A Nuclear Meltdown

Atombot

Ben was at a nuclear reactor with Max and Gwen are touring Powerpoint Nuclear Powerplant. Gwen explains to Ben how nuclear reactors work.

Gwen Says: The main job of a reactor is to house and control nuclear fission—a process where atoms split and release energy. Reactors use uranium for nuclear fuel. The uranium is processed into small ceramic pellets and stacked together into sealed metal tubes called fuel rods. Typically more than 200 of these rods are bundled together to form a fuel assembly. A reactor core is typically made up of a couple hundred assemblies, depending on power level. Inside the reactor vessel, the fuel rods are immersed in water which acts as both a coolant and moderator. The moderator helps slow down the neutrons produced by fission to sustain the chain reaction. Control rods can then be inserted into the reactor core to reduce the reaction rate or withdrawn to increase it. The heat created by fission turns the water into steam, which spins a turbine to produce carbon-free electricity. All commercial nuclear reactors in the United States are light-water reactors. This means they use normal water as both a coolant and neutron moderator. There are two types of light-water reactors operating in America. More than 65% of the commercial reactors in the United States are pressurized-water reactors or PWRs. These reactors pump water into the reactor core under high pressure to prevent the water from boiling. The water in the core is heated by nuclear fission and then pumped into tubes inside a heat exchanger. Those tubes heat a separate water source to create steam. The steam then turns an electric generator to produce electricity. The core water cycles back to the reactor to be reheated and the process is repeated. Roughly a third of the reactors operating in the United States are boiling water reactors. BWRs heat water and produce steam directly inside the reactor vessel. Water is pumped up through the reactor core and heated by fission. Pipes then feed the steam directly to a turbine to produce electricity. The unused steam is then condensed back to water and reused in the heating process.

Ben says: Both the information and the fact that you have that knowledge are cool. That would be really cool to have nuclear powers. Also, it would be cool to control atoms and that energy that you talked about. Both of them see a door to the reactor control room. Ben: Are you thinking what I am thinking? Gwen: Yes. Both of them sneak off and go through the door. They are both walking down a passage. Both of them see a guard, so they hide in a broom closet. The guard doesn't see them. They get out of the broom closet, and they both continue on. They see a door which says " Reactor entry. Do not enter unless authorized personnel.", And Ben gets an idea. He scrolls through his Omnitrix, and he sees a new alien. Ben: I hope this new alien has nuclear powers. He turns into the new alien. Ben as the new alien says: What should I call this guy? GWEN: Atomix.

Ben: I like the name Atomix. I'm going with it. Gwen puts on a radiation suit, so she can go in. Atomix goes into the reactor followed by Gwen. Gwen says: Let's do a test. If you can control radiation then you should be able make the steam pressure go down on the gauge because there will not be as much energy, so there will not be as much energy to heat up the water and make steam. You can tell what the steam pressure is by the little arm. Atomix puts his right hand out, and he thinks about making less radiation come out of the atoms. The steam pressure gauge goes down. Gwen says: You can control radiation. Up in the control room. A nuclear technician sees the gauge go down too. He says to his supervisor: Can you come over here. I need you too look at this.

The supervisor comes over, and he looks at the gauge. The technician says: Do you agree that it is off?

Supervisor: Yes. I will send someone down in a radiation suit to look at it.

He gets on the phone, and he gets someone to go down there. The inspector goes down there, and he puts on a radiation suit. He enters through the door, and he sees Gwen and Atomix there.

Inspector: What are you doing here? What is that robot? Gwen; We were just looking around. Inspector: Well you are in big trouble, and as for your robot friend. Atomix gets scared and he makes the inspector pass out by making energy in the form of electricity go away from his brain. When they are trying to figure out what to do. Vilgax blasts through the roof. Vilgax says: Drones load up the rods for fuel. The drones break into the reactor, they and start taking rods away. Vilgax notices Ben. Vilgax: That is a new alien. What!! Is that an Atomisapien? Atomix: Yes. I can't let you steal those power rods.

Max looks around, but doesn't see Gwen and Ben. He sees through a window Vilgax taking power rods, and he sees a white robot fighting Vilgax. Max: I hope that is not Ben. He sees the Omnitrix symbol on his chest. Max: Of course it's Ben. Vilgax flies away by riding on top of drones flying away. Atomix starts flying too. Atomix: COOL, I can fly. As he is flying, Atomix shoots energy beams from his hands which destroys some of the drones. Vilgax fires laser beams back at Atomix from his eyes, But Atomix Avoids. Gwen runs back through the passages to Max, and she sees Max. Atomix fires an additional energy beam which destroys the rest of the drones. Vilgax falls to the ground, but Atomix lands on his feet. Vilgax gets into a hand to hand fight with Atomix. Vilgax punches toward Atomix, but he misses. Atomix punches Vilgax with an Atomic Punch Which makes him go flying off into the distance out of view. Atomix flies back to the plant. He reverts back to Ben, and he meets back up with Max. Max sees Ben. Ben runs up to him and he hugs Max. Max removes his arms from his body, and he has a stern look on his face. Max says: I know you saved the day and the plant from Vilgax. But I am going to have to ground you because you snuck off, and you endangered Gwen and the rest of the people here with your antics. Ben says NOO!! He punches the ground with his arm glowing green from Atomix's DNA. The punch makes a big hole in the ground. They finish up the tour. They all get in the rust bucket and leave.