PHYSICS nuclear reactor project
PHYSICS nuclear reactor project
PHYSICS PROJECT
NUCLEAR REACTORS
Done By:-
AMAN RAJ
Class:- XII/B2
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INDEX
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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NUCLEAR REACTOR PRINCIPLES
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COMPONENTS OF UCLEAR REACTOR
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TYPES OF NUCLEAR REACTOR
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POWER REDUCTION
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RADIATION HAZARDS
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ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
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INTRODUCTION
Nuclear fission is the process where the nucleus of a heavy atom splits into
fragments of lighter nuclei. This process gives out energy. One of the ways to
achieve this is to bombard the nucleus of heavy atoms with neutrinos. Along with
producing energy (in terms of the „missing mass‟), the reaction also produces
neutrons. These neutrons can be used to split other atoms further in the reaction.
The same thing happens in a nuclear reactor, with the difference that
nothing is burnt over here. The reactor is powered using continuous fission
reactions to generate a continuous flow of energy.
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The Core: A nuclear reactor core is a key component of a nuclear reactor. The
reactor core contains the nuclear fuel (fuel assemblies), the moderator, and the
control rods.It contains all the fuel and generates the heat required for energy
production.
The Coolant: It passes through the core, absorbing the heat and transferring into
turbines
The Turbine: Transfers energy into the mechanical form
The Cooling Tower: It eliminates the excess heat that is not converted or
transferred
The Containment: The enveloping structure that separated the nuclear reactor
from the surrounding environment.
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Nuclear Reactors can also be classified according to the type of fuel used
Based on the design, there are other types of a nuclear reactor like
• Gas cooled
Purpose: electricity, plutonium production
• Water cooled
Purpose: electricity, plutonium production
Protoype Reactors
POWER PRODUCTION
ENERGY TRANSFER
During the fission process, heat is generated in reactor coolant flowing over
the fuel rods and transported in the primary circuit to the steam generator, where it
flows inside the tubes and its heat is transferred to the secondary circuit through
the walls of the tubes in the steam generator. Water in the secondary circuit
outside the tubes absorbs this heat and is converted into steam under saturated
conditions. This steam is passed to the turbine where it expands to low pressure
while being directed onto the turbine blades and in so doing transfers its energy to
the turbine rotor. The rotor drives the electrical generator which produces electric
power. The exhaust steam is condensed by cooling water passing through the
condenser tubes and in so doing discharges the bulk of the heat which cannot be
converted into work. The condensate is returned to the steam generator after being
preheated in the feedwater heating system
POWER OUTPUT
Consider a very simple system with a nuclear reactor, steam generator and
turbine generator supplying electric power to an isolated electrical grid. This
power must be generated at the moment it is required by the consumers connected
to the grid. Power production must follow demand exactly, and any mismatch
will cause the grid frequency to fall or rise as demand increases or decreases. A
basic control system works as follows to maintain appropriate power output from
the plant. In the event of an increase in demand the mismatch will cause the grid
frequency to fall. Because the turbine generator is synchronized to the grid, its
speed will drop accordingly. This will be sensed by the turbine governor which
will open the governor valves to admit more steam to increase the power output
of the turbine generator. The additional flow of steam to the turbine will cause a
reduction in steam pressure in the steam generator. This in turn will be sensed by
the reactor regulating system which will withdraw control rods from the reactor
core until the increased fission rate generates sufficient additional heat to restore
the steam generator pressure. In the event of a decrease in demand the reverse
occurs. This is known as the reactor following or turbine leading mode of
operation
and full speed, its speed would have to drop to 96% before the governor valve would
be fully open. Such a speed is not acceptable for the turbine due to possible blade
vibration, nor to the grid due to loss in speed of connected motors. Therefore, the
governor is adjusted to bring the speed back to 100% at full load. In the event of a
turbine trip or load reduction to zero under these conditions, the reverse would occur,
and the turbine speed would rise to 104% of full speed
FUEL BURNUP
RADIATION HAZARDS
neutrons, etc. Charged particles such as -particles and -particles are easily
stopped by ionization of surrounding material, but γ-rays and neutrons can be very
penetrating due to their low interaction with most materials. Radiation causes
damage to biological structures such as cells. However, cells are in a continual
state of dying and being replaced, so such damage is naturally repaired provided
that it is not excessive. Of concern though is possible damage to DNA structures
and subsequent genetic effects. For this reason exposure to radiation is controlled
much more rigidly than exposure to toxic materials and dangerous chemicals.
Although γ-rays and neutrons can penetrate the human body, -radiation and -
radiation are generally damaging only if materials that emit these particles are
ingested or come into contact with skin. In the core of a nuclear reactor, the fission
process produces neutrons and highly reactive fission products which emit -
RISK ASSESSMENT
generated. These risks have been analyzed, and if the severity of an accident is
compared with the probability of its occurrence, it is generally found that the
per accident is low (motor vehicle accidents) than if the number of deaths is
accident (for example, the Chernobyl accident) can be very severe, the
risk of serious accidents to levels far below those of other industries. The
result is that the nuclear industry is the most regulated of all industries. Highly
to continue using what we already have to reduce the need for future
uranium mining.
government can ensure some of the basic conditions that are necessary
for energy independence and stable economic growth.
• Nuclear power is cost-competitive with all other forms of electricity
generation. The only exception to this advantage is in locations where a
power plant has direct access to low-cost fossil fuels.
2. The uranium needed for nuclear energy can also become a weapon.
We can turn nuclear energy into a devastating weapon that can haunt
countries and communities for generations afterward. The United States is the
only country that has unleashed this hell during a time of conflict, dropping
weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a way to end World War II immediately.
Those bombs took hundreds of thousands of lives, and it left fallout issues like
cancer and birth defects in those population centers for decades.
3. There is a waste issue to consider with nuclear energy.
Nuclear energy offers the advantage of being a clean-burning source of
energy. It also creates radioactive waste that is lethal to the environment and
hazardous to people. If this waste is not disposed of correctly, then the harm it
causes may last for thousands of years in some habitats. In the United States,
losses that are immediately associated with the accommodation of nuclear waste
materials are estimated to be a minimum of $38 billion. Politico reports that the
expenses could be as high as $65 billion.
4. Exposure to nuclear materials or uranium can create health problems.
The issue with nuclear energy is that it produces ionizing radiation as one of
its side effects. Although these particles and waves occur in nature, the
background exposure levels are much less than what you would receive when
getting an x-ray. If an accident occurs, then the health impact on humans is
immediate. The thyroid is especially sensitive to fallout exposure, and Cs-137
can have external or internal triggers that can cause problems. This disadvantage
is the reason why you see workers in these facilities wearing an extensive
amount of protective gear whenever they need to be around the equipment.
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