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• How ever recently there is stiff opposition for the installation of nuclear
power plants due to a fear of radiation hazards.
• The atomic mass unit is a unit of mass approximately equal to 1.66x10-27 kg.
• Mass of Neutron is 1.008665amu, Protons is 1.007277amu and Electron is
0.005486amu.
( The mass of Protons=1837xmas of Electron, Neutrons = 1839 x Electron. )
• Atoms which are having different number of neutrons than the number of
protons are known as isotopes.
• For example Uranium exists in three isotopic forms 92U233, 92U235, 92U238.
E = mc2
E – Energy(J)
m- mass defect(Kg)
c – Velocity of light (3 x 108 m/s)
The amount of mass defect is directly proportional to the amount of energy
released.
15-03-2019 NUCLEAR POWER PLANT 4
Nuclear fission
Fission Fusion
Heavy nucleus splits in to two nuclei of equal Lighter nuclei fuse together to form heavy
mass and energy released. nucleus with the release of energy.
About one thousandth of the mass is converted It is possible to have four thousandth of mass
in to energy. converted in to energy.
Health hazards are high in the event of Health hazards is much less.
accidents.
It is possible to construct self sustained chain It is extremely difficult to construct controlled
reaction reactors. fusion reactors.
Disadvantages:
1) Steam leaving the reactor is slightly radioactive therefore shielding of turbine and
piping is required.
2) Power density of the reactor is only 50% of PWR.
3) Part of the steam is wasted at low loads.
4) Enrichment of the fuel for the reactor is extremely costly process.
5) More biological protection is required.
6) Possibility of burn out of fuel is more in this reactor than PWR
Disadvantages:
1) The power density is considerably low compared to BWR and PWR.
2) It requires high standard of design , manufacture and maintenance.
3) The leakage is a major problem.
4) The cost of heavy water is extremely high.
5) The size of the reactor is very large.
In gas cooled reactors, generally inert gases such as helium and carbon dioxide are used
as coolants and graphite as moderator.
The problem of corrosion is reduced much in such reactors.
The graphite tubes fitted with fuel rods or fuel tubes fitted in tubes or rods made up of
graphite and fuel mixed together are used.
The gas is passed through the tubes and carry the heat.
The fuel used is either enriched uranium or natural uranium.
Two types of reactors are used.
(a) Gas cooled graphite moderator reactor (GCGM)
(b) High temperature gas cooled reactor (HTGC)
Both types are graphite moderated.
GCGM uses natural uranium fuel while HTGC uses enriched uranium fuel.
Advantages:
1) Graphite remains stable even at high temperatures under high intensity radiation.
2) There is no chances of explosion in the reactor due to the use of carbon dioxide as the
coolant.
3) There is no corrosion problem.
Disadvantages:
1) The leakage of helium is the main problem.
3) The loading of the fuel is more elaborate and costly.
4) More power is required for coolant circulation
Breeder reactor is a nuclear reactor that produces more fissionable material than it
consumes to generate energy. This special type of reactor is designed to extend the
nuclear fuel supply for electric power generation.
In this reactor, enriched plutonium is used as fuel without using moderator.
Breeder reactors are classified into two types
(a) Fast breeder reactors- these typically utilize uranium-238 as fuel.
(b) Thermal breeder reactors – these typically utilize thorium-232 as fuel.
n U U
238
92
239
92
U 23
239
92 Np
min 239
93
0
1
239
93 Np 2 Pu
.4 days
239
94
0
1
Advantages:
1) The moderator is not required.
2) High power density.
3) It has high boiling point.
4) Small core is sufficient.
Disadvantages:
1) Requires highly enriched fuel .
2) Handling of hot radioactive sodium is major problem.
Particulate Radiation
-Alpha particles
- Beta particulate
Electromagnetic Radiation
-Radio waves
-Microwaves
-Ultraviolet light
-Gamma radiation
-X-radiation
Used fuel in a nuclear power plant is highly radioactive and can contaminate
air or water and if absorbed by a living organisms, it can cause biological
damage. Disposal of radioactive waste is therefore a problem which requires
consideration right from the planning stage.
Various methods used for the disposal of radioactive waste are given below.
a) Storage in tanks on site. Solid and liquid wastes are stored in concrete
or stainless steel tanks at site . During storage period the radioactivity
decays and then the waste is disposed of either in the sea or buried under
the ground.
c) Sealed containers: Radioactive liquid and solid wastes are put in sealed
containers which prevent the radioactive contamination . These sealed
containers are then disposed of at sea where they are quickly and completely
covered with mud in the bottom.