Nuclear Power Plants

Report on Nuclear Power Plants
Submitted by: Hafeez-ur-Rehman

Submitted to: CRIMSON Lab (Joint
Research Grant (ASU + NUST))
Supervised by: Dr. Imran Mahmood
Nuclear power plants in Pakistan
Nuclear Power Plant:
A nuclear power plant is a facility that converts atomic energy into usable power. In a nuclear
electric power plant, heat produced by a reactor is generally used to drive a turbine which in turn
drives an electric generator [1].
How Nuclear Reactors Work

A nuclear power plant works virtually like a conventional steam power plant, but it
produces heat energy from atoms rather than by burning coal, oil, gas, or another
fuel. The difference b/w conventional power plant and nuclear power plant is that;
nuclear plants do not burn anything. Instead, they use uranium fuel, consisting of
solid ceramic pellets, to produce electricity through a process called fission [2].
Figure 1.1 Nuclear Power plant working

A nuclear power station has mainly four components.
1. Nuclear reactor,
2. Heat exchanger,
3. Steam turbine,
4. Alternator.
Nuclear Reactor
In nuclear reactor, Uranium 235 is subjected to nuclear fission. It controls the chain reaction that
starts when the fission is done. The chain reaction must be controlled otherwise rate of energy
release will be fast, there may be a high chance of explosion. In nuclear fission, the nuclei of
nuclear fuel, such as U235 are bombarded by slow flow of neutrons. Due to this bombarding, the
nuclei of Uranium is broken, which causes release of huge heat energy and during breaking of
nuclei, number of neutrons are also emitted.
Heat Exchanger
In heat exchanger, the heat carried by sodium metal, is dissipated in water and water is converted
to high pressure steam here. After releasing heat in water the sodium metal coolant comes back
to the reactor by means of coolant circulating pump.
Steam Turbine
In nuclear power plant, the steam turbine plays the same role as coal power plant. The steam
drives the turbine in same way. After doing its job, the exhaust steam comes into steam
condenser where it is condensed to provide space to the steam behind it.
Alternator
An alternator, coupled with turbine, rotates and generates electrical power, for utilization. The
output from alternator is delivered to the bus-bars through transformer, circuit breakers and
isolators.
[3].
1) First, uranium fuel is loaded up into the reactor, a giant concrete dome that's reinforced in
case it explodes. In the heart of the reactor (the core), atoms split apart and release heat
energy, producing neutrons and splitting other atoms in a carefully controlled nuclear
reaction. Uranium and plutonium nuclei in the fuel are bombarded by neutrons and split
usually into two smaller fragments, releasing energy in the form of heat, as well as more
neutrons. Some of these released neutrons then cause further fissions, thereby setting up a
chain reaction.
2) Control rods made of materials such as cadmium and boron can be raised or lowered into
the reactor to soak up neutrons and slow down or speed up the chain reaction. The chain
reaction is controlled by the use of control rods, which are inserted into the reactor core
either to slow or stop the reaction by absorbing neutrons.
3) Water is pumped through the reactor to collect the heat energy that the chain reaction
produces. It constantly flows around a closed loop linking the reactor with a heat
exchanger.
4) Inside the heat exchanger, the water from the reactor gives up its energy to cooler water
flowing in another closed loop, turning it into steam. Using two unconnected loops of
water and the heat exchanger helps to keep water contaminated with radioactivity safely
contained in one place and well away from most of the equipment in the plant.
5) The steam from the heat exchanger is piped to a turbine. As the steam blows past the
turbine's vanes, they spin around at high speed.
6) The spinning turbine is connected to an electricity generator and makes that spin too.
7) The generator produces electricity that flows out to the power grid, and to our homes,
shops, offices, and factories.
Components of a nuclear reactor
Fuel: The fuel used for nuclear fission is U235 isotope.
Core: Here the nuclear fission process takes place.
Moderator: Material in the core which slows down the neutrons released from fission so that
they cause more fission. It is usually water, but may be heavy water or graphite. The neutrons
released are ‘fast’ neutrons, with high energy. These neutrons need to be slowed down by a
moderator for the chain reaction to occur.
Control rods. These are made with neutron-absorbing material such as cadmium, hafnium or
boron, and are inserted or withdrawn from the core to control the rate of reaction, or to halt it.
Coolant. A fluid circulating through the core so as to transfer the heat from it. In light water
reactors the water moderator functions also as primary coolant.
Pressure vessel or pressure tubes. Usually a robust steel vessel containing the reactor core and
moderator/coolant, but it may be a series of tubes holding the fuel and conveying the coolant
through the surrounding moderator.
Containment. The structure around the reactor and associated steam generators which is
designed to protect it from outside intrusion and to protect those outside from the effects of
radiation in case of any serious malfunction inside. It is typically a meter-thick concrete and steel
structure.
Table 1 Operating Nuclear reactors in Pakistan
Reactor Province Type MWe net Construction Commercial Planned

