Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Energy
• Energy released by virtue of nuclear reactions (either fission or fusion)
which can be used for various purposes like electricity, propulsion etc
• Nuclear energy is harnessed from unstable nuclei (elements) which either
combine (fusion) or disintegrates (fission) to produce energy
• Such unstable nuclei are called as radioactive and phenomenon is known
as radioactivity
• Radioactivity occurs in unstable atomic nuclei because they don’t have
enough binding energy to hold the nucleus together due to an excess of
either protons or neutrons
Nuclear Energy (contd.)
• A radioactive element spontaneously emits energetic particles or waves
(known as radiation) such as alpha particle, beta particle or gamma
radiation
• Radioactive elements are found naturally as well as derived (from natural
substances)
• Natural elements are obtained from nature. e.g. Uranium is obtained
from Pitch Blende, Thorium is obtained from Monazite sand
• Derived elements cannot be obtained from natural sources rather
obtained through chemical processes e.g. Plutonium is obtained from
Uranium
Nuclear Energy (contd.)
• Global Uranium Reserves -
– Australia (Around one-third of total global reserves)
– Kazakhstan (12% of global reserves)
– Canada (9% of global reserves)
• Kazakhstan is the largest exporter of Uranium
• Australia having largest uranium reserves has no Nuclear Reactors
• Japan produces around 30% of electricity from Nuclear Reactors
• Fukushima Disaster in Japan was due to Caesium isotope leakage
TYPES OF NUCLEAR REACTIONS
There are basically two types of reactions which take place to release
nuclear energy:
• NUCLEAR FISSION
• NUCLEAR FUSION
Nuclear Fission
• It is a process in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more
smaller nuclei as fission products, and usually some by-product particles
• The by-products include free neutrons, photons usually in the form
gamma rays, and other nuclear fragments such as beta particles and alpha
particles
• It is an exothermic reaction
• It can release substantial amounts of useful energy both as gamma rays
and as kinetic energy of the fragments
• The basic reaction involved is as follows:
235 + n1→ U236→ Ba144 + Kr89 + 30n1 + Energy (200 MeV)
92U 0 92 56 36
Nuclear Fission (contd.)
NUCLEAR FUSION
• It is the process in which two light nuclei combine to
produce a heavier, more stable nucleus
• The reaction is followed either by a release or absorption of
energy
• Fusion reactions are observed in the equations - (Q = heat)
1 1 2
1H + 1H → 1H + e + Q(Q=0.42MeV)
2 2 3 1
1H + 1H → 2He + n (Q=3.3MeV)
• e.g. Hydrogen bomb, Sun energy, ITER (Artificial Sun
experiment)
• Nuclear Fusion is a safe energy but it is an uncontrolled
reaction therefore difficult to use
Nuclear Reactor
• Nuclear reactor is a place where nuclear reactions takes place in a
controlled manner to harness energy which can be used for electricity
generation
• It is assembly of various components
• Nuclear Fission takes place inside nuclear reactor
• Elaborate arrangements are made to ensure safety of nuclear reactions
Nuclear Reactor (contd.)
MODERATOR
• Moderators are used to slow down the emitted neutrons, which have a
high velocity range
• The slowed down neutrons can then be re-used for nuclear reactions
• Some common moderators are graphite, heavy water, beryllium,
beryllium oxide and some organic liquids
• Slowing down neutrons is also called transmalisation of the neutrons
• Heavy water (D2O) is one of the best moderators
• Heavy water can be used both as coolant and moderator
CONTROL RODS
• The nuclear chain reaction is controlled using a device called a control rod
• Control rods are made of materials which absorb neutrons
• The control rods are used in initiating and stopping the nuclear fission
reactions of the nuclear reactor
• Due to large absorption cross-section area, cadmium and boron rods are
used as control rods
• When control rods are inserted in the reactor unit, they absorb the fast-
moving neutrons and the chain reaction ceases
CONTROL RODS
• The fission chain reaction leads to release of 3
times more energy with every neutron, so to
prevent this large-scale heat and energy
emission, control rods are used
• Out of 3 neutrons released in fission reaction, 2
are absorbed by Control Rods and 1 is reused
everytime
• Chernobyl Disaster was due to uncontrolled
nuclear reaction
COOLANT
• Any chemical reaction works on certain pressure and temperature
• A coolant removes the tremendous amount of heat developed inside the
reactor core
• It is similar to coolant principle used in Internal Combustion engines
• Through a heat exchanger, the coolant transfers heat to the secondary
thermal system of the reactor
• Water, steam, helium, CO2, air, molten metals, etc. are used as a coolant
• Heavy water is not used as a coolant now a days
• Jaitapur and Kudankulam Nuclear power plants use water as a coolant
Types of Nuclear Reactors
Nuclear Energy Scenario
• Nuclear Energy is used to produce 10.4% of World’s electricity, which
amounts to over 2500 billion kWh each year
• It comes from some 450 nuclear reactors with total output capacity of about
377 GW operating in 30 countries
• Over 60 more reactors are under construction and on top of this another 150
are planned
• Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Japan, South
Korea, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine are the countries
generating 30% or more of their electricity from Nuclear Energy
• France generates three quarters (around 75%) of its total electricity from
uranium (maximum in world)
Nuclear Energy in India
Pre Independent Phase:
• During the 1920s and 1930s, Indian scientists maintained close links to their
counterparts in Europe and the United States, and were well aware of the latest
developments in physics
• Daulat Singh Kothari, Meghnad Saha, Homi J. Bhabha and R. S. Krishnan,
conducted pioneering research in nuclear physics in Europe during the 1930s
• 1944, Homi J. Bhabha, a distinguished nuclear physicist, with the help of J. R. D.
