Code No: RR411806 Set No.

1
IV B.Tech I Semester Supplimentary Examinations, February 2008
NUCLEAR METALLURGY
(Metallurgy & Material Technology)
Time: 3 hours Max Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
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1. (a) Compare and contract between Nuclear fission and Nuclear fusion.
(b) What is rate of radioactive decay? Derive the expression for decay constant.
[8+8]
2. (a) Explain the terms
i. transient equilibrium &
ii. secular equilibrium in radioactive equilibrium process.
(b) One of the natural radioactive series begins with uranium-235 (half life: 7.04x108
years) which emits an alpha particle to form thorium ?231(half-life 25.5h), the
latter being a beta emitter. Starting with uranium-235 from which the decay
products have been removed by chemical separation, determine
i. the atomic ratio of thorium-231 to the initial uranium-235
ii. the ratio of the total activity (rate of particle emission) to the initial value
after 50h.
iii. the atomic ratio of the two nuclide mentioned when radioactive equilib-
rium is attained. [7+9]
3. With the help of a neat sketch explain the working of a first generation tokamak
reactor linked to a typical thermal cycle conversion system. Explain the advantage
and limitations of this reactor over others. [16]
4. (a) Why is it necessary to provide shielding for reactors? Explain.
(b) What materials are commonly used for this purpose? Why? [8+8]
5. (a) What are the important minerals of thorium. give their chemical formula and
composition.
(b) Explain the occurance of minerals of thorium and write their general charac-
teristics. [8+8]
6. (a) Write down the flow sheet and explain for the production of thorium form
beach sands.
(b) Explain the important properties of thorium. [10+6]
7. Discuss the properties that make Beryllium particularly interesting engineering
material as nuclear material [16]
8. (a) What is a pile reaction in the production process of plutonium. Explain the
pile reaction in detail.

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Code No: RR411806 Set No. 1
(b) Write a short notes on the isotopes of plutonium. [10+6]

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Code No: RR411806 Set No. 2
IV B.Tech I Semester Supplimentary Examinations, February 2008
NUCLEAR METALLURGY
(Metallurgy & Material Technology)
Time: 3 hours Max Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

1. (a) Uranium of mass no 235 undergoes natural radioactive disintegration with an

emission of an α particle.
i. What are the mass & atomic number of the product?
ii. What is the element formed.
(b) Explain how nuclear reactions are different from ordinary chemical reactions.
[8+8]

2. (a) Explain the biological effects of radiation and the damage caused due to radi-
ation.
(b) Write a short notes on ‘Radiation protection standards’. [8+8]

3. How are nuclear reactors classified on the basis of coolant? Explain them. [16]

4. (a) Explain about the following control rod materials.

i. Boron carbide
ii. Silver-indium-cadmium.
(b) Explain with examples the use of reflectors in nuclear reactors. [10+6]

5. (a) What is carnotite? Give the chemical formula of it. give the metallic elements
present in the mineral.
(b) Explain the important physical and metallurgical characteristic properties of
plutonium. [8+8]

6. What are the various methods available for the enrichment of uranium. Explain
any one method in detail. [16]

7. What are the chief sources of Beryllium. What are the various methods used for
the extraction of Beryllium. Explain any one of them in detail. [16]

8. (a) What are the important properties of plutonium.

(b) Explain the recycling scheme for plutonium in a thermal reactor. [7+9]

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Code No: RR411806 Set No. 3
IV B.Tech I Semester Supplimentary Examinations, February 2008
NUCLEAR METALLURGY
(Metallurgy & Material Technology)
Time: 3 hours Max Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

1. (a) Calculate in Mev the energy equivalent to one gram atomic weight of electrons
at rest. (Mass of 1 electron: 9.1×10−28 gm).
(b) Rn222 has a half life period of 3.83 days. What fraction of the sample will
remain undecomposed at the end of 10 days? [7+9]

2. (a) Explain the biological effects of radiation and the damage caused due to radi-
ation.
(b) Write a short notes on ‘Radiation protection standards’. [8+8]

3. (a) With the help of a neat sketch explain the working of a boiling water reactor.
(b) Explain the advantages and disadvantages of the above reactor over liquid
metal fast breeder reactor. [9+7]

4. (a) Why is it necessary to provide shielding for reactors? Explain.

(b) What materials are commonly used for this purpose? Why? [8+8]

5. (a) What are the primary minerals of uranium. Give their chemical formulae.
(b) Explain the occurance of minerals of uranium and write their general charac-
teristics. [8+8]

6. (a) What is meant by enrichment of uranium? Explain.

(b) Explain the following methods of uranium enrichment.
i. gas centrifuge process
ii. electromagnetic enrichment process. [4+6+6]

7. Discuss the properties that make Beryllium particularly interesting engineering

material as nuclear material [16]

8. (a) What is linear doubling time? Explain it in detail.

(b) What are the various factors that effect the linear doubling time in plutonium
production. [8+8]

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Code No: RR411806 Set No. 4
IV B.Tech I Semester Supplimentary Examinations, February 2008
NUCLEAR METALLURGY
(Metallurgy & Material Technology)
Time: 3 hours Max Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

1. Write short notes on the following

(a) Compton effect

(b) Mass number and atomic Number.
(c) Structure of Nucleus.
(d) Isotopes. [4x4]

2. (a) Discuss the effect of multiplication factor K, on the chain rate if the K values
are less than 1; equal to 1and greater than one.
(b) How are fast neutrons moderated to produce thermal neutrons? Explain.
[8+8]

3. (a) With the help of a neat sketch explain the working of a boiling water reactor.
(b) Explain the advantages and disadvantages of the above reactor over liquid
metal fast breeder reactor. [9+7]

4. (a) What are the prerequisites for the selection of fuels in a nuclear reactor?
Explain them.
(b) Discuss the various fuels used in a nuclear reactor. [9+7]

5. (a) What are the primary minerals of uranium. Give their chemical formulae.
(b) Explain the occurance of minerals of uranium and write their general charac-
teristics. [8+8]

6. What is a mineral? How it differences form a ore? What are the important nuclear
minerals. Explain the characteristic properties of nuclear minerals. [16]

7. With the help of a flow sheet and necessary chemical reactions, Explain the pro-
duction of nuclear grade zirconium. [16]

8. (a) ‘A continuing shortage of fossil fuel would be found to impinge upon the price
of uranium’ and thus affecting economics of thermal nuclear power stations’ -
Explain in detail.
(b) Discuss the convertion 238U in to fissile plutonium. [9+7]

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