Question

In the nuclear reactor of a power plant:

(a) how do control rods control the rate of fission ?

(b) how is heat removed from the reactor core, and what use is made of this heat ?

Answer 1

(a) Control rods control the rate of fission by absorbing the excess neutrons and preventing the fission reaction from going out of control. 

(b) Heat is removed from the nuclear reactor core with the help of liquid sodium, which absorbs the heat and transfers it to the heat exhanger. This heat is used for converting water in the heat exchanger into steam, which is then used to produce electricity by rotating a turbine and its shaft connected to a generator.