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Lecture 18
Lecture 18: Components of Nuclear
Power Plant
The Nuclear Power Station
A Nuclear power station uses nuclear energy for generating electrical energy.
This power station is generally located far from populated areas. This kind of power station can
be used to produce large amounts of electrical energy. In most countries these power stations are
used as Base load power stations. This is because they can take several days to be warmed up and
brought on-line.
Operation
Heavy elements such as Uranium (U235) or Thorium (Th232) are subjected to nuclear fission in
a reactor to produce steam at high temperatures and pressure.
Steam runs a steam turbine which converts this energy into mechanical energy.
The turbine drives the alternator which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Pros & Cons: what this power station presents
Advantages Disadvantages
Small amounts of fuel required Fuel is expensive and hard to recover
Power plant requires less space Capital cost very high
Low running charges Erection & commissioning of plant requires
great technical knowledge
Economical for producing bulk electrical Fission by-products are generally Radioactive
energy & may cause nuclear pollution
Large available deposits of fuel around the Maintenance costs are high
world
Reliability of operation Not suited for varying loads as reactor does not
respond to fluctuations
Does not require large quantities of water for Disposal of nuclear by-product is difficult &
cooling problematic
Future generations will want to depend more on this type of electricity generating power station
(and other renewable energy sources), due to a fast increasing depletion of fuels (Coal). There are
a number of construction projects currently underway for this kind of power station around the
world.
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Lecture 18
Steam Power station → Schematic arrangement
Figure 18.1: Nuclear power plant-pressurized water reactor Schematic
Constituents of Nuclear power station
Figure 18.1 shows a schematic of the general arrangement of a nuclear power station. The
constituents of the schematic are labeled in the table below as follows:
Key for figure schematic
(1)--reactor block (2)--cooling tower (3)—reactor (16)--river (21)--pump
(4)--control rod (5)--support for pressure (6)--steam generator (17)--cooling-water circulation
(7)--fuel element (8)--turbine (9)--generator (18)--primary circuit
(10)--transformer (11)--condenser (12)--gaseous (19)--secondary circuit
(13)--liquid (14)--air (15)--air (humid) (20)--water vapor
Location of Nuclear power station: influencing factors
Availability of water:
Sufficient water must be available for cooling, thus plant must be situated near a river or by sea-
side.
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Lecture 18
Disposal of waste:
Waste produced is generally reactive, and thus must be disposed of properly to avoid health
hazards. Waste must be disposed in deep trench or in sea away from shore.
Distance from populated areas:
Must be far away from populated areas as there may be radio-active particles in the atmosphere
near plant. However, the radio-activity released by a nuclear power plant is significantly less than
a similar coal-powered plant.
Transportation facilities:
The site should be accessible by rail and (or) road for ease in transporting equipment &
machinery.
Design Requirements and Engineering Considerations
Fuel Consumption
Fission Fragments are the result of fission
Some fragments are neutron absorbers
When too many fragments exist, and not enough fresh fuel exists to compensate, the fuel
bundle must be replaced with a new or less “burnt” fuel assembly
Forms of Uranium in Power Reactor Fuel
1. Uranium Metal
2. Uranium/Other Metal Alloy
3. Ceramic Uranium Dioxide
4. Uranium Carbide
5. Uranium Silicide
Desirable Fuel Material Properties
1. Low cost - constituents and fabrication
2. Good neutron economy
Fig. 18.2: Basic Reactor Fuel Arrangement
3. Good corrosion resistance to coolant
4. Physical stability under effects of irradiation,
temperature, Pressure
Reactor Coolants
Coolants transfer thermal energy and keep the fuel from overheating
Most reactors use water as both coolant and moderator
Alternative Power Reactant Coolant
1. CO2 Gas
2. Helium
3. Ordinary Water
4. Heavy Water
5. Organic Fluid
6. Liquid Metal
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Lecture 18
Desirable Properties of Reactant Coolant
1. High heat capacity
2. Good heat transfer properties
3. Low neutron absorption
4. Low neutron activation
5. Low operating pressure requirement at high operating temperature
6. Non-corrosive to fuel cladding and coolant system
7. Low cost
Moderators – Reflectors
Moderators slow neutrons down so they are available for fission
Some of these use “Heavy Water” at the moderator
Some use graphite as the moderator
The purpose of the reflector is to reflect (as a mirror) some of the escaping neutrons back into
the core area where they become available to induce fission.
Water serves this function in most reactor designs.
Alternative Power Reactor Moderators
1. Graphite
2. Ordinary Water
3. Heavy Water
Desirable Properties of Reactant Moderators
1. High moderating efficiency
2. Low neutron absorption
3. Freedom from damage – irradiation corrosion Fig. 18.3: Moderating Arrangement
4. Low cost – Raw material, manufacture, installation
Control Material
Control Rods
Liquid material
Installed Poisons
All absorb neutrons, making them unavailable for fission
Reactor Size and Shape
Leakage depends on surface area of core
Neutron production is enhanced with a larger core
volume, since more fuel can be put into the core
A Cylindrical shape is used
Surface/Volume ratio will be small
Reactor size is based on the desired power level and
safety considerations
Fig. 18.4: The Control Rods
