Nuclear weapons and nuclear power group paper help!

[BASTION4]

Hi! new here, I'm working on a group paper for school where we research some theories put forward by the teacher, we're going down a particular route looking at the problem of nuclear weapons and for one bit we're looking into the creation process itself. We're sort of stuck trying to work out if the weaponizing part of the process is it all in any way reversible and if it would be in any way humanly possible to take either the "weaponized" enriched uranium and plutonium and reverse into a state where it could be used for nuclear power again? Sorry if we're missing something really obvious but some help would be really appreciated! It's just an element of our research that is stumping us, thanks! hope all well

Edited November 6, 2017 by BASTION4

[swansont]

Yes. It's been happening for years.

http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/uranium-resources/military-warheads-as-a-source-of-nuclear-fuel.aspx

[Vmedvil]

8 hours ago, BASTION4 said:

Hi! new here, I'm working on a group paper for school where we research some theories put forward by the teacher, we're going down a particular route looking at the problem of nuclear weapons and for one bit we're looking into the creation process itself. We're sort of stuck trying to work out if the weaponizing part of the process is it all in any way reversible and if it would be in any way humanly possible to take either the "weaponized" enriched uranium and plutonium and reverse into a state where it could be used for nuclear power again? Sorry if we're missing something really obvious but some help would be really appreciated! It's just an element of our research that is stumping us, thanks! hope all well

So, you want to know how to enrich uranium, if I find a new article about a kid that made a atomic bomb, I am going to be mad, but this is how it goes.

First you start with Uranium ore which is 99% uranium 238 which is around 1% uranium 235 which is the type that makes atomic weaponry. The Ore of Uranium is Uranium oxide U³O⁸ containing both types this is transformed into Yellow cake uranium via nitric acid which transforms it into Uranyl Nitrate or yellow cake. 

The Yellow cake uranium being both isotopes is converted into Uranium Hexafluoride UF⁶  then heated in a Gas Centrifuge which separates the two types of Uranium the uranium 235 being slightly lighter than Uranium 238.

Finally using a process it is turned into Pure Uranium 235 and used to build nuclear bombs.

The Uranium 238 is not wasted which when hit by neutron radiation inside a nuclear breeder reactor will transmute into Plutonium 239 which can also be used to to make atomic weaponry, Plutonium 239 is a artificial element which does not occur in nature.

 

 

The Atomic bomb structure requires the usage of Explosive lens to focus a blast of usually C-4 or Plastic Explosives into a single pulse which cause a high enough pressure to start a nuclear reaction in these unstable elements which then after initial shock-wave will start a chain reaction due to during fission neutron radiation is released which causes more uranium or plutonium to split. 

 

 

Edited November 6, 2017 by Vmedvil