This presentation is all about the nuclear technology and its uses and how it is used in producing electricity

1. NUCLEAR
REACTOR
TECHNOLOGY
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2. Introduction to Nuclear
Reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device in
which nuclear chain reactions are
initiated, controlled, and sustained at a
steady rate.
The most significant use of nuclear
reactors is as an energy source for the
generation of electrical power and for
the power in some ships.This is usually
accomplished by methods that involve
using heat from the nuclear reaction to
power steam turbines.
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3. Heat Generation
The reactor core generates heat in a
number of ways:
•The kinetic energy of fission products
is converted to thermal energy when
these nuclei collide with nearby atoms.
•Some of the gamma rays produced
during fission are absorbed by the
reactor, their energy being converted
to heat.
•Heat produced by the radioactive
decay of fission products and materials
that have been activated by neutron
absorption. This decay heat source will
remain for some time even after the
reactor is shutdown.
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4. Working of Nuclear Reactor
•A nuclear reactor operates by the controlled
fission of 235U. Fission occurs at a slow
steady rate, rather than suddenly in a fraction
of a second, as in a bomb. Fission produces
heat, and this heat is used to generate
electricity, in the same way that the heat of
burning oil or coal generates electricity in a
conventional power plant.
•Some reactors operate with natural uranium
(0.7% 235U), some with slightly enriched
uranium (3% 235U). Since weapons require
about 90% 235U, the uranium used in
reactors cannot be diverted to weapons use.
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5. Key Reactor Power Terms
• Availability – Fraction of time over a
reporting period that the plant is
operational
– If a reactor is down for maintenance 1 week
and refueling 2 weeks every year, the
availability factor of the reactor would be
(365-3 * 7) / 365 = 0.94
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6. Key Reactor Power Terms
• Capacity – Fraction of total electric power
that could be produced
– If reactor with a maximum thermal power
rating of 1000 MWt only operates at 900 MWt,
the capacity factor would be 0.90
• Efficiency – Electrical energy output per
thermal energy output of the reactor
Eff=W/QR (MWe/MWt)
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7. Piecing Together a Reactor
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Fuel
Moderator
Control Rods
Coolant
Steam Generator
Turbine/Generator
Pumps
Heat Exchanger
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8. 5. Steam generator
3. Control rod
1. Fuel
2. Moderator
Basic Reactor Model
4. Coolant
6.
8.
7.
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9. Pressurized Water Reactor
(PWR)
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Pressure Vessel
Light Water
3.2% U-235 Fuel
2-4 Loops => Steam
UO2 Pellets in Zircaloy
17 x 17 array
12 foot long bundle
~32% Efficiency
External Pipe Corrosion
Lower Capital Cost
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AP600 Westinghouse
600 MWe
Passive Safety Cooling
Systems
Prefabricated and
Assembled On-Site
Simple Plant Design =
Reduced Volume and
Cost
3-year
Construction
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10. Basic Diagram of a PWR
http://www.nrc.gov/10

11. Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)
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Direct Boiling
10% Coolant = Steam
Similar Fuel to PWR
Lower Power Density
than PWR
Corrosion Product
Activated in Core
Higher Radiation
Field
• GE – ABWR
• 1350 MWe
(3926 MWt)
UO2 Fuel
•
• 60 – yr Service Life
• Internalized Safety
and Recirculation
Systems
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12. Basic Diagram of a BWR
http://www.nrc.gov/12

13. A BWR in Practice
http://www.energy-northwest.com
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14. THANK YOU!!
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