Question

The pressurized water reactor (PWR) employs:
(A) Light water and natural uranium
(B) Heavy water and enriched uranium
(C) Light water and enriched uranium
(D) None of these

Answer 1

Hint It is a type of-light water nuclear reactor. This implies light-water is used and uranium is used as fuel. Light water absorbs neutrons. Hence to restrict this, enriched uranium is used.

Complete step-by-step solution
Pressurized Water reactor is a type of light-water nuclear reactor. In these reactors, ordinary or light water is used as coolant as well as moderator. In a PWR system, the cooling water is kept under pressure so that it does not boil. PWR must use enriched uranium as its nuclear fuel, because it uses light water. If we use natural uranium, the light water would absorb most of the neutrons hence to restrict this fuel content of Uranium-235 is increased. This is done by increasing the concentration of Uranium-235. This is how we get enriched Uranium.
Hence, we can say pressurized water reactors employ light water and enriched uranium.

So, the correct answer is option (C).

Note Pressurized water reactors (PWR) and Boiling water reactors (BWR), both these reactors use light water as it’s coolant. Pressurized Water Reactors are used to generate electricity and are even used in nuclear submarines.

Additional Information
There are 6 types of thermal reactors including PWR and BWR. These reactors are distinguished on the basis of their moderator, fuel, coolant, temperature, pressure etc. All these nuclear reactors are based on nuclear fission.