Which of the following substance is NOT used as coolant in nuclear reactors?

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SSC JE CE Previous Year Paper 12 (Held on 23 September 2019 Evening)
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  1. Graphite
  2. Liquid sodium
  3. Carbon-dioxide
  4. Heavy Water

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : Graphite
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Detailed Solution

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The correct answer is Graphite.

Key Points

Graphite is not used as a coolant in nuclear reactors.

  • A coolant in a nuclear reactor is used to remove heat from the machine core and transfer it to the environment. 
  • Almost all currently operating nuclear power plants are light water reactors (LWRs) using ordinary water under high pressure as coolant.
  • Heavy water reactors use deuterium (isotope of Hydrogen) oxide which has identical properties to ordinary water but much lower neutron capture.

Additional Information

Parameters for a good coolant:

  • Must have efficient heat transfer properties.
  • Should be chemically stable at high temperatures and pressure.
  • Should be non-corrosive and a poor neutron absorber.

Some common Nuclear reactor coolants:

  • Water, Liquid Sodium, Helium, Carbon Dioxide, Deuterium oxide, etc.
Latest SSC JE CE Updates

Last updated on May 28, 2025

-> SSC JE notification 2025 for Civil Engineering will be released on June 30. 

-> Candidates can fill the SSC JE CE application from June 30 to July 21.

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-> Candidates must refer to the SSC JE Previous Year Papers and SSC JE Civil Mock Test, SSC JE Electrical Mock Test, and SSC JE Mechanical Mock Test to understand the type of questions coming in the examination.

-> The Staff Selection Commission conducts the SSC JE exam to recruit Junior Engineers in different disciplines under various departments of the Central Government.

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