Duane writes:
> BTW - with regard to nuclear reactor issues it's always best
> to remember this one simple fact:
>
> "You can't add too much water"
Off the top of my head, IIRC, the hydrogen in water acts as a moderator
to slow down the high-energy neutrons produced by fission to allow them
a *greater* chance of initiating fission (sustaining the chain reaction)
in other uranium atoms. So apart from its cooling and shielding
effects, water is not necessarily a good thing in this case.
The neutron absorbing control rods are inserted into the reactor to
reduce the neutron flux below the level at which a chain reaction can be
sustained.
Or did I just make all this up?
G. "The control rods go in"
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