NUCLEAR POWER

GENRATION

What is Energy? Energy (E) is the capability

to perform work

Units of Energy: Joules (J) (in SI systems)

Sources of Energy

Renewable Nonrenewable

What is Nuclear Energy?Nuclear energy is the energy stored in the nucleus of an atom. Nuclear energy is unusual in that it can give off energy in the form of light or heat, but it is the change in the atom's makeup that produces the energy. Submarines, power plants, and smoke detectors all use nuclear energy. Nuclear power plants use uranium, a radioactive element, to create electricity.

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 235U and 239Pu. Not all nuclear fuels are used in fission chain reactions

NUCLEAR FISSION

• When a neutron strikes anatom 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

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

LAYOUT OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

Operation

Fission Control The key to controlling the

chain reaction is to control the amount of neutrons used in fission.

This is done by inserting/removing control rods.

The control rods are long and inserted inside the reactor between the fuel tubes

Control rods are made of materials that absorb neutrons (boron or cadmium), limiting the amount of neutrons used in the fission process.

Water flow

Fuel: Uranium 235

Control Rods

Difference between Nuclear and Thermal Power Generation

The difference is that the thermal uses a boiler to burn the fossil fuel and generate steam with the heat, but the nuclear uses a nuclear reactor to make the uranium fission energy to generate steam with the heat.

Difference between Nuclear and Hydraulic Power Generation

Hydraulic power is power that is derived

from the force or energy of moving

water through turbines, but the

nuclear uses the uranium fission energy

to generate steam which flows through

turbine

Advantages of Nuclear Power Plants

1. High energy density compared to other conventional power plants.

2. Low amount of fuel for producing bulk power .3. Can be located close load centers.4. Availability of nuclear fuel all over the world. ( can ensure continued supply for thousands of

years) 5. High reliability. 6. Nuclear power plants produce no air pollutants

or greenhouse gases

Disadvantages of Nuclear Power Plants

1. Expensive fuel.2. High capital cost compared to other

plants3. Can represent a dangerous radioactive

pollution.4. Are not well suited for varying loads. 5. Waste Disposal

By:

•Mayank Baheti• Tanay Agrawal • Sudeepta Borah