NUCLEAR

POWER PLANT
NUCLEAR
POWER PLANT

Is a power plant in which nuclear

energy is converted into heat to be
used in producing steam for
turbines, which in turn drive
generators that produce electric
power.
NUCLEAR FISSION PROCESS
Fission is defined as, “the process of
splitting of a heavy nucleus into ligther
nuclei with the release of large amount of
energy.”

Each way of splitting U nucleus ejects

different number of neutrons 1,2 or 3. On
an average neutronsare ejected per
neutron absorbed. out of 25 neurons are
lost due to escape at the surface and
remaining 2.2 neutrons are allowed to
continue chain reaction. The reaction will
increase exponentially and large amount of
energy is released.
 NUCLEAR CHAIN REACTION
A chain reaction refers to a process in
which neutrons released in fission produce
an additional fission in at least one further
nucleus. This nucleus in turn produces
neutrons, and the process repeat. If the
process is controlled it is used for nuclear
power or if uncontrolled it is for nuclear
weapon.

U235 + n→ fission + 2 or 3 n + 200 MeV

If each neutron releases two or more

neutrons, then the number of fissions
doubles each generations.
TYPICAL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
 TYPICAL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

• Fuel Core- is a radioactive material, U235 and U238 which is the source
of energy.
• Moderator- is a device that slows down the neutrons to thermal enegy,
made of Carbon and Beryllium.
• Control Rods- are boron coated steel rods used to control the reactor.
• Reflector- is a device made of lead or carbon which surrounds the core
to bounce back any leakage of nuetrons.
• Thermal Shield- is a device that prevents escape of radiation from
reactor vessel.
 TYPICAL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

• Reactor Drum- is a device that encloses the fuel core and components.
• Biological Shield- is a concrete or lead which absorbs any leakage of
radiation and protects operators from exposure to radioactivity.
• Control Cubicle- is a device that contains the meters that show the
operating quantities in the reactor.
• Containment Vessel- is a concrete that prevents the spread of
radiation in case of major explosion.
• Coolant- is a substance that absorbs the heat from the fuel core and
then release the heat to the water in steam generator.
 TYPICAL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

• Coolant Pump- a device (pump) that circulates yhr coolant.

• Tubine Generator- is a device that generates the electric power.
• Condenser- is a device that converts steam coming from the turbine
into liquid.
• Feedwater Pump- a device that delivers the feedwater to the steam
generator.
TYPE OF NUCLEAR POWER
REACTORS
1. Pressurized Water Nuclear Power Reactors

A pressurized water reactor

uses water under pressure
as both the coolant and
moderator in the reactor.
The water pressure must be
sufficiently high so that we
can have water at 550-600°F
without boiling in the core.
The fission of the fuel
produces heat that is
carried away by circulating
water under pressure.
2. Fast-breeder Nuclear Power Reactor

A fast-breeder reactor depends upon

the fission of the neutrons rather
than thermal neutrons. Therefore no
moderator or moderatinh material can
be used. Further the term “breeder”
implies that the reactor produces
more fuel due to the absorption of
neutrons than is burned up. This is
possible since on the average 2.5
neutrons are produce due to each
fisson of a uranium atom and only one
of these is needed to keep the chain
reactiongoing.
 3. Gas-Cooled Nuclear Power Reactor
Advantages of Gas Cooled Power Reactor

> high temperatures are possible at low

pressures since boiling is not a problem.
> plant thermal efficiencies increase with
increasing cycle temperature.
> steam can be producede at higher
temperatures in heat exchangers heated by
gas.
> gasas can be non-hazardous.

Disdvantages of Gas Cooled Power Reactor

> the power required to pump gas is very high

Gas cooled nuclear power reactor uses
compared to that for pumping liquids.
carbon dioxide gas as coolant. > large flow rates and high velocities are
required.
 4. Liquid-Cooled Nuclear Power Reactor

There are two types of liquid-cooled reactor: the Water-Cooled Reactor

and the Liquid Metal-Cooled Reactor.
 4. Liquid-Cooled Nuclear Power Reactor

4. 1. Water-Cooled Reactor Advantages of Water Cooled Power Reactor

> low cost of coolant

> coolant is also a moderator
> pumping powereeeeeee eeies amall and design
is relatively simple
> low viscosity

Disdvantages of Water Cooled Power Reactor

> high pressures required to obtain high

temperatures.
> detrimental to large conversion ratios because
hydrogen in the water is good absorber
> problem of corrosion of materials in contact
with the water
4. Liquid-Cooled Nuclear Power Reactor

4. 2. Liquid-Metal-Cooled Reactor

Advantages of Liquid-Metal-Cooled Reactor

> high thermal conductivity

> can operate at atmospheric pressure
> good heat transfer characteristics
> stable at high temperatures

Disdvantages of Liquid-Metal-Cooled Reactor

> high cost

> danger of reaction with air or water makes for
difficulty in handling
5. Boiling Water Nuclear Power Reactor

Boiling water nuclear power reactor is the simplest

from of nuclear reactor. The feedwater from the
power turbine goes directly into the reactor and
picks up the heat from the fuel core, thus the
feedwater also serves as the coolant
 5. Boiling Water Nuclear Power Reactor
Advantages of Boiling Water Power Reactor Disdvantages of Boiling Water Power Reactor

