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Prepared by: Ms. Anita Sheth

Guided by: Mr. D. H. Sur
Definition
° A system utilizing nuclear fission in a
controlled way and self-sustaining
manner.
›hree essential features of nuclear
reactor
‡ Reactor core
‡ Cooling System
‡ Structural, Mechanical and
Instrumentation Systems
Kuel
‡ Only three isotopes U235, U233, Pu239 are
used as fuels.
‡ ›hey should possess favorable burning
properties, good compatibility with
cladding materials and coolants.
‡ ›hey should have good nuclear properties
and should be available in copious
amount.
Coolants
‡ Kinetic energy of fission fragments is converted
into heat and this is removed by a primary
coolant.
‡ ›hey should possess:
± good heat transfer capabilities
± physical and nuclear properties
± thermal conductivity
± low neutron absorption
± chemically compatible with materials and fuels
Coolants
Examples
] Water, D2O
] Gases ± Helium, CO2
] Liquid Metals -- sodium
Moderators
‡ ›hey control the numbers of neutrons
incident on the fuel
‡ Examples
± Graphite
± Hafnium
± Boron
± Water
± Berelliyum
Classification
1. Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)
2. Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)
3. Kast Breeder Reactor
4. High ›emperature Reactor (H›R)
5. Advanced Gas cooled Reactor (AGR)
6. Heavy Water Reactor
Reactor ›ypes
„ Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)
‡ Lightly enriched uranium dioxide is used as
fuel
‡ Water under high pressure serves as
moderator and coolant
‡ Heat created in reactor is transferred to
steam generators via two loops
Reactor ›ypes
„ Boiling Water Reactors (BWR)
‡ Uranium Dioxide is used as fuel
‡ Moderated and cooled with water
‡ Only one loop to transfer heat of the reactor
to the steam generator
‡ Lower pressures than PWR at about same
temperature
Reactor ›ypes
„ Kast Breeder Reactors
‡ PuO2 is used as a fuel
‡ Kast neutrons are used for fuel
bombardment so no moderator is required
‡ Liquid sodium is the coolant
‡ Heat transfer system is quite complex and
so the plant costs are high
Reactor ›ypes
„ Advanced Gas Cooled Reactors
‡ UO2 pellets are cladded in tubes of stainless
steel to improve thermal properties
‡ CO2 is used as coolant
‡ Graphite is used as moderator
Reactor ›ypes
„ High ›emperature Reactors
‡ Small particles of enriched UO2/ ›hO2 of
about 1mm size serve as fuel
‡ Graphite act as moderators
‡ Helium is used as coolant because of its
chemical inertness
Reactor ›ypes
„ Heavy Water Reactors
‡ Low neutron absorption of D2O permits the
use of 0.72 % U235
‡ More D2O than H2O is required for neutron
moderation
‡ Use of coolants like CO2, H2O, D2O are
preferred
Major Accidents
Chernobyl
± April 26,1986
± Uncontrolled Chain reaction ripped the top of
containment building expelling radioactive
material into atmosphere
± Death toll 8000
Major Accidents
‡ ›hree Mile Island
± March 20, 1979
± Overheating and partial melting of uranium
core producing H2 gas
Some interesting facts
‡ 4,50,00,000 KWH electricity is produced
by :
one tonne of natural Uranium =
20,000 tonnes of black Coal =
3,00,00,000 m3 of Gas
Some interesting facts
‡ 40 quintillion Uranium atoms can be split
with only 60 generations of splitting,
triggered by only a SINGLE NEU›RON.
References

‡ Kirk Othmer¶s encyclopedia of chemical

technology, vol. 17, pg. 369
‡ Ullman¶s encyclopedia of industrial
chemistry, vol. 23, pg. 437
‡ Encyclopedia of chemical processing and
design, vol. 31, pg. 332
‡ McGraw Hill encyclopedia of Science and
›echnology, vol. 12, pg. 111
References

‡ Web searches:
± www.google.com
± www.ccnr.org
± www.world-nuclear.com
± www.nrv.gov
± www.sciencedirect.com