NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Submitted by: Rafaelo Paolo A. Fernandez

I. Nature
A. Definition
A nuclear power plant is a thermal power
station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor.
As is typical in all conventional thermal power
stations the heat is used to generate steam which
drives a steam turbine connected to a generator which
produces electricity.

B. Mechanisms
In a nuclear-fueled power plant much like a fossil-fueled power plant water is turned
into steam, which in turn drives turbine generators to produce electricity. A nuclear
reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. The most
common use of nuclear reactors is for the generation of electric energy and for
the propulsion of ships.
The nuclear reactor is the heart of the plant. In its central part, the reactor core's heat is
generated by controlled nuclear fission. With this heat, a coolant is heated as it is pumped
through the reactor and thereby removes the energy from the reactor. Heat from nuclear
fission is used to raise steam, which runs through turbines, which in turn powers either
ship's propellers or electrical generators.
Since nuclear fission creates radioactivity, the reactor core is surrounded by a protective
shield. This containment absorbs radiation and prevents radioactive material from being
released into the environment. In addition, many reactors are equipped with a dome of
concrete to protect the reactor against both internal casualties and external impacts

B.1 Pressurized Water Reactor

Pressurized Water Reactors (also known as PWRs) keep water under pressure so that it
heats, but does not boil. This heated water is circulated through tubes in steam generators,
allowing the water in the steam generators to turn to steam, which then turns the turbine

generator. Water from the reactor and the water that is turned into steam are in separate
systems and do not mix.

B.2 Boiling Water Reactor

In Boiling Water Reactors (also known as BWRs), the water heated by fission actually boils
and turns into steam to turn the turbine generator. In both PWRs and BWRs, the steam is
turned back into water and can be used again in the process.

II. History and Global Impact

A brief timeline on the development of nuclear energy:

The science of atomic radiation, atomic change and nuclear fission was developed
from 1895 to 1945, much of it in the last six of those years.

Over 1939-45, most development was focused on the atomic bomb.

From 1945 attention was given to harnessing this energy in a controlled fashion
for naval propulsion and for making electricity.

Electricity was generated by a nuclear reactor for the first time ever on
September 3, 1948 at the X-10 Graphite Reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee in the
United States, and was the first nuclear power plant to power a light bulb.

The second, larger experiment occurred on December 20, 1951 at the EBRI experimental station near Arco, Idaho in the United States.

On June 27, 1954, the world's first nuclear power plant to generate electricity for
a power grid started operations at the Soviet city of Obninsk.

The world's first full scale power station, Calder Hall in England opened on
October 17, 1956. Since 1956 the prime focus has been on the technological
evolution of reliable nuclear power plants.

As of 23 April 2014, the IAEA report there are 435 nuclear power reactors in
operation operating in 31 countries.

III. Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Power

A. Advantages

Geographical limitations - nuclear power plants don't require a lot of space; they do
not need a large plot like a wind farm. But they have to be built near a large body of
water for cooling purposes - using the water as a heat sink.
Nuclear power stations do not contribute to carbon emissions - no CO2 is given out it therefore does not contribute to global warming.
Nuclear power stations do not produce smoke particles to pollute the atmosphere or
emit gases that contribute to acid rain.
Nuclear energy is by far the most concentrated form of energy - a lot of energy is
produced from a small mass of fuel. This reduces transport costs - (although the fuel
is radioactive and therefore each transport that does occur is expensive because of
security implications).
Nuclear power is reliable. It does not depend on the weather.
The output from a nuclear power station can be controlled to fit our needs.
Nuclear power produces a small volume of waste (although radioactive)

B. Disadvantages

Disposal of nuclear waste is very expensive. As it is radioactive it has to be disposed

of in such a way as it will not pollute the environment.
Decommissioning of nuclear power stations is expensive and takes a long time.
Nuclear accidents can spread 'radiation producing particles' over a wide area.
o This radiation harms the cells of the body which can make humans sick or even
cause death. Illness can appear or strike people years after they were exposed
to nuclear radiation and genetic problems can occur too.
o A possible type of reactor disaster is known as a meltdown. In a meltdown, the
fission reaction of an atom goes out of control, which leads to a nuclear
explosion releasing great amounts of radioactive particles into the
environment.

Example: Chernobyl Incident - a catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred on

26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine (then officially
the Ukrainian SSR), which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities of
the Soviet Union. An explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive particles
into the atmosphere, which spread over much of the western USSR and Europe.
IV. References
Hendrie, J. (2013). Nuclear Power Plants: Structure and Function. Department of Nuclear
Energy, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1911944/pdf/bullnyacadmed000860016.pdf.
http://www.duke-energy.com/about-energy/generating-electricity/nuclear-how.asp
http://www.cyberphysics.co.uk/topics/nuclear/advantages_disadvantages_nuclear_power
.htm
http://world-nuclear.org/info/Current-and-Future-Generation/Outline-History-ofNuclear-Energy/