NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

ROAD TO NUCLEAR POWER

• U - Discovered in 1789 by Martin Klaproth, a German

Chemist.

• 1895-1945: Science of atomic radiation & Nuclear fission

was developed.

• 1939-45: Development was focused on atomic bomb

• 1945 - Attention was given to harnessing this energy in a

controlled fashion for naval propulsion & for making
electricity

• 1956 - Focus on technological evolution of nuclear

power plants.
• Two atomic bombs were dropped during World
War II – Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.
• Each had yields of 15-21 kilotons of TNT.

Hiroshima, March 1946 3

 ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES

• Energy in 1 kg U = 4500 Tons of High grade coal.

• Nuclear energy annually prevents

5.1 million tons of Sulfur
2.4 million tons of NOX
164 metric tons of Carbon

• First commercial Nuclear power plant: England 1956.

• 17% of World’s electricity is from Nuclear power.

 STATUS IN INDIA
• Nuclear energy makes up a fraction of our total energy
generation.
• Use may increase in the future, as fossil fuels become
more scarce & considered environmentally damaging.

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 STATUS IN INDIA
• 1990: U – imported from USSR

• 2011: Kadapa in AP – World Top 20 “U”

reserves.

• BARC @ Trombay.

• TATA Inst. Fundamental Research, Mumbai

• TATA memorial Centre, Mumbai
• SAHA Inst. Nuclear Physics, Kolkata.

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KALPAKKAM ATOMIC POWER PLANT

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KUDANKULAM NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

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 ATOMIC STRUCTURE
Nucleus:
+ve charged protons
Neutral neutrons
-ve charged e-

• Atoms contain equal no.

of protons and e- making
them electrically neutral.

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ISOTOPE & RADIATION
• Atoms have different
numbers of neutrons in their
nuclei.

• Nuclei from the same element

with different numbers of
neutrons are called isotopes.

• Most isotopes are stable,

Unstable can spontaneously
break apart, emitting energy
and particles called
Radiation.

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 NUCLEAR FISSION

• Fission means “to

divide”.

• Process of splitting a
nucleus into two nuclei
with smaller masses.
FISSION CONT…
• Only large nuclei with
atomic numbers above
90 can undergo
fission.

• Products of fission
reaction usually
include two or three
neutrons

• Total mass of the

product is less than
the mass of U-235.
FISSION CONT….
 CHAIN REACTION

Chain reaction:
Ongoing series of
fission reactions.

Billions of reactions
occur each second in a
chain reaction.
CONTROLLED CHAIN REACTION

Nuclear fission reactions

take place in nuclear
reactors, which use
controlled chain reactions
to generate electricity.
 UNCONTROLLED CHAIN REACTION

Uncontrolled chain
reactions take place
during the explosion
of an atomic bomb.
FISSION PRODUCTS
• Products of nuclear
fission reactions are
radioactive.

• Energy released is less

harmful to environment
than the use of fossil
fuels.

• Products are intensely

radioactive and must be
treated and/or stored.
NUCLEAR FUSION

• Combining two nuclei

with low masses to
form one nucleus of
larger mass.

• Nuclear fusion
reactions are also
called thermo-nuclear
reactions.
Nuclear Fusion cont.

• Nuclear fusion
produces less
nuclear waste than
nuclear fission

• Materials are easier

to obtain.
 FUSION REACTIONS
De (heavy hydrogen) and Tritium which is converted to
He and release energy.
D+T He + n + 0.42 MeV
 Nuclear Fusion cont.
• Fusion reactions exist in
stars.

• Ex: Sun

• Almost impossible to
create fusion reactions
on earth as they need
temperatures above one
million degree Celsius to
take place.
 Is Nuclear energy safe?
• World’s worst nuclear
power plant accident

• Chernobyl nuclear plant

@ Ukraine

• Combination of design
and operational error
resulted in chemical (not
nuclear) explosion @
Reactor 4.
 CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT
• Large amount of radioactive fission products dispersed
into atmosphere for 10 days (about 100X greater than
Hiroshima/Nagasaki)

• 150,000 people in 60 km radius permanently evacuated

• Toll: 60 deaths

• 250 million people exposed to radiation levels which

may reduce lifespan

• Surrounding farmland (1000 square miles) not farmable

• Contamination effects on plants/animals within 30 km

• Contamination of nearby water bodies and fish

 CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT

• 4000 cases of thyroid cancer in exposed

children (2000), nine related deaths in this
group

• Preliminary evidence (2006) suggests

increased risk of leukemia and possibly other
cancers
 RADIATION UNITS
Activity- disintegration rate of radioactive substance
• Becquerel- SI unit (Bq) = 1 disintegration per second
(dps)
• Curie (Ci) = 3.7 x 1010

Absorbed dose- energy imparted by radiation onto an

absorbing material
• Gray- SI unit (Gy) = 1 joule per kg
• 1 Gy = 100 rads

Dose Equivalent (DE)- dose in terms of biological effect

• Sievert- SI unit (Sv)
• 1 Sv = 100 rems

http://www.mcgill.ca/ehs/radiation/basics/units/
EFFECT OF SMOKING ON RADIATION DOSE

• Average annual whole body radiation dose

is about 360 mrem

• If you smoke, add about 280 mrem (source

does not specify # packs per day smoked)

• Tobacco contains Pb-210

• Pb-210 deposits in bones, liver & kidneys

LAYOUT OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
 NUCLEAR FUEL MODERATOR
• Natural U: U238-99.3%; • Reduce the speed of fast
U235-0.7%; U234-Trace. moving neutrons.

