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 * Fast Breeder Reactor**

Conventional nuclear fission reactors use Uranium isotope 235 rather than the much more common Uranium isotope 238 which is not fissionable. Fissioning the splitting of atoms to release energy, however very little of the energy in the uranium is available (less than 10%). In fast breeder reactors, a less effective coolant is used so that the neutrons in the uranium atoms remain at a high speed during the reaction. Whilst this fast speed is ineffective for fissioning, it is absorbed by Uranium 238 which becomes plutonium which can be used as nuclear fuel. Thus, fast breeder reactors commonly produce more fissionable material than they consume.

The largest fast breeder reactor ever built was the superphenix in France. It was originally built due to fears of dwindling oil and uranium supplies. It could supply 1200 MW however due to many minor issues with reactor safety, it was closed in 1998. It remains the largest fast breeder reactor ever built however there is currently interest from foreign countries to purchase the designs of the reactor.

Fast breeder reactors produce energy in the same way as conventional nuclear reactors. Nuclear energy from the reaction is released as heat energy. This heat energy vaporises water into steam. This steam runs at high pressure through a turbine which turns this heat energy into electrical energy.

The largest worry about fast breeder reactors is the radioactive plutonium which can be used in nuclear weapons and has an extremely long decay time. However fast breeder reactors utilise a higher percentage of the available uranium, thus resulting in less nuclear material overall. The greatest benefit of fast breeder reactors is that they are far more efficient than conventional nuclear reactors and so are more sustainable for the future.