Program: Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (Semester: 5) Course: Power Plant Engineering Lecture 14 Unit 5: Nuclear Power Plants 5.1 Nuclear Power Plants :- - Classification - General arrangement - Operating Principles Presented by : Prof. Rushikesh Sonar, Sandip Polytechnic, Nashik

1. Program: Diploma (Mechanical)
Class: TY (ME) Semester: V
Course: Power Plant Engineering
Code: 22566
LECTURE 14:
Unit: 5. Nuclear Power Plants

2. 02
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Name of theName of theName of theName of the Trainer : Prof. Rushikesh Deoram SonarTrainer : Prof. Rushikesh Deoram SonarTrainer : Prof. Rushikesh Deoram SonarTrainer : Prof. Rushikesh Deoram Sonar
Years ofYears ofYears ofYears of Experience : 10Experience : 10Experience : 10Experience : 10
DomainDomainDomainDomain Expertise : Mechanical EngineeringExpertise : Mechanical EngineeringExpertise : Mechanical EngineeringExpertise : Mechanical Engineering
Qualification: M.E. (Design Engineering)Qualification: M.E. (Design Engineering)Qualification: M.E. (Design Engineering)Qualification: M.E. (Design Engineering)
Contact Details:Contact Details:Contact Details:Contact Details:
+91 9890481959+91 9890481959+91 9890481959+91 9890481959
rushikesh.sonar@sandippolytechnic.orgrushikesh.sonar@sandippolytechnic.orgrushikesh.sonar@sandippolytechnic.orgrushikesh.sonar@sandippolytechnic.org

3. 03Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
TOPICS COVERED IN PREVIOUS LECTURE
4.1 Waste Heat Recovery4.1 Waste Heat Recovery4.1 Waste Heat Recovery4.1 Waste Heat Recovery
4.2 Cogeneration4.2 Cogeneration4.2 Cogeneration4.2 Cogeneration
4.3 Trigeneration4.3 Trigeneration4.3 Trigeneration4.3 Trigeneration
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TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN THIS LECTURE
5.1 Nuclear Power Plants :5.1 Nuclear Power Plants :5.1 Nuclear Power Plants :5.1 Nuclear Power Plants :----
* Classification* Classification* Classification* Classification
* General arrangement* General arrangement* General arrangement* General arrangement
* Operating Principles* Operating Principles* Operating Principles* Operating Principles

4. 04Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1: NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: INTRODUCTION
To fulfill the growing demand of electricity, sources like water and coal is of limited edition.
So we required searching new source of energy for production and fulfillment of electrical demand.
To overcome the above mentioned problem, nuclear energy is a best solution to produce huge amount of electrical
energy.
This is similar to thermal power plant, in thermal power, coal is used to produce heat energy on the other hand in
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This is similar to thermal power plant, in thermal power, coal is used to produce heat energy on the other hand in
nuclear heat energy is produced with fission process of uranium, thorium and plutonium.
A nuclear power plant or nuclear power station is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor.
As it is typical of thermal power stations, heat is used to generate steam that drives a steam turbine connected to a
generator that produces electricity.

5. 05Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1: NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: OPERATING PRINCIPLE
NUCLEAR FUEL
Nuclear fuel is any material that can be consumed to derive nuclear energy. The most common type of
nuclear fuel is fissile elements that can be made to undergo nuclear fission chain reactions in a nuclear
reactor.
The most common nuclear fuels are U235 and Pu239. Not all nuclear fuels are used in fission chain reactions.
NUCLEAR FISSION
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NUCLEAR FISSION
When a neutron strikes an atom of Uranium, the Uranium splits into two lighter atoms and releases heat
simultaneously.
Fission of heavy elements is an exothermic reaction which can release large amounts of energy both as
electromagnetic radiation and as kinetic energy of the fragments.

