NUCLEAR REACTOR

PRESENTATION BY
A.RAVI
TEJA
SECTION : B
ROLL
NO:131FA08065

Invention of nuclear
reactors
Enrico FermiNoble prize winner, Enrico
Fermi invented the neutronic reactor.

INDEX
About Nuclear reactor
Types of nuclear reactors
Nuclear power plants
Types of nuclear power
plants

What is a nuclear reactor?

A nuclear reactor is a system that contains and
controls sustained nuclear chain reactions.
Reactors are used for generating electricity,
moving aircraft carriers and submarines, producing
medical isotopes for imaging and cancertreatment
and for conducting research.Fuel, made up of
heavy atoms that split when they absorb neutrons,
is placed into the reactor vessel (basically a large
tank) along with a small neutron source. The
neutrons start a chain reaction where each atom
that splits releases more neutrons that cause other
atoms tosplit. Each time an atom splits, it releases
large amounts of energy in the form of heat. The
heat is carried out of the reactor by coolant, which
is most commonly just plain water. The coolant

Main components
The core :of the reactor contains all of the nuclear
fuel and generates all of theheat. It contains lowenricheduranium (<5% U-235), control systems,
and structural materials. The core can contain
hundreds of thousands of individual fuel pins.
The coolant :is the material that passes through
the core, transferring the heat from the fuel to a
turbine. It could be water, heavy-water, liquid
sodium, helium, or something else. In the US fleet
of power reactors, water is the standard.
The turbine :transfers the heat from the coolant to
electricity, just like in a fossil-fuel plant.The
containment : is the structure that separates the
reactor from the environment. These are usually
dome-shaped, made of high-density, steelreinforced concrete. Chernobyl did not have a

Animated reactor system:

This image (reproduced fromthe NRC) shows a nuclear reactor heating up
waterand spinning a generator to produce electricity. It captures the
essence of the system well. The water coming into the condenser and then
going right back out would be water from a river, lake, or ocean. It goes out
the cooling towers. As you can see, this water does not go near the
radioactivity, which is in the reactor vessel.

Types of nuclear reactorsThere are very many different types of

nuclear reactors with different fuels, coolants, fuel cycles,
purposes. Heres an incomplete list of them.
iling Water ReactorIn the boiling water
reactor the same water loopserves
asmoderator, coolant for the core, and
steam source for the
turbine.DiscussionIndexFission
conceptsHyperPhysics*****NuclearR
NaveGo BackBoiling Water ReactorIn the
boiling water reactor (BWR), the water
which passes over the reactor core to act
asmoderatorand coolant is also the steam
sourcefor the turbine. The disadvantage of
this is that any fuel leak might make the
waterradioactiveand that radioactivity
would reach the turbine and the rest of the
loop.A typical operating pressure for such
reactors is about 70atmospheresat which
pressure the water boils at about 285C.
This operating temperature gives aCarnot
efficiencyof only 42% with a practical
operating efficiency of around 32%,
somewhat less than thePWR.

Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor

(PHWR)In the PHWR, natural unenriched nuclear fuel is placed in a
tube bundle containing heavy
water at 90 times atmospheric
pressure to serve as nuclear fuel
coolant, and the tube bundle is
immersed in a tank of heavy water
which serves as the moderator.
Ordinary water takes heat away
from the heavy water and boils in
the steam generator as in a PWR,
to raise steam in asecondary
circuit to drive a turbine-generator
to produce electricity.The Canadian
design commonly known as a
CANDU typifies the PHWR reactor.
The output ofa CANDU unit
reaches up to 900 MW

History of nuclear reactors

What is the history of nuclearin
powerIndia
in India?
Indias nuclear program was set up in 1948, withthe introduction of an
Atomic Energy Bill in the Constituent Assembly by Indias first prime
minister. If we are to remain abreast of the worldwe must develop this
atomic energy, opined Jawaharlal Nehru.The act gives exclusive
responsibility/rights over atomic energy to the State, cutting off any
possible opposition from Indian people. However it was only in 1969, with
the help of US that India was able to start its first reactor in Tarapur.As a
non-signee to the Nuclear Non-ProliferationTreaty, India was excluded
from international trading on nuclear commodities for many years. Its
nuclear power plants were therefore built up largely without external help
or consultation, and outside of the safety standards of the International
Atomic Energy Agency. The indigenous three-stage programme (details
below) is a particular source of national pride.In 2008, the international
trading ban was lifted by the Nuclear Suppliers Group, opening the door
for foreign countries that wished to trade nuclear equipment and fuel with
India, fenced for civilian (non-weaponry) purposes. Deals with the US,
France and Russia swiftly followed, as well as with Canada, Mongolia,
Kazakhstan, Argentina, Namibia, South Korea and the UK. Foreign nuclear
corporations could now build reactors in India.

