EE 15

FUNDAMENTALS OF
POWER PLANT
ENGINEERING DESIGN
JERICK B. PARDILLO
BSEE-4
NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
HOW DOES IT OPERATE

Nuclear power reactors use heat produced

during atomic fission to boil water and produce
pressurized steam. The steam is routed through
the reactor steam system to spin large turbines
blades that drive magnetic generators to produce
electricity.
HOW DOES IT OPERATE

Maintenance includes preventive and corrective

measures that ensure structures, systems and
components are able to perform their design functions.
Typical activities include overhaul, repair and
replacement of system components and may be
enhanced by testing, calibration and in-service
inspections.
ADVANTAGES

*Clean
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our world today, which has escalated the need for a clean energy
transition.
One option that is increasingly gaining traction is nuclear energy, is a viable energy source and has the potential to play
a critical role in mitigating global greenhouse gas emissions.
Advanced nuclear energy is an environmentally friendly option given its ability to conserve water. Unlike conventional
power plants, advanced nuclear power plants like the Xe-100 use far less water since they do not need additional water
to cool the reactor.

*Safe
Nuclear power plants are subject to some of the most stringent safety regulations of any industrial sector.
These regulations cover every aspect of plant operation, from design and construction to maintenance and
decommissioning.
In addition, advanced nuclear power facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art safety technologies meant
to prevent accidents and minimize their impact if they occur.
These safety measures include emergency cooling systems, backup power sources, and other safeguards
designed to protect both the nuclear reactor and the surrounding area in the event of an accident.
*Reliable

While renewable energy sources such as wind and solar have increased and will continue to become a greater
share of the global energy supply, they are constrained by their inability to provide consistent base-load electricity
power due to their intermittency.
Advanced small modular reactors, on the other hand, have load-following capabilities and are designed to ramp
up or ramp down based on customer needs.

*Affordable
Nuclear energy is a cost-effective alternative to traditional sources of power and offers a reliable source of electricity.
Advanced small modular reactors are largely factory built and road-shippable, which reduces on-site work and results in
better cost predictability and more efficient quality control.
Conventional large-scale nuclear facilities, however, have high upfront capital costs due to their large size, substantial
containment structures, and longer construction times.
DISADVANTAGE

•Raw material
• Safety measures needed to prevent the harmful levels of radiation from
uranium.
•Fuel Availability
• The extraction of uranium is a very lengthy process especially because
uranium is a scarce resource.
•High Cost
• Building new nuclear plants is a huge investment, especially for developing
countries. That being said, the nuclear option may not be viable for majority of
the countries on the planet.
• They also take between 5-10 years to build.
•Nuclear Waste
• Failure to properly contain nuclear waste can lead to contamination from the
radioactive byproduct.