclear Fission
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