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nuclear fuel cycle
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A flowchart diagram of the nuclear fuel cycle shows the process from uranium mining and extraction, through enrichment, fuel fabrication, reactor use, spent fuel reprocessing, and waste disposal, with arrows tracing material movement and recycling steps.
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nuclear fuel cycle

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A flowchart diagram of the nuclear fuel cycle shows the process from uranium mining and extraction, through enrichment, fuel fabrication, reactor use, spent fuel reprocessing, and waste disposal, with arrows tracing material movement and recycling steps.
nuclear fuel cycle A “closed loop” nuclear fuel cycle, showing the reprocessing of uranium-235 and plutonium from spent fuel for use in new fuel assemblies.

The nuclear fuel cycle encompasses all steps involved in using nuclear fuel, primarily uranium, to generate power. This cycle begins with uranium mining and processing, followed by enrichment and fuel fabrication. The fuel is then loaded into a reactor for irradiation and fission to produce energy. After use, the spent fuel is unloaded, cooled, and either reprocessed or prepared for waste disposal. The cycle is highly regulated due to its connection with plutonium production for nuclear weapons and the challenges of managing radioactive waste.123456

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6 Britannica Sources
  1. nuclear reactor - Uranium mining and processing
  2. nuclear reactor - Risks of nuclear waste disposal
  3. nuclear reactor - Fuel management
  4. nuclear reactor - Fabrication
  5. nuclear reactor - Unloading and cooling
  6. nuclear reactor - Waste conditioning

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