DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : Ch. Prasad
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Mechanical Engineering
Institute : S. M.V.M. Polytechnic, Tanuku
Year/Semester : VI Semester
Subject : Energy Sources &Power Plant Engineering
Subject Code : M606C
Topic : Thermal and Nuclear Power Plants
Duration : 50 Minutes
Sub Topic : Effects of Nuclear Radiation & Disposal
of Nuclear Waste
Teaching Aids : Diagrams and Animations.
Revised by : M. Srinivas Rao
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 Recap
In previous period, we have discussed about

Nuclear materials used for

a. Moderator and reflector

b. Control rods

c. Shielding

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 Objectives

On completion of this period, you would able to know

• Effects of nuclear radiation

• Disposal of nuclear waste
• Location of nuclear power plants in India
• Comparison between TPP & NPP

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 Effects of nuclear radiation

• Nuclear waste products are highly radioactive.

• They emit large quantities of radiation

• The biological effect depends upon the amount of absorbed

dose and duration of exposure

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 Effects of nuclear radiation (contd…)

• The radiation destroys all living matter through which they pass
• The unit of radiation commonly used for biological damage is
‘rem’,
• 1 rem is equivalent to the absorption of 100 ergs/gram of tissue

• The irradiation dose of 400 rems results in death.

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 Effects of nuclear radiation

• The absorbed dose of about 200 rems causes radiation

sickness such as nausea, intestinal hemorrhage etc

• Exposure over number of years may shorten the life

• The safe level of absorption is about 9.3 rems per week.

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 Disposal of nuclear waste

Nuclear waste consists of

1. Solids
2. Liquids
3. Gaseous

• They are highly radioactive.

• They must be disposed off in such a way that there is no

Hazard to the human and plant life.

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 Disposal of solid waste

• Radioactive solid waste are first kept in water at a depth of

6 meters nearly for 100 days.

• Nuclear wastes are generally stored in tanks which are buried in

ground.

• After 13 years of storage they are disposed in to the sea.

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 Disposal of liquid waste

• The liquid waste is disposed off the sea through the pipes
carried from the plant to the point of disposal.

• Care should be taken to see that the radioactivity level should

not be very harmful to the aquatic life.

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 Disposal of gaseous waste

• Radioactive gases are collected and stored in a tanks.

• The tanks are buried in the ground for sufficient time.

• The gases in the tanks are disposed off to atmosphere

at safe height when the activity level is sufficiently low.

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 Major nuclear power plants
in India

1. Tarapur (Maharastra) 10,420 MW

2. Ranapratap Sagar(Rajastan) 20,950 MW

3. Kalpakkam (Tamilnadu) 970 MW

4. Narora (Uttar Pradesh) 475 MW

5. Kakrapara (Gujarat) 475 MW

6. Kaiga (Karnataka) 1,410 MW

7. Kundankulam (Kerala) 2,000 MW

Table:1
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 Major nuclear power plants in India

• Besides the above plants nuclear power corporation of India

is proposed several new projects.

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 Comparison between nuclear & thermal
power plants
Criteria NPP TPP
1. Source of Heat Reactor due to Boiler Furnace due
Nuclear Fission. to combustion of
Fuel
2. Manpower Required Less More

3. Environmental a)Free from Air a) More Air

Pollution Pollution. Pollution
b)Disposal of b) No such
Nuclear waste is Problem.
Hazardous
Table:2
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 Comparison between nuclear & thermal
power plants
Criteria NPP TPP

4. Initial Cost High Comparatively

low

5. Cost of Power Cheap Comparatively

Costly.

6. Space Occupied Less More

Table:3
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 Discussion point

Criteria Nuclear power Thermal power

plant plant

1.Source of heat
2.Man power plant
3.Environment
pollution
4.Initial cost
5.Cost of powers
6.Space occupied

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 Summary

We have discussed so far about

• Effects of nuclear radiation

• Disposal of nuclear waste.

• Location of nuclear power plants in India

• Comparison between NPP & TPP

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 Quiz
1. The unit for measuring biological effect of radiation.
a. Rem
b. Erg
c. Joule
d. Dyne

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 Quiz

2.The intensity of nuclear radiation lead to death is

a. 200 rem
b. 400 rem
c. 100 rem
d. 9.3 rem

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 Quiz

3. Nuclear solid waste is disposed off

a. To the atmosphere

b. Buried in the ground

c. Dispose to water

d. Incineration

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 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Define nuclear fission , fusion and chain reactions.

2. List out main components of nuclear reactor and explain .

3. Explain types of nuclear fuels

4. Explain about types of reactors explain briefly about gas

cold reactor with neat sketch.

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 Frequently Asked Questions (Contd….)

5. Explain BWR with neat sketch.

6. Explain required properties of nuclear fuels.

7. Explain the effects of nuclear radiation on human life.

8. Explain the methods of disposing nuclear waste.

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