6. 06Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1: NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: OPERATING PRINCIPLE
NUCLEAR CHAIN REACTIONS
A chain reaction refers to a process in which neutrons released in fission produce an additional fission in at
least one further nucleus. This nucleus in turn produces neutrons, and the process repeats.
If the process is controlled it is used for nuclear power or if uncontrolled it is used for nuclear weapons.
U235 + n → fission + 2 or 3 n + 200 MeV
If each neutron releases two more neutrons, then the number of fissions doubles each generation. In that
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If each neutron releases two more neutrons, then the number of fissions doubles each generation. In that
case, in 10 generations there are 1,024 fissions and in 80 generations about 6 x 10 23 (a mole) fissions.

7. 07Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1: NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: NUCLEAR CHAIN REACTION
As we know that, the freely moving neutrons bombarded
with radioactive material (U235 or Th232) the heat energy
produced, with the help of this heat energy from Chemical
energy then KE is converted to ME.
We know that, turbine and generator are mechanically
coupled through this combination an Electrical Energy is
produced in Nuclear Power Plant.
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8. 08Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1.2: NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: GENERAL ARRANGEMENT (LAYOUT)
Every nuclear power plant
consists of following main parts:-
1. Nuclear Reactor
2. Heat Exchanger
3. Steam Turbine
4. Condenser and Cooling Tower
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4. Condenser and Cooling Tower
5. Feed Water Heater
6. Coolant Pump

9. 09Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1.3: NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: COMPONENTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
1. 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.
A nuclear reactor consists of following components:-
i) Fuel Tube - Tube filled with pellets of Uranium.
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i) Fuel Tube - Tube filled with pellets of Uranium.
ii) Shielding - Protection against alpha, beta and Gamma Rays.
iii) Moderator - Slow down the neutron release(Heavy water, Beryllium, Graphite)
iv) Control Rods - Control rods made of a material (boron Carbide, cadmium) that absorbs neutrons are
inserted into the bundle using a mechanism that can rise or lower the control rods. The control rods
essentially contain neutron absorbers like, boron, cadmium or indium.
v) Containment - Concrete lined cavity acting as a radiation shield.

10. 10Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1.3: NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: COMPONENTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
2. HEAT EXCHANGER:- It consists of following components:-
i) Coolant -
• To transfer the heat generated inside the reactor to a heat exchanger for utilization of power generation
• Either ordinary water or heavy water is used as the coolant.
ii) Steam Generators-
• Steam generators are heat exchangers used to convert water into steam from heat produced in a nuclear
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• Steam generators are heat exchangers used to convert water into steam from heat produced in a nuclear
reactor core.
iii) Steam Separator -
• Steam from the heated coolant is fed to the turbines to produce electricity from generator.

11. 11Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1.3: NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: COMPONENTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
3. STEAM TURBINES:-
• 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 super alloys have been used for steam generator tubing.
4. 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
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recover high quality feed water in the form of condensate & feed back it to the steam generator without any
further treatment.
5. COOLING TOWER:-
• Cooling towers are heat removal devices used to transfer process waste heat to the atmosphere.
• Water circulating through the condenser is taken to the cooling tower for cooling and reuse.
6. COOLANT PUMP -
• The coolant pump pressurizes the coolant to pressures of the order of 155 bar.
• The pressure of the coolant loop is maintained almost constant with the help
of the pump and a pressurizer unit.

12. 12Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1.4: NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: WORKING
- The nuclear reactor function is to produce heat at high temperature for producing heat the reactor uses,
nuclear fuel these are uranium or thorium etc. when the slowly moving neutrons hits the nuclear fuel it
produces heat.
- This heat passes to the heat exchanger; other input to this heat exchanger is heated water.
- The water is heated with the help of feed water heater. The main function of heat exchanger is to produce
steam at high pressure.
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- This high pressure steam passes to the steam turbine. When this steam flow towards turbine it starts rotating,
the turbine and alternator are coupled mechanically. Simultaneously alternator starts rotating and the electrical
power produced.
- The exhaust hot steam is passes to the condenser, where it is condensed by using cooling tower, and it is
again passing to the heat exchanger through feed water heater. This process is continued.