• U235 – Primary fuel • Eg: Graphite, Beryllium &

Heavy water.
• Th232 & U238 – Secondary
fuel

• UO2 & UC
 COOLANT BIOLOGICAL SHIELD
• Flows through and • Lead & Concrete shield
around reactor core. to protect ϒ rays.

• Used to take up heat • Metal & Plastics shield to

produced due to fission protect α & β particles.
of nuclear fuel.

• Light water, Heavy water,

air, CO2, Hydrogen, He,
Liquid metals-Na & K.
 CONTROL ROD REFLECTOR
• Cylindrical rod/Sheet • Send back neutrons to
reactor core.
• Rods are moved in & out
of the reactor core • Eg: Graphite & Beryllium.
assembly.

• Boron & Cadmium

• Insertion absorbs more

neutron & withdrawal
absorbs less neutrons.
 COOLANT BIOLOGICAL SHIELD
• Flows through and • Lead & Concrete shield
around reactor core. to protect ϒ rays.

• Used to take up heat • Metal & Plastics shield to

produced due to fission protect α & β particles.
of nuclear fuel.

• Light water, Heavy water,

air, CO2, Hydrogen, He,
Liquid metals-Na & K.
 ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES
• Space requirement is • Higher initial cost
less • Emits radioactive wastes
• Consumes less amount • Maintenance cost is high
of fuel • Requires well trained
• Not effected by adverse personnel.
weather conditions • Not suitable for varying
• Suited to meet large load conditions.
power demands
• Less quantity of water
• Reliable operation
• Material expenditure is
less
CLASSIFICATION OF REACTORS
 CLASSIFICATION OF REACTORS

5. On the basis of type of core

a) Homogeneous reactor
b) Heterogeneous reactor
 SITE SELECTION
• Availability of water
• Distance from load centre
• Distance from populated area
• Accessibility to plant
• Waste disposal
• Safe guard against earthquake
• Does not pose radiological or hazards to public, plant
personnel.
BOILING WATER REACTOR (BWR)

• Enriched U – Fuel
• H2O – Coolant/Moderator
• Ist Nuclear plant - Tarapur
PRESSURIZED WATER REACTOR-PWR

• Enriched U – Fuel
• H2O – Coolant/Moderator
• Pressurizer keeps water @
82.7 bar
• Enables water to take up
more heat
SODIUM GRAPHITE REACTOR- SGR

• Liquid Na-Primary coolant

• NaK-Secondary coolant
• Na melts @208 ˚C & boils
@ 1625 ˚F
• Exit steam temp: 1000 ˚F
• Graphite – Moderator
FAST BREEDER REACTOR-FBR
• U-235 surrounded by
blanket of U-238 (Fertile
material)

• Liquid Na-Primary coolant

• NaK-Secondary coolant
• Na melts @208 ˚C & boils
@ 1625 ˚F

• Exit steam temp: 1000 ˚F

• Graphite – Moderator
CANDU REACTOR
• Canadian-Deuterium
Uranium reactor

• D2O – Coolant/Moderator

• U-235: Fuel

• Removal of spent fuel &

replacement by fresh fuel
is possible

• Cadmium – Control rod

CANDU REACTOR
GAS COOLED REACTOR (GCR)
• CO2 or He – Coolant @
Pressure: 7kg/sq.m

• Graphite - Moderator

• U-235: Fuel

• Removal of spent fuel &

replacement by fresh fuel
is possible

• Cadmium – Control rod

NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL (SOLID)

• Scrap or discarded
materials

• Burnt if combustible

• Mixed with concrete,

drummed and buried
deep in ground
NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL (SOLID)

• Scrap or discarded
materials

• Burnt if combustible

• Mixed with concrete,

drummed and buried deep
in ground
NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL (LIQUID)

• Dilution

• Concentrated to small
volumes and storage
NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL (GAS)

• Dilution with
air
• Passed
through filter
• Released to
atm. through
stack.
BREEDING

• Process of
producing
fissionable
material from
fertile material.
URANIUM ENRICHMENT
URANIUM ENRICHMENT –GASEOUS DIFFUSION

U235F6 = 235+ (6*19)

= 349
U238F6 = 238+ (6*19)
= 352

• Diffusion of lower
mole. wt. gas thro’
a porous barrier
quicker than
heavier mole. wt.
gas.
URANIUM ENRICHMENT –GAS CENTRIFUGATION

U235F6 = 235+ (6*19) = 349

U238F6 = 238+ (6*19) = 352

• By high speed-centrifugation,
heavier gas (depleted stream)
is obtained near periphery.
URANIUM ENRICHMENT – THERMAL DIFFUSION

U235F6 = 235+ (6*19) = 349

U238F6 = 238+ (6*19) = 352

• Light U235F6 molecules are

concentrated at hot wall and
collected at upper column.
URANIUM ENRICHMENT – ELECTROMAGNETIC
METHOD

PRINCIPLE:
When ions moving at equal
velocities along a straight
line are passed through a
magnetic field, they are
acted upon by perpendicular
forces to the direction of ion
movement and the field.
URANIUM ENRICHMENT – ELECTROMAGNETIC
METHOD

• U gas compound is fed into ion

source.
• Neutral atoms are ionized due to
ion bombardment.
• Ions are come out in the form of
narrow beam after passing thro’
silo.
• Ions enter a separation chamber
where magnetic field is applied.
• Ions at different masses move
along diff. radii.