Energy Lecture 8

Generation of Nuclear Power
Nuclear Power Today

• Provides almost 20% of world’s electricity (8% in U.S.)
• More than 100 plants in U.S.
• 200+ plants in the Europe
– Leader is France
• About 80% of its power from nuclear
Basic Ideas
• The Uranium is a fuel and a source of
neutrons.
• The neutrons induce the fissions.
• The Water acts as both the moderator and
a heat transfer medium.
• Control rods regulate the energy output by
absorbing excess neutrons.
Nuclear Energy
• The nucleus of an atom is
the source of nuclear
energy.
• Huge in Quantity
• When the nucleus
split/Combines(fission)/(fusio
n), nuclear energy is
released in the form of heat
energy and light energy.
• Nuclear energy is also
released when nuclei collide
at high speeds
Nuclear Energy
• Nuclear fission is a process where the nucleus of an
atom is split into two or more smaller nuclei, known
as fission products.
• The fission of heavy elements is an exothermic reaction,
and huge amounts of energy are released in the process.
9
Expanding Chain Reaction
• The fission reaction
produces more
neutrons
• Which can then
induce fission in other
Uranium atoms.
• Chain Reaction
QA 12
• Nuclear fusion is a reaction in which two
or more atomic nuclei are combined to
form one or more different atomic nuclei
and subatomic particles (neutrons or
protons).
13
Nuclear Energy
The sun’s energy is

produced from a
nuclear fusion
reaction in which
hydrogen nuclei
fuse to form helium
nuclei.
• China's $1 trillion 'artificial sun'
fusion reactor just got five times
hotter than the sun
• The experimental fusion reactor could help

to unlock near limitless clean energy.
QA 16
• The EAST (Experimental Advanced
Superconducting Tokamak) nuclear fusion
reactor maintained a temperature of 158 million
degrees Fahrenheit (70 million degrees
Celsius) for 1,056 seconds, according to the
Xinhua News Agency.
• The achievement brings scientists a small yet

significant step closer to the creation of a
source of near-unlimited clean energy.
QA 17
QA 18
Chinese "artificial sun" Sets New
World Record
• The ultimate goal of EAST, located at ASIPP in Hefei, is
to create nuclear fusion like the Sun, using deuterium
abound in the sea to provide a steady stream of clean
energy.
• As opposed to fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural
gas, which are in danger of being exhausted and pose a
threat to the environment, raw materials required for the
"artificial sun" are almost unlimited on earth. Therefore,
fusion energy is considered the ideal "ultimate energy"
for the future of humanity.
QA 19
Purification of Uranium
• Each ton of Uranium ore
produces 3-5 lbs of Uranium
compound(0.1-0.2 percent)
• Uranium ore is processed
near the mine to produce
“yellow cake”, a material rich
in U3O8.
• Only 0.7% of U in yellow
cake is 235U.
• Most of the rest is 238U which
does not work for fission
power.
Fuel Pellets
• The enriched UF6 is
converted into UO2
which is then made into
fuel pellets.
• The fuel pellets are
collected into long
tubes. (~12ft).
• The fuel rods are
collected into bundles
(~200 rods per bundle
~175 bundles in the core)
• Dry cask storage is a method of storing high-level
radioactive waste, such as spent nuclear fuel that has
already been cooled in the spent fuel pool for at least
one year and often as much as ten years.
• Casks are typically steel cylinders that are
either welded or bolted closed.
• The fuel rods inside are surrounded by inert gas.
• Ideally, the steel cylinder provides leak-tight containment
of the spent fuel.
• Each cylinder is surrounded by additional
steel, concrete, or other material to provide radiation
shielding to workers and members of the public.
Moderator
• Neutrons are used to
slow down by colliding
them with light atoms
(like Water in US
reactors).
• Highest level of
energy transfer occurs
when the masses of
the colliding particles
are equal (i.e neutron
and hydrogen)
Control Rods
• Control rods are
made of a material
that absorbs excess
neutrons (usually
Boron or Cadmium).
• By controlling the
number of neutrons,
we can control the
rate of fissions
Controlling Chain Reaction
Fuel
Assemblies
Control rods
Withdraw control rods, Insert control rods,

