Why do fuel rods have to be cooled for so long after being not actively used anymore?
In: 205
Still a lot of “fuel” left in them so they keep decaying and creating heat. Just not as fast or as intensely, but not nothing either. More like a stove burner turned down from high to simmer than a stove burner completely turned off.
Or, perhaps a better analogy would be a campfire. Even though the fire is no longer burning with big flames, the ashes are still hot and active, and will give off heat for a while still. Can’t leave the fire alone safely without first quenching it somehow.
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