•The fissioning process generates energy, predominately in the form of vibrational kinetic energy of the fission products. Such vibrating molecules constitute a familiar phenomenon to all of us – the fuel heats up!
•If we don’t cool the fuel, it will melt and the radioactive fission products, now that they are mobile, may find a path to the environment.
•To prevent this, a coolant (water is commonly used) is passed over the fuel.
•So far, we have fuel, moderator and coolant.
•We can conceptualize our CANDU as follows…