VARIOUS TYPES OF REACTORS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO

INDIA & BRIEF DESIGN FEATURES

By Petros G Jere
 CONTENTS
I. Introduction

II.Various types of reactors

III.Nuclear plants in India

IV.Design and features of reactor

V. The operation of PWR

VI.Similarities and differences of the reactors in India

VII.advantages and Limitations of reactors used in India

 INTRODUCTION
• Like all other thermal power plants,
• Nuclear reactors work by generating heat, which boils
water to produce steam to drive the turbogenerators.

• In a nuclear reactor, the heat is the product of nuclear

fission.

• Uranium and plutonium nuclei are main the fuel

 Various types of reactors
1. LWRs (light water reactors),
a). BWRs (boiling water reactors)
b). PWRs (pressurized water reactors),
2. PHWRs (pressurized heavy water reactors)
3. GCRs (gas-cooled reactors)
4. AGRs (advanced gas-cooled reactors)
5. LWGR (light water graphite reactor)
6. FBR (fast breeder reactor)
7. Fast reactor
8. HTGRs (High temperature gas-cooled reactors), not yet in commercial
operation
 NUCLEAR PLANTS IN INDIA
LOCATION UNITS CAPACITY TYPE DATE OF COMMEMENT
(MWa)
TARAPUR, 4 320 BWR OCT 1969 (2)
MAHARASHTRA
1080 PHWR AUG 2006 (2)

RAWATBHATA,RAJASTHA 6 1180 PHWR APR 1981 (2), DEC 2000 (2)

N MAR 2010 (2)
KALPAKKAM,TAMIL 2 440 PHWR JAN 1984
NADU MAR 1986
NARORA,UTTAR 2 440 PHWR JAN 1991
PRADESH JUL 1992
KAKRAPAR,GUJRAT 2 440 PHWR MAY 1993 (1)
SEP 1995 (1)
KAINGA, KARNATAKA 4 880 PHWR NOV 2000 (2), MAY 2007 (1)
JAN 2011 (1)
KADANKULAM,TAMIL 2 2000 PWR OCT 2013
NADU
 NUCLEAR FUEL
• The commonly used fuels are
 U-235,
 U-238,
 Pu-236 o
 Th-232
• The reactor core is made up of fuel
assemblies each assembly consists of
 fuel rods
 a guide tube
• The fuel rods are made up of zirconium
alloy tubes also known as “cladding”
• Pellets made of uranium dioxide (UO2)
are stacked inside the rods
• These pellets make up the nuclear fuel
MODERATOR CONTROL RODS
• Are used to reduce speed of • These rods controls reaction to
the neutrons by proceed further.

 absorbing energy. • When control rods are

completely inserted into the
Neutrons colliding with moderator block
water molecule all the neutrons is absorbed
• Commonly used stop the chain reaction
moderators include regular • These are made up of steel
(light/heavy) water containing a high percentage
cadmium or boron which can
solid graphite absorb neutrons.
 COOLANT SHIELDING
• The coolant is substance in a • Nuclear radiations are
pipe to the steam generator
hazardous to human health.
where water is boiled.
• This is where heat exchange • Hence the nuclear reactors are
process occurs. protected using shielding
which prevents radiations
• Heat is absorbed by the
coolant that is produced in the from harming human tissues.
reactor. • Lead blocks and concrete
• Typical coolants are water, enclosure that is strong
carbon dioxide gas or liquid enough of several meters
sodium. thickness are used for
shielding.
 OPERATION OF PWR
•  In fission reaction, the products are:
 2/more daughter nucleus
 3 neutrons
 Energy
• These Chain reaction is controlled by
 modulator
 control rods
• Water (coolant) at 330 is kept a high pressure of about 150 bar
 to prevent it from transforming into steam
• This water is used to transfer the thermal power between the primary and secondary
systems
• Water in the secondary system boils and generates steam
• Then the steam drives a turbine that is
coupled to an alternator which produces electricity
• Thermal energy is converted into mechanical and
then electrical energy (power conversion system)
• A third system is designed to cool and then condense
steam.
SMILARIETIE AND DIFFERENCES OF THE REACTORS

• Nuclear plants in India use

PWR PHWR and BWR
CHARACTERISTICS PWR PHWR BWR

Vessel type Cylinder Tubes Cylinder

Fuel UO2 UO2 UO2

Form Enriched Natural Enriched

Coolant H2O D2O H2O

Steam generation Indirect Indirect Direct

Moderator H2O D2O H2O

 ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS PWR
ADVANTAGES
• It is easy to operate because less power is preducrd as
the as the heat increases
• It contains less fissile material, decreasing the chance
of additional fission events to occur . Making reactor
safe and more controllable
• No chance of contaminated by radioactive materials in
the main system loop, since no mixing or touching of
primary water with secondary water loops
LIMITATIONS
It requires very strong piping and heavy pressure vessels to
insure that high pressurized water remains at liquid state.
This making the construction of the PWR costly
• It must go offline during refueling and it take some few
weeks
• Boric acid which is corrosive to carbon steel can get
melted into coolant causing radioactive product circulating
in the loop; Limiting the reactors operational life
ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS PHWR
ADVANTAGES
• The fuel need not to be enriched
• The reactor vessel may be built to withstand low pressure,
therefor the cost of vessel is less
• No control rods are required
• Heavy water being a very good moderator , this type of
reactor has higher multiplication factor and low fuel
consumption
• It require short period to construct compered to with
PWR and BWR
LIMITATIONS

• The cost of heavy water is extremely high (Rs

300/kg)
• Very high standard of design, manufacture
inspection and maintenance are required
• The power density is considerable low (9.7 kw/litre
compared with PWR and BWR therefor the reactor
size is extremely large
• Leakage is a major problem as there are two
mechanically sealed closure per fuel channel.
 ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS BWR
• ADVANTAGES
• The reactor vessel and associated components operate at
lower pressure than PWR
• Pressure vessel is subjected to less irradiation so does not
become brittle with age
• Few components due to no steam generation and no
pressure vessel
• Lower risk of a rupture causing loss of coolant
• Can operate at lower core power density level using
natural circulation without forced flow.
• LIMITATIONS
• Complex operational calculations for managing the utilization
of nuclear fuel in the fuel element during power production
due to two phase fluid flow
• Contamination of turbine by fission product
• Shielding and access control around the steam turbine are
required during normal operation due to radiation level arising
from steam
• Much larger pressure vessel than for PWR of similar power
with corresponding higher cost

THE END