Weapons: nuclear warheads vs nuclear reactors

[Lord Kelvin]

Exactly how are they different? I mean, aside from the fact that warheads are designed to be crunched into a really small space by shaped charges, and then squirted with tritium to accelerate the chain reaction. What makes the nuclear material in each one different? I was just reading the "end of oil" thread in the Firebox and I was wondering if it were possible, theoretically, to turn the material in nuclear warheads into nuclear reactor material?

[GoatChomper]

What makes the nuclear material in each one different?
U-235 versus U-238.

[Mr.P]

I've had a good portion of Keystone's going through my belly right now, but I'll do my best here.....

You can turn nuclear warhead material into nuclear reactor material easily, but not always the other way around.

In fact, it takes a nuclear reactor and low-grade uranium to even make plutonium.

So, in answer to your question, yes.

[Ch33zy]

From what I remember, the jist of a reactor is this- Lots of rods of uranium in close proximity, and theyre all bouncing particles off eachother. This generates alot of heat, which is cooled by water inside the reactor. This goes to an exchanger where the superheated steam dumps off heat into cold fresh water (The two never mix togethor) and the cold water is now steam. Steam turns turbine, and whalla.

[Mr.P]

From what I remember, the jist of a reactor is this- Lots of rods of uranium in close proximity, and theyre all bouncing particles off eachother. This generates alot of heat, which is cooled by water inside the reactor. This goes to an exchanger where the superheated steam dumps off heat into cold fresh water (The two never mix togethor) and the cold water is now steam. Steam turns turbine, and whalla.

Water isn't always used in the reactor. Some reactors use liquified sodium as their coolant, and its actually more efficient, but more dangerous because it can solidify at ambient temperatures. Its usually used in breeder reactors that are used to make more fissionable material.

Still tipsy though, so hey, take it at face value ;)

[gYmBaG]

what have some of the best nuclear plants used? water or liquified sodium?

[Ch33zy]

What's "best"? Most megawatts?

[gYmBaG]

yeah, most power, if there is a difference

[CT]

The only type of reactors that COULD use nuclear weapon style fuel are fast 'breeder' reactors. Most fast reactors run HEU fuel though, and would need to be converted to run MOX fuel. The other issue is, you would have to process the weapon material in an MOX fuel fabrication facility, and you would need to convert plutonium pits to recreate the oxide form of plutonium for MOX fuel rods. We are talking in the 1.3 billion dollar range for Russias weapons alone.