Nuclear power generation

1. EXPLORING NUCLEAR ENERGY
ATREYA CHAKRABORTY
CVL/13-14/043
Roll No.- 16501313010
Reg No.- 131650110192 of 2013-2014
Third Year B.Tech(Civil Engineering)
Sixth Semester
Under guidance of
Prof. Mrinal K Ghose

2. IntroductIon
 Generally it is believed that nuclear energy is used for
destructive purposes only. But in fact it has more positive
uses. This energy is released by splitting the atom in two.
 Nuclear power was discovered 100 years ago.
 Right now nuclear power is being developed towards the
benefit of mankind.
 Development links to usage of energy.
 Economic, Social and Environmental change is inherent to
development.

3. objectIve
 To maximize the power generation and profitability from nuclear power stations
with the motto ‘safety first and production next’.
 To increase nuclear power generation capacity in the country, consistent with
available resources in a safe, economical and rapid manner, in keeping with the
growth of energy demand in the country.
 To continue and strengthen QA activities relating to nuclear power program
within the organization and those associated with it.
 To develop personnel at all levels through an appropriate Human Resources
Development (HRD) program in the organization with a view to further improve
their skills and performance consistent with the high technology.
 To continue and strengthen the environmental protection measures relating to
nuclear power generation.
 To continue and strengthen the neighborhood welfare program/CSR activities
for achieving inclusive growth of surrounding population.
 To share appropriate technological skills and expertise at national and
international levels.
 To bring about modernization and technological innovation in activities.
 To coordinate and endeavor to keep the sustained association with the other
units of DAE.

4. GrowInG enerGy demand
 Coal enjoys the main primary energy source status in Asia Pacific,
which comprises the largest population
 The reserve-to-production (R/P) ratio in respect of major regions of the
globe describes the life of different fossil fuels on earth
 The fact remains that oil and gas have limited reserves to last 41 and 67
years respectively at current production level.
 In contrast, world has a coal reserve to last 190 years at the current
production level.
 It follows that due to limited oil and gas resources, countries allover the
world will have to depend on coal in foreseeable future for their primary
energy requirement.

5. 5
most of the power plants In IndIa are coal
based

6. Nuclear Power PlaNt oPtimizatioN
 Power plant performance improvement component is to support and
prepare public and private power plant operators.
 Improved terms of trade.
 Currency appreciation and enhanced economic growth.
 Main emphasis is to be given to energy performance assessment,
education, training and awareness building .
 Energy efficient technologies, followed by enhanced investment in
energy efficient industrial plant technologies.
 Increased competitiveness of industry and commerce through
reduction of energy cost

7. Nuclear fissioN
Nuclear Fission energy generates intense heat energy without any
Carbon footprint. It is one of the viable, proven, green options for
meeting the ever increasing demand of energy and electricity while
protecting the environment.
Process-
 It is the process of splitting of a nucleus into two nuclei of smaller
masses.
 Products of fission reaction usually include two or three individual
neutrons, the total mass of the product is somewhat less than the
mass of Uranium-235.

8. chaiN reactioN
A chain reaction is an ongoing series of fission reactions. Billions of
reactions occur each second in a chain reaction. On earth, nuclear fission
reactions take place in nuclear reactors, which use controlled chain
reactions to generate electricity.

9. is there eNough uraNium
Identified “U” resources- 635 Million tons
Total conventional “U” resources- 15.9 Million tons
Total “U” in Phosphates- 22 Million tons
Present annual “U” consumption worldwide- 66,500 tons
REACTOR/ FUEL CYCLE
No. of years “U” resources will
last assuming present consumption
66,500 tons/year
Using only
identified
resources
Using
conventional
resources
Using
phosphate
resources
CURRENT TECHNOLOGY 150 years 450 years >1000 years
FAST REACTORS WITH
CLOSED FUEL CYCLES AND
RECYCLING
>3500 years >12000 years 45,000years

10. cost of DiffereNt eNergY resources
(The operation and maintenance cost of a nuclear reactor is low)

11. Low fuel cost in nuclear power plant as compared to
coal, oil and gas fired plants for electricity generation.
[ 1 kg coal: 3kWh; 1 kg oil : 4 kWh; 1 kg natural U : 50,000kWh; I kg
Pu : 60 million kWh]

12. Countries whiCh uses nuClear energy
 United States
 Russia
 France
 Japan
 South Korea
 Ukraine
 Belgium
 India
 Pakistan
 Brazil
 Slovakia
 Lithuania
Etc.

13. ProsPeCts of nuClear Power
 Zero emission of CO2,SO2,Nox. i.e. does not contribute to global warming
climate change and acid rain.
 Nuclear fission has high energy density.(example- 1 kg coal or oil produce
3-4 kWh only compared to 50,000 kWh from fission of U 235 in 1kg natural
uranium and 60,000,000 kWh from fission 1 kg Pu239).
 Nuclear power plants can provide base load electricity reliably and
economically and in a continuous matter with high plant availability factor
(>80% on average).
 Nuclear fuel cost is much low compared to other power cost as fossil fuel
etc. Thus giving stability to power price.

14. Challenges of nuClear Power
Memories of HIROSHIMA and NAGASHAKi incident along with 3 other
accidents make many uncomfortable with nuclear power.
Three Mile Island (USA 1979)- Partial core meltdown. No deaths and no one
was hurt and amount of radiation released was very little. But the plant had
to close.
Chernobyl (UKRAINE 1986)- Uncontrolled steam explosion which released
large amount of radiation killing over 50 people. Hundreds of thousands
people were evacuated. 4000 cancer cases were caused by this.
Fukushima (JAPAN 2011)- Station black out caused by an earthquake of
Richter scale 9 and a huge tsunami in quick succession. Neighboring plants
lost cooling and the decay heat melted the cores. Public was evacuated but
there was no news of any casualty.

15. stePs need to be taken
 Management of highly radioactive and health hazardous spent
nuclear fuel (SNF) and sites for permanent disposal of High Active
Waste (HAW).
 No underground respository has been constructed yet anywhere in
the world for permanent disposal of HAW. So this issue should be
looked upon.

16. CONCLUSION
Nuclear power contributes over 2.4% of energy supply in
India through 19 nuclear power reactors and 6 power
stations producing electricity. We are on our peak of using
energy resources. Non renewable energy resources will
vanish one day from earth. So we need to look forward.
Nuclear energy is one of the best option we have right now if
used correctly. The stakes are very high if it is used in a
wrong way. So we need to prepare and maintain nuclear
power in as much as profitable way as well as the benefit of
mankind.

17. THANK YOUTHANK YOU