182 POWER SYSTEM ENGINEERING 6.4, MAIN COMPONENTS OF A NUGLEAR POWER PLANT Fig. 6.11 shows schematically a nuclear power plant. Hot coolant —s Steam — Coolant pump Feed pump Fig. 6.11. Nuclear power plant. ‘The main components of a nuclear power plant are : 1. Nucl-ar reactor 2. Heat exchanger (steam generator) 3. Steam turbine 4. Condenser 5. Electric generator. In a nuclear power plant the reactor performs the same function as that of the furnace of steam power plant (é.c., produces heat). The heat liberated in the reactor as a result of the nuclear fission of the fuel is taken up by the coolant circulating through the reactor core. Hot coolant leaves the reactor at the top and then flows through the tubes of steam generator and passes on its heat to the feed water. The steam so produced expands in the steam turbine, producing work and thereafter is condensed in the condenser. The steam turbine in tun runs an electric generator thereby produc- ing electrical energy. In order to maintain the flow of coolant, condensate and feed water pumps are provided as shown in Fig. 6.11. i 6.5. DESCRIPTION OF REACTORS 6.5.1. Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) A pressurised water reactor, in its simplest form, is a light water-cooled and moderated thermal reactor having an unusual core design, using both natural and highly enriched fuel. The principal parts of the reactor are : 1. Pressure vessel 2. Reactor thermal shield 3. Fuel elements 4, Control rods 5, Reactor containment 6, Reactor pressuriser. ‘The components of the secondary system of pressurised water plant are similar to those in a normal steam station. Refer to Fig. 6.12. In PWR, there are two circuits of water, one primary circuit which passes through the fuel core and is radioactive. This primary circuit then produces steam in a secondary circuit which consists of heat exchanger or the boiler and the turbine. As such the steam in the