NUCLEAR POWER STATION

Advantages
The amount of fuel required is small.
Requires less space.
Low running charges as a small amount of fuel is
used.
Very economical for producing bulk electric power.
It can be located near the load centers because it
does not require large quantities of water.
Nuclear plants can ensure continued supply of
electrical energy for thousands of years.
Ensures reliability of operation.
Disadvantages
The fuel used is expensive.
The capital cost on a nuclear plant is very high as
compared to other types of plants.
The erection and commissioning of the plant
requires high technology.
The fission by-products causes dangerous amount
of radioactive pollution.
Maintenance charges are high.
The disposal of the by-products, which are
radioactive, is a big problem.
Selection of site for Nuclear Power Station

Availability of water

Disposal of waste.

Distance from populated areas.

Transportation facilities.
Schematic Arrangement
In nuclear power station, heavy elements such as
Uranium or Thorium are subjected to nuclear
fission in a special apparatus known as a reactor.

The heat energy thus released is utilized in raising

steam at high temperature and pressure.

The steam runs the steam turbine which converts

steam energy into mechanical energy.

The turbine drives the alternator which converts

mechanical energy into electrical energy.
The whole arrangement can be divided into the
following main stages :

(i) Nuclear reactor

(ii) Heat exchanger
(iii) Steam turbine
(iv) Alternator
Nuclear Reactor
It is an apparatus in which nuclear fuel is
subjected to nuclear fission.
It controls the chain reaction that starts once the
fission is done.
Nuclear reactor consists of fuel rods of uranium,
moderator and control rods.
Fuel rods constitute the fission material.
Moderator consists of graphite rods which slows
down the neutrons before they bombard.
Control rods made of absorbs the neutrons
regulating the supply of neutrons for fission.
Heat Exchanger
The coolant gives up heat to the heat exchanger

which is utilized in raising the steam.

After giving up heat, the coolant is again fed to

the reactor.
Steam Turbine
The steam produced in the heat exchanger is led

to the steam turbine through a valve.

 After doing a useful work in the turbine, the

steam is exhausted to condenser.

The condenser condenses the steam which is fed

to the heat exchanger through feed water pump.

Alternator
The steam turbine drives the alternator which

converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

The output from the alternator is delivered to the

bus-bars through transformer, circuit breakers

and isolators.
Types of Nuclear Reactors

Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)

Boiling water Reactor (BWR)

Pressurized Heavy water Reactor (PHWR)

Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR)

Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)

PWRs keep water under pressure so that it heats, but does not boil. Water from the
reactor and the water in the steam generator that is turned into steam never mix. In this
way, most of the radioactivity stays in the reactor area
 A PWR assembles 200-300 rods arranged vertically in
the core, and a large reactor with 150-250 fuel
assemblies.
 The pressure is maintained by steam in a pressuriser.

 The water boils in the heat exchangers which are

thus steam generators.
 The steam drives the turbine to produce electricity,
and is then condensed and returned to the heat
exchangers.
 Boiling water Reactor (BWR)

BWRs actually boil the water. In both types, water is converted to steam, and then
recycled back into water by a part called the condenser, to be used again in the heat
process.
A BWR fuel assembly comprises 90-100 fuel
rods, and there are up to 750 assemblies in a
reactor core, holding up to 140 tonnes of
uranium.
The steam passes through drier plates (steam
separators) above the core and then directly to
the turbines.
 Pressurized Heavy water Reactor (PHWR)

(PHWR) is a nuclear reactor that uses heavy water (deuterium oxide D2O) as its coolant

and neutron moderator. PHWRs frequently use natural uranium as fuel, sometimes very
low enriched uranium.
The moderator is in a large tank is called calandria.

It has several hundred horizontal pressure tubes

which form channels for the fuel, cooled by a flow of

heavy water under high pressure.
The primary coolant generates steam in a secondary

circuit to drive the turbines.

The PHWR produces more energy per kilogram of

mined uranium than other designs.

Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR)
These are the second generation of British gas-

cooled reactors, using graphite moderator and

carbon dioxide as primary coolant.
The carbon dioxide circulates through the core,

reaching 650°C and then past steam generator tubes

outside it.
Gas Turbine Power Plant
Advantages
Simple in design, construction and operation.

Much smaller in size .

The initial and operating costs are lower.

It requires comparatively less water as no

condenser is used.
There are no standby losses.
Disadvantages
Before starting the turbine, the compressor has to be

operated for which power is required from some

external source.
Since a greater part of power developed by the turbine

is used in driving the compressor, the net output is low.

The overall efficiency of such plants is low (about 20%).

The temperature of combustion chamber is quite high

(3000oF).
Schematic Arrangement
The main components of the gas turbine power
plant are :
 Compressor

 Regenerator

 Combustion chamber

 Gas turbine

 Alternator

 Starting motor
Compressor
The compressor used in the plant is generally of

rotatory type.
The air at atmospheric pressure is drawn by the

compressor via the filter which removes the dust

from air.
The rotatory blades of the compressor push the

air between stationary blades to raise its pressure.

Regenerator
A regenerator contains a nest of tubes in a shell.

The compressed air passes through the tubes on its

way to the combustion chamber.

Regenerator recovers heat from the exhaust gases of

the turbine.
The compressed air is heated by the hot exhaust gases.
Combustion Chamber
The air at high pressure from the compressor is led to
the combustion chamber via the regenerator.
In the combustion chamber, heat is added to the air
by burning oil.
The result is that the chamber attains a very high
temperature (about 3000oF).
 The combustion gases are suitably cooled to 1300 oF
to 1500oF and then delivered to the gas turbine.
Gas Turbine
The products of combustion consisting of a mixture

of gases at high temperature and pressure are passed

to the gas turbine.
These gases in passing over the turbine blades

expand and thus do the mechanical work.

The temperature of the exhaust gases from the

turbine is about 900oF.

Alternator
The gas turbine is coupled to the alternator. The

alternator converts mechanical energy of the turbine

into electrical energy.
The output from the alternator is given to the bus-

bars through transformer, circuit breakers and

isolators.
Starting Motor
Before starting the turbine, compressor has to be

started.
For this purpose, an electric motor is mounted on the

same shaft as that of the turbine.

Once the unit starts, a part of mechanical power of

the turbine drives the compressor and there is no

need of motor now.