Nuclear Power Plants:Nuclear power plants use the heat generated from
nuclear fission in a contained environment to convert water to steam, which
powers generators to produce electricity. Nuclear powerplants operate in
most states in the country andproduce about 20 percent of the nations
power. Nearly 3 million Americans live within 10 miles of an operating
nuclear power plant.Although the construction and operation of these
facilities are closely monitored and regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC), accidents are possible. An accident could result in
dangerous levels of radiation that could affect the health and safety of the
public living near the nuclear power plant.Local and state governments,
federal agencies, and the electric utilities have emergency response plans in
the event of a nuclear power plant incident. The plans define two
emergencyplanning zones. One zone covers an area within a 10-mile
radius of the plant, where it is possible that people could be harmed by
direct radiation exposure. The second zone covers a broader area, usually
up to a 50-mile radius fromthe plant, where radioactive materials could
contaminate water supplies, food crops and livestock.The potential danger
from an accident at a nuclear power plant is exposure to radiation. This
exposure could come from the release of radioactive material from the plant
into the environment, usually characterized by a plume (cloud-like
formation) of radioactive gases and particles. The major hazards to people
in the vicinity of the plume are radiation exposure to the body from the
cloud and particles depositedon the ground, inhalation of radioactive
materials and ingestion of radioactive materials.Radioactive materials are

Types of nuclear power

plants

Location of power plants in

India

Power consumption in India

by
nuclear
power
plants
India is worlds6th largestenergy consumer, accounting for3.4%of global
energy consumption, with Maharashtra as the leading electricity generator
among Indian states. Due to Indias economic rise, the demand for energy
has grown at an average of 3.6% per annum over the past 30 years. At the
end of December 2012, the installed power generation capacity of India
stood at210951.72MW,while theper capita energy consumptionstood
at733.54KWh(2008-09). The Indian government has set an ambitious target
to add approximately 78,000 MW of installed generation capacity by 2012.
Thetotal demandforelectricity in India is expected to cross950,000 MW by
2030.India is thesixth largest in terms of power generation. About65%of the
electricity consumed in India is generatedbythermal power
plants,22%byhydroelectric power plants,3%bynuclear power plantsand rest
by10%from otheralternate sourceslike solar, wind, biomass etc.53.7%of
Indias commercial energy demand is met through the countrys vast coal
reserves. The country has also investedheavily in recent years on renewable
sources of energy such as wind energy. As ofMarch 2011, Indias installed
wind power generation capacity stood at about12000 MW. Additionally, India
has committed massive amount of funds for the construction of various
nuclear reactors which would generate at least 30,000 MW. In July 2009,

Nuclear power plants newly

planned
The new energy parks are to be:Kudankulamin Tamil Nadu: three
more pairs of Russian VVER units, making 9200 MWe. Environmental
approval has been given for the first four. A general framework
agreement for construction of units 3 & 4 was to be signed in mid2010, with equipment supply and service contracts soon after, but
these were delayed on account of supplier liability questions, with
Indiawanting the units to come under its 2010 vendorliability law. In
July 2012 Russia agreed to $3.5 billion in export financing for units
3&4, to cover 85% of their cost. A further credit line of $800 million
is available to cover fuel supplies. The credit lines carry interest at
4% pa and would be repayable over 14 years and 4 years
respectively, from one year after the start of power generation. The
Indian government said itexpected to take up the credit offers to the
valueof $3.06 billion, about 53% of the $5.78 billion estimated total
project cost.In July 2012 coastal regulation zone clearance was
obtained for units 3-6 of 1000 MWe each from the Ministry of
Environment & Forests, mainly related to seawater cooling.
Environmental approval for units 3-6 had been obtained earlier. In
March 2013 cabinet approved construction of units 3&4, and site
work began. In April 2014 NPCIL signed a Rs 33,000 crore ($ 5.47

Places in lndia for newly

planned

Images of nuclear power

plants

areas effected by radiations

by Chernobyl accidents

General knowledge
Questions
1.Which of the following is used as a moderator in nuclear reactor?
A.graphite
2.Which among the following is a positively charged particle emitted
by a radioactive element?
A.alpha ray
3.Atoms are composed of
Electrons and nuclei
4.In an atomic explosion, enormous energy is released which is due to
conversion of chemical energy into heat energy

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