Nuclear Power Plants

o In this lecture, we will discuss Nuclear Power

Plant, which includes:
o Components of Nuclear power plant
Components of Nuclear Reactor
o Nuclear Reactors

o A nuclear reactor is a device that permits a controlled fission chain reaction. In

the reactor, neutrons are used to cause a controlled fission of heavy atoms such
as Uranium 235 (U-235). U-235 is a uranium isotope used to fuel nuclear fission
reactors.
Components of Nuclear Reactor
o Nuclear Reactor

o • Fuels
o • Moderator

o • Control Rods

o • Coolant
o • Pressure Vessel or Pressure tubes

o • Steam Generator
o • Heat exchanger

o • Steam Turbine
o • Condenser

o • Alternator
Components of Nuclear Reactor
o A nuclear reactor produces and controls the release of energy from splitting the
atoms of certain elements. In a nuclear power reactor, the energy released is used
as heat to make steam to generate electricity.
o Uranium is a relatively common element that is found throughout the world. It
must be processed before it can be used as fuel for a nuclear reactor.
o To prepare uranium for use in a nuclear reactor, it undergoes the steps includes
mining, enrichment and fuel fabrication.
Components of Nuclear Reactor
o Reactor Core

o It consists of fuel elements, control rods, coolant, moderator and pressure

vessels. Cores generally have shapes of right circular cylinders with diameters
ranging from 0.5 to 15 meters.
o Fuel rods made of uranium rods clod in thin sheath of stainless steel, zirconium
or aluminum.
o Reflector-
o It is placed round the core, to reflect back some of the neutrons that leak out
from core surface.
Components of Nuclear Reactor
o Moderator

o To slow down neutrons from high velocities and hence high energy level which
they have on being released from fission process so that probability of neutron
to hit the fuel rods increases.
o Main moderator used:

o 1.Water H2O.

o 2.Heavy water D2O.

o 3.Graphite.

o 4.Beryllium.
Components of Nuclear Reactor
Components of Nuclear Reactor
o Control Rods

o The control rods prevent the chain reaction happening too quickly i.e. controls
chain reaction
o Control rods are made from an alloy of silver and cadmium, boron mixed with
iron or carbon.
o The control rods are very good at absorbing neutrons. They reduce the number of
neutrons available to continue the chain reaction.
Components of Nuclear Reactor
o Coolant. A fluid circulating through the core so as to transfer the heat from it. In
light water reactors the water moderator functions also as primary coolant.
o Pressure vessel or pressure tubes. Usually a robust steel vessel containing the
reactor core and moderator/coolant, but it may be a series of tubes holding the
fuel and conveying the coolant through the surrounding moderator.
o Steam generator. Part of the cooling system of pressurized water reactors where
the high-pressure primary coolant bringing heat from the reactor is used to make
steam for the turbine, in a secondary circuit.
o Essentially a heat exchanger like a motor car radiator. Reactors have up to six
loops, each with a steam generator.
Components of Nuclear Reactor
o Heat Exchanger

o A heat exchanger is a device built for efficient heat transfer from one medium to
another, whether the media are separated by a solid wall so that they never mix,
or the media are in direct contact.
o Heat exchangers are used to convert water into steam from heat produced in a
nuclear reactor core.
o Turbine
o Converts heat energy of the system into Mechanical energy
Components of Nuclear Reactor
o Cooling Tower

o Cooling Tower removes heat from the water discharged from the condenser so
that the water can be discharged to the river or recalculated and reused.
o Major Components :

o Cooling Tower(supply) basin

o Cooling Tower Pumps

o There are 2 types of towers - Mechanical draft and Natural draft

Components of Nuclear Reactor
o Mechanical Draft
Components of Nuclear Reactor
o Natural Draft