The capture-to-fission ratio of uranium-233 is smaller than those of the other two major fissile fuels, uranium-235 and plutonium-239. Answer (1 of 6): It depends if it has to be the controlled or explosive fission. This is achieved by bombarding it with neutrons, so that it eventually decays into uranium-233, which can undergo fission. Protactinium-233 has a half-life of 27 days and beta decays into uranium-233 some proposed molten salt reactor designs attempt to physically isolate the protactinium from further neutron capture before beta decay can occur, to maintain the neutron economy (if it misses the 233U window, the next fissile target is 235U, meaning a total of 4 neutrons needed to trigger fission).Ģ33U usually fissions on neutron absorption, but sometimes retains the neutron, becoming uranium-234. Thorium-233 decays into protactinium-233 through beta decay. Natural uranium contains more than 99 uranium-238, while in depleted uranium, which accumulates at plants that enrich uranium for existing nuclear power stations, the proportion is nearly 100 When nuclei undergo fission they release more neutrons than are required to sustain the chain reaction. This process is called nuclear fuel breeding. Radiative capture of a neutron leads to the formation of fissile 233 U. Isotope 232 Th is the key material in the thorium fuel cycle. When thorium-232 absorbs a neutron, it becomes thorium-233, which has a half-life of only 22 minutes. plutonium-239 through neutron absorption. 232 Th is incapable of sustaining a nuclear fission chain reaction because too many neutrons produced by fission of 232 Th have lower energies than the original neutron. The US plans to dump an unused stash of uranium-233 created in the 1960s and 70s at an underground facility in Nevada. The arrangement of particles within uranium-235 is somewhat unstable and the nucleus can disintegrate if it is excited by an outside source. Neutrons hit thoriums making more U233s and life goes on. In the nucleus of each atom of uranium-235 (U-235) are 92 protons and 143 neutrons, for a total of 235. and U233 fissions into junk and neutrons. measurements for fission and neutron capture reactions of 233U are required to improve the. Uranium-233 is produced by the neutron irradiation of thorium-232. 232 90 Th + 1 0 n 233 92 U + 2 0 1 e + 2 0 0. of 233U reactions play an important role in the Th/U cycle. An ampoule containing solidified pieces of aįLiBe and uranium-233 tetrafluoride mixture thorium 232-uranium 233 fuel cycle is sustainable with either thermal neutrons or fast neutrons.
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