Pelllets

When uranium is used as the fuel in power plants, one of the problems was the creation of unwanted by products. Uranium comes in two types, U 235 and U 238. The energy is from the 235 which is less than one percent but the neutrons bombard the 238 and change it into unwanted isotopes. The new approach to uranium greatly modifies this problem. First off, the uranium is enriched to 15% instead of 5% and then encapsulated into pellets where the bad by products remain captured in the pellets. In addition, the fuel is added as needed much like thorium reactors which makes them safe. If the power goes off the feed stops and the reaction runs out of fuel. Both of these fuels are compatible with small nuclear reactors which are the preferred types. Picture the fuel being wood in a wood stove. The fire is ignited and continues as long as wood is added but if that stops then the fire goes out. This is called walk away safety.