Table of Contents
Using Nuclear Fuel
What is nuclear fuel?
Fuel is exactly what it says on the tin – it is a source of energy, and a reactor fuel is no different.
Nuclear Fuel is the substance within the reactor that contains fissile nuclei – i.e. nuclei that can undergo fission and sustain a chain reaction. When nuclei within the fuel undergo fission, they produce thermal energy (amongst other things) – this heat is used to heat the primary coolant and eventually generate electricity.
Importantly, nuclear fuel enables electricity generation with very low lifecycle carbon emissions, comparable to wind and solar.
Nuclear Fuel
It probably goes without saying, it is impossible to have a nuclear reactor without fuel. But what is fuel?
Explore FurtherReactor Fuel
Although nuclear reactor types vary, from Pressurised Water Reactors to Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors, Boiling Water Reactors and beyond – all operate using the same basic energy source: nuclear fuel is “burnt” via nuclear fission. Rhis creates heat which is ultimately used to produce steam that turns turbines to generate electricity.
How much fuel does a nuclear power station use?
A large nuclear power station typically uses only a few dozen tonnes of fuel per year, far less by mass than fossil fuel plants.
Are new types of nuclear fuel being developed?
Advanced nuclear fuel types are being developed for the purpose of improved efficiency and waste reduction, as well as the new nuclear fuel types required for:
How is nuclear fuel used in UK nuclear reactors?
Nuclear fuel plays a key role in:
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Providing reliable, continuous electricity
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Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
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Supporting energy security
Because of its high energy density and long operating life, nuclear fuel allows reactors to produce large amounts of power with minimal fuel use and limited environmental impact.
What happens in the UK?
What happens in the UK?
What happens when Nuclear Fuel is used?
What happens when Nuclear Fuel is used?
- Spent fuel rods are removed with specially shielded flasks and transferred to cooling ponds for interim storage, allowing the radioactivity to decrease and the decay heat to cool.
- In an Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR), fuel assemblies are replaced every few months (whilst the reactor is operating).
- In a Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR), fuel assemblies are replaced every 12-18 months (reactor is shut down for refuelling, which occurs with the facility flooded underwater – for cooling and as a biological shield).
Why can we no longer use spent fuel in a reactor?
Spent nuclear fuel still contains 96 % of its uranium, however the proportion of 235U (the fissile isotope) is now < 1 %, too low to sustain a chain reaction in a nuclear reactor.
Of the remainder, 1 % is plutonium (Pu) and 3 % comprises fission products (actinide isotopes such as neptunium, americium and curium). The latter is high-level waste and continues to produce heat; it therefore must be actively cooled until it can be vitrified (safely encapsulated in glass for long-term storage and disposal).
Explore Further
Choose from the articles below to continue learning about nuclear.
Uranium Conversion Explained – Turning up the Heat
The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Explained – An Open and Closed Case?
Reprocessing – How Spent Nuclear Fuel is Recycled for Reuse
Nuclear Fuel Fabrication – From Powder to Power
Did you know? Explore Nuclear also offers great careers information and learning resources.
Below you can find references to the information and images used on this page.
Content References
Image References
- Núcleo del reactor nuclear RA-3 – Luis Gauna Pereira – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nuclear Fuel Pellets & Rod – US DOE – Public Domain
- Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station 2022, Wikimedia Commons – Licence CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED
- Heysham Nuclear Power Stations, David Merrett – Licence CC BY 2.0 DEED
- Torness Nuclear Power Station April 2016, Wikimedia Commons – Licence CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED
- Sizewell B Power Station, Simon James – Licence CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED
- AGR fuel pin, about 1958-1982 – Science Museum Group – CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum