H.

V
efficiency (n)
= EL / Eh
kj kj/kg

W = j/s
H.V

Atoms num = Energy received / Energy released

power output= EL = Eh/time (MW)

Ee = Pe x 1hr

Po = Pnet . ñ
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EPM210 – Energy Conversion

Nuclear Power Station Hydroelectric power Stations

Electrical Engineering Department

Electrical Power & machines Engineering
Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 46

Nuclear Power Station

Nuclear power stations work in pretty much the same way as fossil
fuel-burning stations, except that a nuclear reactor makes the heat
instead.
The reactor uses Uranium rods as fuel, and the heat is generated
by nuclear fission.
Carbon dioxide gas or water is pumped through the reactor to take
the heat away, and the hot gas or hot water then heats water to
make steam.
natural uranium contains : 99.2175% uranium-238 (U238)
: 0.72% uranium-235 (U235)
: 0.0055% uranium-234 (U234).
Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 47

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When a large fissile atomic nucleus such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239

absorbs a neutron, it may undergo nuclear fission. The heavy nucleus splits into
two or more lighter nuclei, releasing kinetic energy, gamma radiation and free
neutrons; collectively known as fission products. A portion of these neutrons
may later be absorbed by other fissile atoms and trigger further fission events,
which release more neutrons, and so on. This is known as a nuclear chain
reaction.

Number of atoms per one kg=2.56*1024 atom

The energy released from one atom fission=200MeV
Ba: barium
Kr: krypton
Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 48

NUCLEAR CHAIN REACTION.

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 49

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What are the parts of a nuclear reactor and their functions?

The essential parts of a nuclear
reactor are :

1. Nuclear fuel : The nuclear

fuel used in a nuclear reactor is
the enriched 92U235. The nuclear
‫ﻣﻐﻠﻖ‬
fuel is sealed in along ,narrow
metal tubes called fuel rods .
The enriched 92U235 ensures
that at least one of the neutrons
produced by a fission reaction
has a good chance of causing
fission in another 92U235
nucleus.

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 50

‫ﻟﻤﺎ ﺑﺮﻓﻌﻪ ﺑﺰود اﻟﺘﻔﺎﻋﻞ‬

2. Control rods : In order to control the rate

at which fission reaction occurs , control
rods of neutron - absorbing material (eg.
cadmium) are used. The control rods keep
the net rate of production of neutrons to the
required level by capturing the necessary
proportion of neutrons before they initiate
fission. When the control are moved upward
out of the reactor , the number of neutrons
left to produce fission is increased. On the
other hand, when the control rods are
lowered, the number of neutrons producing
fission is decreased.

3.Moderator: The neutron released by fission normally move very

fast. At this high speed , the chance of a neutron being captured by
another 92U235 nucleus is very small , If the neutron is slowed , its
chance of capture is much better . In order to slowed down the fast
fission neutrons, A moderator is used. The moderator used is (Light
water, heavy water or graphite)
Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 51

‫ﻟﻤﺎ اﻻﻧﺸﻄﺎر ﺑﻴﺤﺼﻞ ﺑﻴﻄﻠﻊ اﻟﻜﺘﺮون ﺑﺲ ﺑﻴﺒﻘﻰ‬

‫ﺳﺮﻳﻊ اوي ف ﺻﻌﺐ ﻳﺘﻌﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻊ ﻳﻮراﻧﻴﻮم آﺧﺮ‬
‫ ﻋﺒﺎره ﻋﻦ‬moderator ‫ﻻزم ﻳﺒﻄﺄ ﺷﻮﻳﻪ ﻓﺒﻨﺴﺘﻌﻤﻞ‬
‫ﻣﻴﺎه ﺧﻔﻴﻔﻪ‬

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4. Coolant : The propose of the coolant is to removed heat from

the reactor core and take it to the place of its utilisation.

5. Protective shield : In a nuclear reactor ,many types of harmful

radiations are emitted. In order to prevent this radiations from
reaching the persons working near the reactor , the reactor is
‫أﺳﻤﻨﺖ‬
enclosed in thick concrete walls.

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 52

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 53

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The BWR power plants represent the second largest number of reactors
used for generating. The BWRs that are commonly constructed in the
United States, Europe, and Japan are characterized by almost identical
technical designs and are based on the use of ordinary or light water as its
cooler and moderators.
In the schematic diagram of the BWR reactor in next Figure, the water is
allowed to boil under the pressure up to 75 bar, and the temperature can
rise up to 286C in the core of the reactor.

The produced steam at the end of the boiling process is used to drive the
turbine of generator and then condensed and returned to the core for reuse.
There is no secondary loop as there in the PWR.

In the recycle process of condensed steam, water is preheated up to 150C .