Tata established a research institute The Tata Institute of Fundamental
Research (TIFR)
• JRD Tata also helped developing a scientific temper with a spirit of enquiry in the
country by establishing institutions for science, education and research, starting
with the Institute of Science, set up at Bangalore in 1944
Nuclear Energy in India
Nuclear Energy in India (contd.)
Post Independence Phase
• After India attained independence, in 1947, the Atomic Energy Commission was
set up in 1948 for framing policies in respect of development of atomic energy in
the country
• Atomic Energy Act 1948 was enacted to governed Atomic energy activities in the
country
• The Department of Atomic Energy was established in 1954 with Dr. Bhabha as
Secretary to implement the policies framed by the Atomic Energy Commission
along with Sir J.R.D Tata as a member
• They played a significant role in shaping the policies related to atomic energy
program in the country
Nuclear Energy in India (contd.)
• In 1954, Atomic Energy Commission and all its subordinate agencies, including the
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the Nuclear Research Institute at
Calcutta University, were transferred to the new Department of Atomic
Energy and placed under the direct charge of the Prime Minister's Office
• The commercial nuclear power program of the first stage (comprising of PHWRs
and imported LWRs) is being implemented by Nuclear Power Corporation of India
Limited (NPCIL), and the second stage ( comprising of Fast Breeder Reactors) by
Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI)
• The commercial Nuclear Power program, started in 1969 with the operation of
Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS) 1&2 (BWR)
Nuclear Energy in India (contd.)
• The nuclear power plants
operating, under construction and
proposed in India are shown in the
map
• At present installed nuclear power
capacity is 1.9% or 6780 MW of
total installed power capacity in
India
• India stands 13th in the world in
terms nuclear capacity
Operational Plants in India
Under construction plants in India
Planned plants in India
Indian Nuclear Power Program
• The Indian Nuclear Programme was conceived based on, unique
sequential three-stages and associated technologies to aim at optimum
utilization of the indigenous nuclear resource profile of modest Uranium
and abundant Thorium resources
• This sequential three-stage program is based on a closed fuel cycle,
where the spent fuel of one stage is reprocessed to produce fuel for the
next stage
• The closed fuel cycle thus multiplies manifold the energy potential of the
fuel and greatly reduces the quantity of waste generated
Indian Nuclear Power Program (contd.)
• The first stage comprises of Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors fuelled by
natural uranium containing 0.7% Uranium-235 (fissile) & 99.3% Uranium-
238 (not fissile however it is converted in the nuclear reactor, to fissile
element Pu 239)
• The second stage, comprising of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) are fuelled
by mixed oxide of Uranium238 and Plutonium239, recovered by
reprocessing of the first stage spent fuel
• In Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR), Plutonium239 undergoes fission producing
energy, and producing Plutonium239 by transmutation of Uranium238
• Thus the FBRs produce energy and fuel, hence termed Breeders
Indian Nuclear Power Program (contd.)
• FBRs produce more fuel than they consume and hence Plutonium
inventory can be built up by feeding Uranium238
• Thorium232, which constitutes world’s largest reserves in India, is not
fissile therefore needs to be converted to a fissile material, Uranium233,
by transmutation in a fast breeder reactor
• This is to be achieved through second stage of the program, consisting of
commercial operation of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs)
• In the second stage, once sufficient inventory of Plutonium239 is built up,
Thorium232 will be introduced as a blanket material to be converted to
Uranium233
Indian Nuclear Power Program (contd.)
• In the third stage Thorium232 will be introduced as a blanket material to
be converted to Uranium233
• In this context, the frontier technologies being developed include the
Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS) and Advanced Heavy Water Reactor
(AHWR)
• The ADS essentially is a subcritical system using high-energy particles for
fission. One of the significant advantages of this system is small quantity of
waste production
• The AHWR is another innovative concept, which will act as a bridge
between the first and third stage essentially to advance thorium utilization
without undergoing second stage of the three stage program
Indian Nuclear Power Program (contd.)
• It uses light water as coolant and heavy water as moderator
• It is fuelled by a mixture of Plutonium239 and Thorium232, with a
sizeable amount of power coming from Thorium
Nuclear Energy in India (contd.)
• 3 August 1948, the Atomic Energy Commission of India (AEC) was
established with Homi J Bhabha as its first chairman
• 3 January 1954, the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) was
established by the Atomic Energy Commission to consolidate all nuclear
reactor research and technology-related developments
• Apsara: India's and Asia's first nuclear reactor designed by India
• 1955, the Canadian government under Prime Minister Louis St.
Laurent offered to assist in building an NRX-type reactor for India under
the Colombo Plan for peaceful atomic research and development which
was accepted by India
• " Under the terms of the agreement, Canada would provide a 40
MW CIRUS reactor for solely research purposes, including the initial
manufacture and engineering of the reactor, and would also provide
technical expertise, including training Indian personnel in its operation
• Construction of the reactor began later in 1956, with Indian technical
personnel sent to Chalk River for training.[40] CIRUS was completed in early
1960 and after achieving criticality in July 1960, was inaugurated by Nehru
in January 1961.[41] Construction of a third research reactor, ZERLINA (Zero
Energy Reactor for Lattice Investigations and New Assemblies) began at
Trombay in 1958; ZERLINA was also commissioned in 1961
