12 ms·
What is the significance of boron in the seawater? (It just reads like one of those understated but extremely important bits you find in these sorts of alerts
by sophacles 16y ago
What is the significance of boron in the seawater?
(It just reads like one of those understated but extremely important bits you find in these sorts of alerts :-| )
- jensnockert 16y agoBoron has a high neutron cross-section, it therefore absorbs neutrons and slows down the fission process. In a PWR you add it into the water as a way to moderate the reaction, but in a BWR (like the reactor 1 in Fukushima Daiichi) you only add it as a last resort, since it is incredibly hard to clean out of the system.
- ElliotH 16y agoBoron absorbs neutrons. This stops nuclear reactions in progress.