The control rods of the reactor core should be kept in the liquid medium
since the reactor core is produced for using water as neutron moderator.
The steam pressure and temperature of BWR are relatively low compared to
a coal-fired power plant, while the steam turbine is generally very large. The
BWRs can have capacities up to 1400 MW with an efficiency of around 33%
.
Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 54

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‫ﺣﺒﻴﺒﺎت‬

‫ﺗﺠﻤﻌﺎت‬

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 56

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W = j/s

Atoms num = Energy received / Energy released

eV = 1.6x10-¹⁹ J

235 → 6.023 x 10²³

X → 33.75 x 10²¹

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 58

recieved = 400*10⁶*3600 J/s

delivered = 200*10⁶ * 1.6*10-¹⁹

num atoms = recieved / delivered = 7.2x10-¹⁶

235 → 6.023x10²³
x → 7.2x10-¹⁶

x=
Problem#N1
Nuclear power station can deliver 400MW. If due to fission of each atom of U235 .
the energy released 200MeV. Calculate the mass of uranium fissional/ hour.

Problem#N2
If the fission of a U235 nucleus yields about 200MeV on the average, calculate the
coal consumption in tons to produce the same heat energy of 1Kg U235 .the coal
has a calorific value of 7.5 kWh/Kg

Answer:3000 ton

Problem#N3

Answer:63.2 MW

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 59

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Hydroelectric power Stations

Hydroelectric power generation involves the storage of a

hydraulic fluid, water, conversion of the hydraulic (potential)
energy of the fluid into mechanical (kinetic) energy in a hydraulic
turbine, and conversion of the mechanical energy to electrical
energy in an electric generator.

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 60

H from 50 to 1300 m
H from 2 to 40 m

H from 10 to 350 m

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Hydroelectric Plant Schemes

There are three main types of hydroelectric plant arrangements,
classified according to the method of controlling the hydraulic
flow at the site.

1- Run of the river plants(do not include dam), having small

amounts of water storage and thus little control of the flow through
the plant. Water rush flow is used to rotate a hydraulic turbine
(kaplan low-head) installed at water level.

Advantages:
Cheap electricity generation
Disadvantages:
Difficult control of generation.

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 62

Run-of-the-river plant: in this case the water is redirected from the

river but without the use of a dam, that is, the intake is directly in the
river. The water is then transported through a canal or a pipeline to the
powerhouse. Finally, the turbinated water is returned to the riverbed.
The generation of energy in this type of hydropower plant depends on
the seasonal flow of the year. Its construction can be simpler and
shorter than those including dams.
Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 63

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2. Reservoir (medium-high) head

Storage plants, having the ability to store water and thus control
the flow through the plant on a daily or seasonal basis.

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 64

Functions of parts
Reservoir lake and head works: to raise water level.
Penstock: to rush water over turbine.
Power house: includes both turbine and generator.

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Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 66

Disadvantages: High initial cost (civil establishment)

Advantages:
-High relative efficiency -Long lifetime (so years)
-Low running cost
-Minimum environmental pollution -Low cost per kWh

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3-Pumped storage plants, in which the direction of rotation of

the turbines is reversed during off- peak hours, pumping water
from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir, thus ‘‘storing
energy’’ for later production of electricity during peak hours.

It consists of:
1-machine hall includes two reverse machines(mechanical
turbine/pump-electrical generator/motor)
2- upper water reservoir
3-Surge chamber to absorb impact of water hammer.
4- Tailrace tunnel to drain water.

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 68

Operation of Pumped storage plants,

During off-peak periods:
Motor drives pump to raise water to the upper reservoir (storing).

During peak periods:

Action is reversed [rushed water from upper reservoir rotates
turbine, which drives the generator.

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 69

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Hydroelectric Plant Analysis

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 70

1000 9.8

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If the gate is opened

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 72

Those losses are a function of the pipe diameter, the flow rate, the length of the
pipe, how smooth the pipe is, and how many bends

Head loss is reduction in flow due to friction in the penstock.

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 73

Ee = Pe x 1hr

Po = Pnet . ñ

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Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 74

Problem # H1:
Niagara falls is 167 feet high, and has an average
discharge of 2400 m3/sec. what is the total power of the
falls?

Problem # H2:
If the stream has a discharge of 3.15 L/sec, the head is
100m, and the turbine is 80% efficient, and the head
loss is 10%, what is the power output?
Problem # H3:
If the water is flowing at a speed of 40 kmph across a
50% efficient 50 m2 tubine, how much power is it
generating?
Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 75

m° g h net
h net = (1-eff) x h
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Problem # H4:
Suppose 0.01 m3/sec of water is taken from a creek and
delivered through 300 m of 10 cm diameter polyethylene pipe
to a turbine 30 m lower than the source. If the losses at this
flow rate is 2m per 100 m of the pipe length. Estimate the
power delivered by the turbine/generator. In a 30-day month,
how much electric energy would be generated? The efficiency
of turbine/generator is 50%.

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 76

Problem # H5:
A hydroelectric station operates under a mean head of
30 m. the reservoir employed has an area of 4000 km2.
the average rain fall in this area is 125cm per annum.
Assume that 30% of rain fall is lost due to evaporation,
5% of the head is lost in penstock, turbine/generator
efficiency as 85%. estimate the capacity of the station
for which it should be designed.

Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 77

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Dr.M.H.Elfar Course Code EPM210 78

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