Nuclear Reactor Power Systems

Dwight L. Williams, Ph.D., P.E. Potomac Chapter Maryland Society of Professional Engineers 27 October 2005

Overview
    

Introductions Categories of Nuclear Reactors Nuclear Power Accidents Summary and Nuclear Power Systems Q/A General Q/A

Dwight Williams at a Glance



Education and Registration: Nuclear Engineering

  

Ph.D. -- University of Maryland B.S., M.S. -- North Carolina State University Licensed Professional Engineer, Commonwealth of Virginia

 

Professional Experience: Department of Defense Awards and Activities

  

2005 - 2006 Young Engineer of the Year, NSPE 2004 - 2005 Young Engineer of the Year, DCCEAS 2003 - 2004 Young Engineer of the Year, MDSPE

Power Systems

Nuclear Primer
   

Subatomic Particles Concept of Isotopes Concept of Half-Life HalfTypes of Radiation

Subatomic Particles

Concept of Isotopes

Concept of Half-Life Half-

Types of Radiation

Categories of Nuclear Reactors



Light Water Reactors

Use H2O  Most Prevalent


Heavy Water Reactors

Use D2O  Prevalent in Canada and Russia


Other Reactor Categories

Liquid Metal Cooled  Gas Cooled


Light Water Reactors



Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs)

Located throughout U.S., Europe, and Asia  Power: 570 -- 1300 MWe; Efficiency: ~30%  Tmax: 570oF; PRxr Coolant: 1000 psi


Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs)

Manufactured by U.S., European, and Asian companies  Tmax: 590oF; PRxr Coolant: 2250 psi


VVER Reactors (VVERs) -- Russian PWR

BWR

PWR

VVER

Heavy Water Reactors



Canadian Deuterium-Uranium (CANDU) Reactors DeuteriumUse natural (non-isotopically concentrated) uranium (non Tmax: 590oF; PRxr Coolant: 1500 psi  Can run 2 years without refueling/downtime


RBMK Reactors
ChernobylChernobyl-style reactor  Graphite and D2O in reactor core  Much improved designs today


CANDU Reactor

RBMK Reactor

Other Reactor Categories



Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactors (LMFBRs)

Use liquid sodium as coolant  3-loop cycle  None operating commercially


Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors (AGRs) GasUse natural uranium  He or CO2 gas coolant at 1430oF and 600 psi  Primarily operated in United Kingdom


LMFBR

AGR

Nuclear Power Gone Awry



Three Mile Island (TMI, 1979) -- PWR

Problems began at 4 a.m.  Reactor coolant flow became blocked  Primary emergency systems responded properly  Secondary emergency systems responded properly  HOWEVER, operator did not believe secondary systems were working properly so he shut them off  Result: Partial core meltdown, minute radiation release


TMI Lesson: Minimize operators ability to impede automated emergency systems

Nuclear Power Gone Awry (Cont.)



Chernobyl (1986) -- RBMK (no containment vessel)

Experiment to take place during scheduled shutdown  Primary and secondary emergency systems known to work effectively; even so, ternary emergency system sought and investigated  In order to isolate role/effect of ternary system, primary and secondary systems manually shut off  HOWEVER, ternary system did not work properly  Result: Core meltdown, explosion, major radiation release


Chernobyl Lesson: Minimize operators ability to impede automated emergency systems

Summary


 

Nuclear Power Reactors Serve Same Role as Other Power Cycle Heat Sources Several Types of Nuclear Power Reactors Exist Most Recent Nuclear Accidents were Likely Preventable
Operator errors crippled automated systems  Another TMI is nearly impossible  Another Chernobyl is unlikely


For More Information



Visit The Virtual Nuclear Tourist website at http://www.nucleartourist.com E-mail Dwight Williams at mdyoungengineer@nspe.org

Neutron Moderation (Backup)



For most nuclear reactors, fission is initiated by slow neutrons (even though the fission neutrons generated are fast)
Liquid Metal FAST Breeder Reactor (LMFBR) is one of few reactors that does not initiate fission with SLOW neutrons  Goal: Slow down neutrons to make them available for fission, but keep neutrons from being absorbed into a nucleus while slowing them down


Best Substances: 1. D2O 2. Carbon

3. H2O

VVER (Older Designs)