start operation close
Karachi Sindh PWR* 125 1996 12/72 2019
1
Chashma Punjab PWR 300 June 2000 2040
1
Chashma Punjab PWR 300 2005 May 2011 2051
2
Total (3) 725
operating
PWR: Pressurized water reactor [4]
800
Operationg Nuclear Reactors in Pakistan
700
600
500
MWe
400
725
300
200
300 300
100
125
0
karachi 1 Chashma 1 Chashma 2 Total
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) is responsible for the operation, planning, and
management of the nuclear power plants in the country. Currently, three nuclear power plants are
operating under the supervision of PAEC including Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP),
having net capacity about 100 MW, the other two are Chashma Nuclear power plants
(CHASNUPP), (C-1 and C-2), possessing the capacity of 325 MW and 330 MW
correspondingly [5].
Types of reactors used in Pakistan:
In Pakistan PWR reactors are used for nuclear power generation. In a PWR, the primary coolant
(water) is pumped under high pressure to the reactor core where it is heated by the energy
generated by the fission of atoms. The heated water then flows to a steam generator where it
transfers its thermal energy to a secondary system where steam is generated and flows to turbines
which, in turn, spin an electric generator. In contrast to a boiling water reactor, pressure in the
primary coolant loop prevents the water from boiling within the reactor.
The CANDU (Canada deuterium–uranium) reactor is a Canadian-developed, pressurized heavy
water reactor used for generating electric power. The acronym refers to its deuterium-oxide
(heavy water) moderator and its use of (originally, natural) uranium fuel.
References:
[1] "Glossary of Environment Statistics, Studies in Methods, Series F, No. 67, United Nations, New York,
1997.)".
[2] "http://www.electrical4u.com/nuclear-power-station-or-nuclear-power-plant/".
[3] "http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-nuclear-power-plants-work.html".
[4] “Ministry of Finance Government of Pakistan, "Ministry of Finance Government of Pakistan,

“Energy,” Econ. Surv. Pakistan, 2014.)".
[5] “Nuclear Power in Pakistan - World Nuclear Association.” [Online]. Available: http://www.world-
nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-o-s/pakistan.aspx. [Accessed: 14-Apr-
2016].".

Nuclear Power Plants

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Nuclear Power Plants

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Nuclear Power Plants

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Report on Nuclear Power Plants

Submitted by: Hafeez-ur-Rehman

How Nuclear Reactors Work

Figure 1.1 Nuclear Power plant working

Components of a nuclear reactor

Fuel: The fuel used for nuclear fission is U235 isotope.

Core: Here the nuclear fission process takes place.

Table 1 Operating Nuclear reactors in Pakistan

Reactor Province Type MWe net Construction Commercial Planned

PWR: Pressurized water reactor [4]

[4] “Ministry of Finance Government of Pakistan, "Ministry of Finance Government of Pakistan,

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.