reaction increases reaction decreases
Controlling Chain Reaction
• Plant operators can control the chain reaction.
• Long rods are inserted among the fuel assemblies.
• These "control rods" are made to absorb neutrons,
so the neutrons can no longer hit atoms and make
them split.
• To speed up the chain reaction, plant operators
withdraw the control rods, either partially or fully.
• To slow it, they insert the control rods.
• Two common US
reactor types: Boiling
Water Reactor and
Pressurized Water
Reactor.
• BWR: P=1000
psi T=545F
• PWR P=2250 psi
T=600F
• PWR is most common
and is basis of marine
nuclear power.
Boiling Water Reactor
1. Reactor core creates heat
2. Steam-water mixture is produced when pure
water (reactor coolant) moves upward through the
core absorbing heat
3. The steam-water mixture leaves the top of the
core and enters the two stages of moisture
separation where water droplets are removed
before the steam is allowed to enter the steam
line a
4. Steam line directs the steam to the main turbine
causing it to turn the turbine generator, which
produces electricity.
Boiling Water Reactor
Pressurized Water Reactor
• In the pressurized water reactor, water is heated by
the nuclear fuel, but is kept under pressure in the
pressure vessel, so it will not boil.
• The water inside the pressure vessel is piped through
separate tubing to a steam generator. The steam
generator acts like a heat exchanger.
• There is a second supply of water inside the steam
generator. Heated by the water from the pressure
vessel, it boils to make steam for the turbine.
• Other reactor designs, which use helium gas rather
than water to produce steam, are also under
development and may eventually be built in the United
States.
PWR
• NOTE: A nuclear bomb requires
nearly 100% pure 235U or 239Pu. The
3% found in reactor grade Uranium
CANNOT create a nuclear explosion!
Cladding
• The material that the
fuel rods are made
from is called
cladding.
• It must be permeable
to neutrons and be
able to withstand high
heats.
• Typically cladding is
made of stainless
steel or zircaloy.
Controlling the chain reaction
depends on
• Arrangement of the fuel/control rods
• Quality of the moderator
• Quality of the Uranium fuel
• Neutron energy required for high
probability of fission
Reactor is inside a large
containment building
How it Works
The main bit to remember :
Nuclear power stations work in pretty much

the same way as fossil fuel-burning
stations, except that a "chain reaction"
inside a nuclear reactor.
NUCLEAR REACTOR
A nuclear reactor is a device in which nuclear chain reactions are
initiated, controlled, and sustained at a steady rate, as opposed to a
nuclear bomb, in which the chain reaction occurs in a fraction of a second
and is uncontrolled causing an explosion.
STEAM GENERATORS
Steam generators are heat exchangers used to convert water into
steam from heat produced in a nuclear reactor core.
Either ordinary water or heavy water is used as the coolant.
COOLANT PUMP
The coolant pump pressurizes the coolant to pressures of 155
bar.
The pressure of the coolant loop is maintained almost constant
with the help of the pump and a pressurizer unit.
STEAM TURBINE
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal
energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into useful
mechanical
 Various high-performance alloys and superalloys have been
used for steam generator tubing.
FEED PUMP
Steam coming out of the turbine, flows through the condenser for
condensation and recirculated for the next cycle of operation.
The feed pump circulates the condensed water in the working fluid
loop.
CONDENSER
Condenser is a device or unit which is used to condense vapor into
liquid.
The objective of the condenser are to reduce the turbine exhaust
pressure to increase the efficiency and to recover high quality feed water
in the form of condensate & feed back it to the steam generator without
any further treatment.
Other Options
 Other option use different reactor designs.
 Some use heavy water (D2O) as a moderator. Some
use Graphite as a moderator.
 Some are designed to use pure yellow cake without
further enrichment
 Liquid metal such as sodium or gases such as helium
are possibilities to use for coolants.
 A big problem with nuclear power is the creation of
Plutonium in the reactor core.
 This is a long-lived radioactive element that is difficult to
store.
Nuclear Power Development in Pakistan
• Nuclear power generation contributed 7.5% to the total electricity

