Nuclear Reactions

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Nuclear Reaction Nuclear Fusion Nuclear Fission What is Nuclear Reactor Reactor Generations Types of Nuclear Reactor PWR How Much Energy Produced World Nuclear Power Advantages & Disadvantages Nuclear Wastages

Nuclear Reaction
A process, such as fission, fusion, or radioactive decay, in which the structure of an atomic nucleus is altered through release of energy or broken apart.

Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus. It is accompanied by the release or absorption of energy depending on the masses of the nuclei involved..

Examples of Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear Fusion

14.1 Mev

Nuclear Fission
A reaction in which an atomic nucleus of an atom splits by bombardment from an external source, with simultaneous release of large amounts of energy.

Nuclear Fission
Neutron induced in U235

Fission is Exothermic The sum of the masses of the resulting nuclei is less than the original mass (about 0.1% less) The missing mass is converted to energy according to E=mc2

Nuclear Fission
Cause another fission by colliding with a U235 nucleus
Creates two smaller nuclides and free neutrons The free neutrons potentially collide with nearby U235 nuclei May cause the nuclide to split as well
Each split (fission) is accompanied by a large quantity of E-N-E-R-G-Y

If sufficient neutrons are present, we may achieve a chain reaction

Nuclear Fission and Fusion

Nuclear fission: A large nucleus splits into several small nuclei when impacted by a neutron, and energy is released in this process

Nuclear fusion:
Several small nuclei fuse together and release energy.

What is a nuclear reactor?

A nuclear reactor is a device in which nuclear chain reactions are initiated, controlled and sustained at steady rate. Reactors are used for generating electricity.

Reactor Generations
Gen I Prototypes in 50s & 60s

Gen III+
Current Advanced Designs in the Approval Process Pebble Bed Reactor

Gen II (Current NP )
70s & 80s Todays Operational Reactors BWR, PWR, CANDU,

Gen IV ( Under Development )

Deploy in 2030 Economical Safe Minimize Waste Reduce Proliferation

Gen III (Improvements)

ABWR, APWR Approved 90s Some Built around the World

Reactor Generations

http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Types of Nuclear Reactor

BOILING WATER REACTOR (BWR) PRESSURISED WATER REACTOR (PWR)

ADVANCED GAS-COOLED REACTOR (AGR)

PRESSURISED HEAVY WATER (CANDU) FAST BREEDER REACTOR (FBR)
Types of Nuclear Reactors

Basic Diagram of a PWR

A PWR in Practice

http://www.nukeworker.com/

Components of nuclear reactors

The core of the reactor contains all of the nuclear fuel and generates all of the heat. It contains low-enriched uranium (<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,etc The turbine transfers the heat from the coolant to electricity. The containment is the structure that separates the reactor from the environment. These are usually dome-shaped, made of high-density, steel-reinforced concrete. Cooling towers are needed by some plants to dump the excess heat that cannot be converted to energy due to the laws of thermodynamics. These are the hyperbolic icons of nuclear energy. They emit only clean water vapor.

 A schematic representation of the basic parts of a nuclear reactor. The largest commercial nuclear power plant reactors are nine- to eleven-inch-thick steel vessels with a stainless steel liner, standing about 40 feet high with a diameter of 16 feet. Such a reactor has four pumps, which move 440,000 gallons of water per minute through the primary loop.

Fuel Assemblies & Control Rod

 Spent fuel rod assemblies are removed and new ones are added to a reactor head during refuelling. This shows an initial fuel load to a reactor, which has the upper part removed and set aside for the loading.

How much energy is produced?

Nuclear power is an extremely rich energy source. One gram of Uranium-235 delivers as much energy as 3.5 metric tons of coal!!!

World Nuclear Power

440 Nuclear Reactors in 30 Countries with 377,000 MW Provided ~16% World electricity 60 Nuclear Power Plants under Construction 250 research reactors in 56 countries

Nuclear Plants in India

Power Station
Kaiga Kakrapar Kalpakkam Narora Rawatbhata Tarapur

State
Karnataka Gujarat Tamil Nadu Uttar Pradesh Rajasthan Maharashtra

Type
PHWR PHWR PHWR PHWR PHWR BWR (PHWR) Total

No. of Units
4 2 2 2 6 4 20

Capacity (MW)
880 440 440 440 1180 1400 4780

Projects Under Construction

Power Station
Kudangulam Kalpakkam Kakrapar Rawatbhata

State
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu Gujarat Rajasthan

Type
VVER-1000 / WWER-1000 PFBR PHWR PHWR

No. of Units
2 1 2 2

Capacity (MW)
2000 500 1400 1400

Banswara

Rajasthan

PHWR
Total

2
9

1400
6700

WWER-100 Safety Features

Passive Heat Removal System Double Containment Core Catcher Hydrogen Recombiner

Tsunami impact on Japan Nuclear Power plant

Fukushima Daiichi

Loss of electric power supply

Reactor coolant Pump stops due to Batteries empty leads no heat removal.

Loss of cooling water for reactor fuels (14 hours with no cooling)
Nuclear fuels are estimated to start melting at 17:00. (one hour and 20 min. later of the Tsunami attack.)

Melted fuel moved to the bottom of reactor vessel and possibly some of the fuels dropped on the dry well floor.
Hydrogen generated by the Zirconium-Water reaction.

Tsunami impact on Japan Nuclear Power plant

Leakage of Spend fuel stored in pool Containment Pressure increased. Melting of cladding due to High temp ( about 1800 2500c) Fission Products like Xenon, Iodine, Cesium melt down Building explode during venting procedure to reduce containment pressure.

Advantages of Nuclear Energy

The Earth has limited supplies of coal and oil. Nuclear power plants could still produce electricity after coal and oil become scarce. Nuclear power plants need less fuel than ones which burn fossil fuels. One ton of uranium produces more energy than is produced by several million tons of coal or several million barrels of oil. Nuclear plant does not make harmful greenhouse gases. very small amount of nuclear fuel to make a lot of energy.

Disadvantages
Handling of radio active waste is still an unresolved one.

Nuclear Radiation harmful or even fatal to infected people

High Risk : It is technically impossible to build a plant with 100% security. World uranium supplies may run out in about 30 to 60 years. Nuclear power plants as well as nuclear waste could be preferred targets for terrorist attacks.

Nuclear Wastages
High Level Radio active waste Low Level Radio active waste

Pressurized water Reactor