Light Water

Light water, although appearing to have a fancy name, is literally just ordinary water....except it does contain a small amount of Heavy WaterHeavy WaterHeavy Water is literally Deuterium oxide. It's molecular formula is that of regular Light Water--H2O, however it contains two atoms of deuterium and one atom of Hydrogen; resulting in 2D2O. It is about 10.6% denser than tap water and has a higher melting point, tasting slightly sweeter and can affect bioloigcal systems; large amounts are needed to poison humans, although it is toxic. It is produced using the Girdler sulfide process, and the usages of Heavy Water is mainly for nuclear science;. The point of light water is that it can be used as a moderator --however it can only be used in certain situations, as it absorbs too many neutrons to be used with unenriched uranium (which is why light water is presumably used in Spent Fuel PoolAir Traffic Control\#emptys) Light water is mainly used in BWR reactorBWR reactorA boiling water reactor uses Light Water as both coolant and neutron moderator. The second most used reactor, next to the PWR reactors, there are approximately 75 plants in current operation. The efficiency of these reactors is about 46%, with 33-34% in practice. Enriched uranium is used as nuclear fuel, as light water absorbs too many neutrons to use Uranium that is natural. Light water is not as good of a moderator compared to Heavy Water or graphite, but it is good as in the event of a LOCA os & PWR reactorPWR reactorThis reactor is a PWR reactor - a pressurized water reactor. This is a specific type of Nuclear Reactor--in that it is pressurized water. This is also the most common type of reactor used and produced. The fuel rods are pressurized with helium, and the fission gas products result in more stability; as fuel "burns" in the reactor, the density increases resulting in small voids developing. Helium pressurization is necessary as these voids can cause potential rupture of fuel rods. Furthermore, thes

Uranium Enrichment is necessary for the usage of light water. In LWRs, there is a RPVRPVReactor Pressure Vessel - contains all of the reactor heat. In BWR reactors, the RPV contains the reactor core - basically the entirety of the main reactor assembly. The RPV is designed to withstand a very large amount of force considering that in a BWR it must withstand the pressure that both it operates at and at emergency designs -- this is due to the fact that in most designs, the RPV isn't considered to be at major risk: even during a major LOCA the RPV is considered to be at healthy condi that contains all of the reactor core. Benefits of light water is that in the event of a LOCALOCALoss of Cooling Accident - inside of Nuclear Reactors, this is the official term for if there is a loss of coolant used to cool the reactor. \#stub, water is lost, resulting in the moderation loss. however, radioactive decay continues, requiring shutdown water circulation. Any temperature increase of the reactor results in less moderation that light water supplies, reducing the activity in the reactor. However, that means that if reactivity increases too much, there will be less moderation to then slow the nuclear reactor.