generation of Pakistan in 2017–18.
• At present, the country has five operational nuclear power plants
with a cumulative generating capacity of 1430 MW, while 2200 MW
is under construction.
• Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) is responsible for
planning, implementation, operation and maintenance of nuclear
power plants.
• KANUPP (100 MW, reduced from a designed capacity of 137 MW),
CHASNUPP-1 (325 MW),
• CHASNUPP-2 (325 MW),
• CHASNUPP-3 (340 MW)
• CHASNUPP-4 (340 MW).
• Two plants are under construction with 1100 MW installed capacity
each.
https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-o-s/
pakistan.aspx
Electricity Generation Mix
100% Others 0.3% Others

3.3%
16.2% Hydro
Hydro 32.0%
80%
13.4% Nuclear
Nuclear 3.0%
60%
21.4%
Gas Gas
28.9%
40%
5.1% Oil
20% 35.6% 40.6%

Coal
Oil
0% 0.1%
Pakistan-2010/11 World-2009
* Others include imported electricity for Pakistan and geothermal,

wind, solar etc for the world.
Safety of Nuclear Power Plants
 Pakistan has been safely operating its NPPs with

continuing effort to develop and improve safety
culture, further.
 To ensure safe operation of NPPs, we have safety

committees at the plant level, and a Safety
Directorate at the corporate level.
 At National Level PNRA controls, regulates and

supervises all the matters related to safety of
NPPs in Pakistan, independently.
 Pakistan is party to various international

conventions on nuclear safety.
Quality Assurance
 Safe operation, maintenance and construction of

nuclear plant/facilities requires severe quality control
and quality assurance programs at all levels.
 Implementation of systematic Quality Assurance

program guarantees safety of plant equipment and
personal.
Concluding Remarks
 Pakistan is a pioneer developing country in

using nuclear technology for producing
electricity.
 Nuclear power can play a significant role in

providing base-load electricity and minimizing
imports of expensive fossil fuels.
 Despite international restrictions, nuclear

power program in the country is moving
forward - slowly but steadily to achieve the
target of 8,800 MW by 2030.
 Safety will remain on top priority in the nuclear

power program of Pakistan.
ADVANTAGES
Nuclear power generation does emit relatively low
amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2).
 The emissions of green house gases and

therefore the contribution of nuclear power plants
to global warming is therefore relatively little.
It is possible to generate a large amount of
electrical energy through one single plant.
DISADVANTAGES
Radioactive waste
High risks
Uranium is a rare resource
Nuclear power plants as well as nuclear waste could be

preferred targets for terrorist attacks.
During the operation of nuclear power plants,
radioactive waste is produced, which in turn can be used
to produce nuclear weapons.

Energy Lecture 8

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Energy Lecture 8

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Generation of Nuclear Power

Nuclear Power Today

The sun’s energy is

• The experimental fusion reactor could help

• The achievement brings scientists a small yet

Withdraw control rods, Insert control rods,

Nuclear power stations work in pretty much

• Nuclear power generation contributed 7.5% to the total electricity

100% Others 0.3% Others

20% 35.6% 40.6%

* Others include imported electricity for Pakistan and geothermal,

 Pakistan has been safely operating its NPPs with

 To ensure safe operation of NPPs, we have safety

 At National Level PNRA controls, regulates and

 Pakistan is party to various international

 Safe operation, maintenance and construction of

 Implementation of systematic Quality Assurance

 Pakistan is a pioneer developing country in

 Nuclear power can play a significant role in

 Despite international restrictions, nuclear

 Safety will remain on top priority in the nuclear

 The emissions of green house gases and

Uranium is a rare resource

Nuclear power plants as well as nuclear waste could be

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