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>But they're clearly not using them to regulate the power output. No, you heard wrong. They're often the last or second to last type of plant that's called upo
by Lascaille 5y ago
>But they're clearly not using them to regulate the power output.
No, you heard wrong. They're often the last or second to last type of plant that's called upon to alter supply to match demand, but they don't run 100% 24/7.
- cinntaile 5y agoThey want to run them nearly 100% 24/7 for economic reasons though. Also what is the effect of regulating with control rods on the fuel, does it have an impact on how often the fuel needs to be changed?
- Lascaille 5y ago>does it have an impact on how often the fuel needs to be changed Yes, fissonable elements in the fuel are consumed in a manner that's proportional to output. So if you run at 25% output your fuel needs to be changed (example) every 4 years, if you run at 100% output your fuel needs to be changed every year. But it is not 100% proportional, for example, 15% of the plant's output is required simply to run the plant's accessories. So it is advantageous to run at 100% output if you can.
- cinntaile 5y agoAnother comment in this thread, I can't find it now, said that lower output past a certain level did lead to having to change the fuel faster. I don't know who's correct but it feels strange that this would be a linear relationship, these kinds of things don't tend to work like that.