Control Rod

A control rod is a rod made of chemical elements capable of absorbing many neutrons without fissioning themselves. They are used in nuclear reactors to control the rate of fission of uranium and plutonium. Because these elements have different capture cross sections for neutrons of varying energies, the compositions of the control rods must be designed for the neutron spectrum of the reactor it is supposed to control. Light water reactors (BWR, PWR) and heavy water reactors (HWR) operate with "thermal" neutrons, whereas breeder reactors operate with "fast" neutrons.

Read more about Control Rod:  Operation Principle, Materials Used, Safety

Famous quotes containing the words control and/or rod:

    ... the black girls didn’t get these pills because their black ministers were up on the pulpit saying that birth control pills were black genocide. What I’m saying is that black men have exploited black women.... They didn’t want them to have any choice about their reproductive health. And if you can’t control your reproduction, you can’t control your life.
    Joycelyn Elders (b. 1933)

    Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
    Bible: Hebrew Proverbs 22:15.