Community

Fuel Rod — Minecraft block

Fuel Rod — Minecraft block

Fuel Rod

Empty Fuel Rod from IC2 — an inert iron-plate casing used to assemble Uranium and MOX nuclear fuel rods.

Block ID ic2:fuel_rod
Mod Industrial Craft 2
Game versions
1.19.2 1.12.2 1.11.2 1.11 1.10.2 1.10 1.9.4 1.8.9 1.7.10 1.7.2 1.6.4

Description

The empty Fuel Rod is the gateway item to nuclear power in IndustrialCraft 2 Experimental. One Fuel Rod is produced by extruding a single Iron Plate in a Metal Former set to extrusion mode, so every rod costs roughly one iron ingot. The empty rod itself is completely inert: no radiation, no heat, no EU output, and it cannot be installed in a Nuclear Reactor on its own. The Fuel Rod becomes useful only after it is filled with nuclear fuel in a Canning Machine. Combine one empty Fuel Rod with Enriched Uranium Nuclear Fuel to get a Fuel Rod (Uranium), or with MOX Nuclear Fuel to get a Fuel Rod (MOX) — the IC2 wiki advises wearing a HAZMAT Suit when handling nuclear fuels. Dual and Quad fuel cells are assembled with additional empty rods. After a filled rod is exhausted in a reactor, reprocess it in a Thermal Centrifuge to recover the iron and the depleted fuel; excess empty rods can simply be ground back into Iron Dust.

Guide

How to craft and fill a Fuel Rod in IndustrialCraft 2

  1. 1

    Smelt an iron ingot

    Smelt iron ore in a furnace or an IC2 Induction Furnace — a single ingot is enough for one empty Fuel Rod.

  2. 2

    Make an iron plate

    Use a Forge Hammer on the iron ingot in a crafting grid, or run the ingot through a Metal Former.

  3. 3

    Extrude the empty Fuel Rod

    Set the Metal Former to extrusion mode with power connected, and process the iron plate into one empty Fuel Rod.

  4. 4

    Fill the rod with nuclear fuel

    Load the empty Fuel Rod and Enriched Uranium Nuclear Fuel (or MOX Nuclear Fuel) into a Canning Machine to get a filled Uranium or MOX rod.

  5. 5

    Install in a Nuclear Reactor

    Place the filled rod (never the empty one) into the reactor grid to start generating EU and heat.

Important

An empty Fuel Rod is completely safe to handle — it only becomes radioactive after filling. Excess empty rods can be ground back into Iron Dust instead of hoarding them.

Used in crafts

Related blocks

Frequently asked questions

Is an empty Fuel Rod radioactive?

No. An empty Fuel Rod is completely inert — it emits no radiation and produces no heat until it is filled with nuclear fuel.

How is an empty Fuel Rod crafted?

Extrude a single Iron Plate in a Metal Former set to extrusion mode. The plate itself comes from one iron ingot via a Forge Hammer or the Metal Former.

How do I fill a Fuel Rod with nuclear fuel?

Use a Canning Machine: an empty Fuel Rod plus Enriched Uranium Nuclear Fuel gives a Uranium rod, and MOX Nuclear Fuel gives a MOX rod. Wear a HAZMAT Suit while handling the fuels.

Can I place an empty Fuel Rod in a Nuclear Reactor?

No. The Nuclear Reactor only accepts filled fuel rods — an empty rod produces nothing.

What should I do with leftover or depleted rods?

Grind excess empty rods back into Iron Dust, and reprocess depleted filled rods in a Thermal Centrifuge to recover the iron and the spent fuel.

Do Dual and Quad cells need empty Fuel Rods?

Yes. Dual and Quad uranium and MOX fuel cells are assembled with additional empty Fuel Rods alongside plates and fuel cells.