> moderator and coolant are the same (same). > the presence of steam in the reactor will
This is the same as in a pressurized-water result in more neutron leakage and will
reactor. require a more highly enriched fuel. ( For
> the steam formed goes directly to the example: enrichment with U235.)
turbine, thus eliminating the extra heat > there will be some depositing of redioactive
exchanger present in the pressurized water elements in the pump, turbine, and condensing.
plant. this become a hazard under normal
> the pumping power is much less than that maintenance procedures.
for pressurized water plants because of > the leakage of the less dense steam is more
lower operating pressures to produce the apt to occur than in as pressurized water
same temperature and the extra loop. reactors.
> the stresses in the pressure vessel are
loweer operating pressures, thus decreasing
cost.
 NUCLEAR POWER PLANT CALCULATION
CONCEPT:
1. Thermal Energy Released: 4. Rate of Consumption per time:
This equation forms the basis for calculating > No. of fissionof the fuel per time.
the energy released in nuclear reactions, such > No. of atoms of the fuel used per time
as fission or fusion > No. of fuel nuclei needed to release energy
� = ��2 per time.
Note: Note all the thermsl energy released by It is given by:
the fuel (eg. Uranium) is utilized by the ���� �� �����������/���� =
����� ���������
reactor for power generation. �ℎ����� ������ ���������

2. Electrical power generated by reactors: note: if required to get rate per kg

This is the power output of the nuvlear power 1amu=1.67× 10−27 kg
plant.
5. Amount of fuel used/consumed
3. Efficiency of the reactor: 6.23 × 1023 ����
������� = 235�
This is the efficiency of conversion of
thermal energy to electrial energy. 1��� = 1.6 × 10−13 �
 Sample Problems:
A nuclear power plant is to have a capacity of 500 MW-electrical. How many pounds of �
235 are needed to operate the plant continuously for 6 years if the plant capacity factor is
75% and thermal efficiency is 35%.

235
(1�)(���������� ��. ) (1�)(6.03 × 1023
��. �� ����� ��� �� � = = = 2.57 × 1023
������ ����ℎ� 235

note: one watt will fission 3.1 × 1010 �����/� �� 2.68 × 1015 �����/���

2.57×1021
������ ������� = = 0.958955 × 106 �atts= 1�� − ���
2.68×1015

Therefore;1MW-day thermal energy is generated by fissioning 1g of U235. Hence, MWD electrical will
need 1/0.35 or 2.86 grams of U235.

��� �235 ��� 6 ����� = 500(0.75) 6(365) (2.86) = 2348775 �����

thus:
�235 = ����. �� ���
 Sample Problems:
When a U235 nucleus fissions, about 250 MeV of energy are released. What fraction of the
weight of the nucleus is thereby converted into energy?

�� � �235 �������:
� = 92 �������
� = 235 − 92 = 143 ��������
���� �� ������ = 1.00759 × 92 = 92.70 ���
���� �� ������� = 1.00898 × 143 = 144.28� ��
���� �� �235 ������� = 236.98 ��� = 236.98(1.66 × 10−24 ) = 3.93 × 10−22

from:
� = ��2
250 × 1.6 × 10−6 = �(9 × 1020 )
� = 4.44 × 10−25 �
then;
4.44 × 10−25 −�
�������� = = 0.00113 = �. �� × ��
3.94 × 10−22
 Sample Problems:
A 600 MWe PWR nuclear plant uses 4% enriched Uranium fuel and has athermal efficiency of
36 %. The burn up allowed of the fissionable portion of the fuel is 20%. Calculate how many
metric tons of natural Uranium is plaved in the reactor vessel for one year continuous operation?

��
��ℎ =
�� �ℎ
600,000(8760 ℎ�/��)
0.36 =
�� (23,000 �� − ℎ�/��235 )
��235
�� = 634,782.61
��
Mass of Natural Uranium (�� ):
��235
634,782.61 � ���. � ������ ����
��
�� = = 79,347,826.09 = ��. ��
�235 �� ��
�
��
(0.04 × 0.20)
� ���. �
 Sample Problems:

Determine the wavelength of a gamma photon having energy of 1 MeV.

���; � = ���������ℎ (�� ��)

� = ��������� �� ��������� (�� ���)
� = �������� �� ����ℎ = 3× 1010 ��/���
ℎ = ������’� �������� = 6.62 × 10−27 ��� − ���
then;
� �
�= ; �=
� �

Solving for f;
1��� = 1.6 × 10−6 ��� = ℎ�
1.6 × 10−6 ��� = 6.62 × 10−27 ��� − ��� (�)
� = 2.417 × 1020 ���
thus;
3 × 1010 ��� −��
�= = �. �� × ��
2.417 × 1020 ���
 Sample Problems:
A proton has a kinetic energy of 10 MeV. What is ts velocity?

2
1
�� = �� � −1
�2
1− 2
�
where;
�� = 10��� = 16 × 10−6 ���
�� = ���� ���� �� ������ = (1.00759 ���)(1.66 × 10−6 ���)
� = �������� �� �������

−6 −24 10 2
1
16 × 10 ��� = 1.673 × 10 (3 × 10 ) −1
�2
1−
(3 × 1010 )2
� = �. �� × ��� ��/���
 Sample Problems:
What is the wavelength of the most energetic x-rays from a 150,000 volt tube?

�� ��� �ℎ� ������ �� � ����� �������� ���� ���� �ℎ� ��������� �� ��� �ℎ����, �ℎ� ������ �� �ℎ� �
− ��� �ℎ���� �� ��������� ����� ����� ������ �� �ℎ� ������� ������� �� �ℎ� ����.
ℎ�
�=
�
where;
� = ������ (�� ����) = (150,000)(1.6 × 10−12 ) = 2.4 × 10−7 ����
ℎ = ������’� �������� = 6.62 × 10−27 ����
� = �������� �� ���ℎ� = 3 × 1010 ��/�
� = ��������ℎ�

substituting;
−27 10
−7
(6.62 × 10 ���� )(3 × 10 ��/� )
2.4 × 10 ���� =
�
� = �. ��� × ��−�� ��