9.3 -- Heat Conduction with a Nuclear Heat Source

In this problem, we consider a nuclear fuel element of spherical form, as shown in the Figure below. It consists of a sphere of fissionable material with radius R(F) surrounded by a spherical shell of aluminum "cladding" with outer radius R(C). Inside the fuel element fission fragments are produced which have very high kinetic energies. Collisions between these fragments and the atoms of the fissionable material provide the major source of thermal energy in the reactor.

Numerical Example