13. 13Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1.5: NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: SITE SELECTION
1. Availability of water for steam generation and cooling water for condenser. It should be nearer to sea, river or
reservoir.
2. Nearer to load centre to reduce power transmission losses.
3. Away from populated area to safeguard the people from hazardous radioactive radiations.
4. Availability of transport facility for transportation of people and material at the time of its construction by road and
rail.
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5. Safeguard against earthquakes : The site should be away from seismic zone.
6. Radioactive waste disposal : The wastes of nuclear power plants being radioactive, the site should have sufficient
space near the plant for its disposal.
7. Soil conditions for foundation : The bearing capacity of soil should be high so as to support heavy rectors on its
foundations. The bearing capacity must be at least 50 N/cm2.

14. 14Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1.6: NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN INDIA: OPERATIONAL PLANTS
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15. 15Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1.6: NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN INDIA: UNDER CONSTRUCTION
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16. 16Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1.6: NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN INDIA: PLANNED FOR INSTALLATION
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17. 17Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1.7: NUCLEAR WATE DISPOSAL
Waste disposal of nuclear power station is of prime importance since the nuclear waste is likely to have radioactivity. Therefore,
these wastes are disposed off in such a manner that it does not cause harm to human or plant life.
The various methods adopted are :
(i) In case of gaseous wastes, it is passed through filters and discharged at a high level through stacks.
(ii) Moderate liquid wastes can be discharged after filtration, preliminary treatment (its PH value is adjusted) and by diluting and
mixing with cooling water discharge into deep pits or dry wells.
(iii) Highly radioactive liquid wastes are kept in concrete tanks and buried into ground till their decay of radioactivity.
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(iii) Highly radioactive liquid wastes are kept in concrete tanks and buried into ground till their decay of radioactivity.
(iv) Solid wastes arising from discarded control rods, fuel cans etc. are stored in shielded concrete vaults.
(v) The combustible and chemically incompatible wastes are regretted. The combustible waste is burnt in incinerators and the flue
gases formed are filtered and disposed off through stocks.
(vi) Active solid wastes are stored in water for about 100 or more days to allow radioactivity to decay. Then these are disposed
off to deep salt mines or on ocean floor or in deep wells drilled in stable geological strata.

18. 18Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1.8: NUCLEAR VS THERMAL POWER PLANTS
ADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS OVER THERMAL POWER PLANTS
(i) For similar capacity plants, the space required is less.
(ii) Cost of fuel transportation, storage and handling is very as nuclear fuel requirements is much less compared to coal.
(iii) It is more economical to operate particularly in the areas remote to coal field.
(iv) Ash handling problem is avoided.
(v) Number of persons needed for operation are less.
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(v) Number of persons needed for operation are less.
(vi) These are more reliable in operation.
(vii) The capital cost is low for large sized power plants and the running cost is competitive.
(viii) It has better performance at high load factors.

19. 19Unit V: Nuclear Power Plants
5.1.8: NUCLEAR VS THERMAL POWER PLANTS
DISADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS OVER THERMAL POWER PLANTS
(i) These plants are not suitable for variable load requirements.
(ii) If radioactive wastes are not disposed off properly, it would have bad effects both on human and plant life.
(iii) Maintenance cost is high.
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(iv) It needs highly skilled labour and technicians for its operation.

20. 20Unit II: High Pressure Boilers
In this lesson, We have learnedIn this lesson, We have learnedIn this lesson, We have learnedIn this lesson, We have learned
5.1 Nuclear Power Plant: Basics
* Layout, Components and their functions
SUMMARY
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* Layout, Components and their functions
* Site selection, Waste Disposal, Adv & Disadvantages

21. 21Unit II: High Pressure Boilers
Our Next Video Lecture Topic
5.2 Nuclear Fuels and Nuclear Reactors
5.3 Advantages & Disadvantages of Nuclear Reactors
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5.4 Introduction to AERB and IAEA