Ask A Scientist© Environmental Earth Science Archive

name        Suzanne
status      student
age         11

Question -  What is the difference between a fusion reactor and a
breeder reactor? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a breeder
reactor? You do have something in your archives about this but it only
explains a breeder reactor and that its a fission reactor. I'm asking
about the difference between a fusion reactor and a breeder reactor, so
it doesn't help me.
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A breeder reactor is a particular sort of fission reactor that uses
neutrons produced in the fission process to make new fuel--for example,
to convert the stable isotope Uranium-238 into the radioactive isotope
Plutonium-239. The advantage of a breeder reactor is that it produces
fuel. A disadvantage is that the fuel produced can be used to make
nuclear weapons, so it requires much greater security.

A fusion reactor produces energy by fusing light nuclei together,
instead of splitting heavy nuclei apart.

Tim Mooney
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