TOPIC A: Nuclear Power – a viable option against global warming due to climate

change

Vikas was a poor “farmer”. He has “ten children”. Thejaswi, one of his children, was
very sharp in studies. He studied hard and with passage of time became a big
industrialist. He is now the owner of a “colossal ice cream factory” with myriad of
“air conditioners”. He has “two Audi, one KTM” and zero bicycle. Every day he goes
to his factory in Audi. He also has purchased a “sagwan wood made farmhouse”. He
and his family are leading a “comfortable” life.

Gases like carbon dioxide, methane, CFC, etc in the Earth’s atmosphere, poses a
pivotal role, influencing the temperature. These gases absorb infrared radiations
emitted by the Earth’s surface and cupboards it over the surface, keeping it warmer
than it would normally have been. These gases are referred to as “greenhouse gas”
and this phenomenon is known as “Global warming” - warming of the globe.
According to NOAA's 2020 Annual Climate Report, the combined land and ocean
temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.08oC per decade since 1880;
however, the average rate of increase since 1981 is 0.18°C is more than twice. This
increase in temperature results in melting of glaciers, thus increasing the sea level, in
turn affecting the coastal regions. Both, excess and lack, can be witnessed at a same
time, like droughts and floods, leading to high mortality rates and loss of habitats for
animals. Global warming has also led to climate change. Prediction of weather has
become difficult. There has been a variation in pattern of heat and humidity, leading
to the movement of insects and bugs that spread diseases. Needs of living beings,
particularly humans, is villain here. The smoke and ash that beholds the atmosphere
during volcanic eruptions is one of the causes. To add, even water vapour is a
greenhouse gas. Nowadays even forest fires are not rare. It too is a natural cause of
global warming. Coming to artificial causes of global warming. Use of pesticides in
“agriculture”, CFC’s coming out of “air conditioners”, “population” (as population
increases, oxygen consumption increases while carbon dioxide emission increases),
“automobile exhaust”, and most important – “deforestation”.
“The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistic developed and compiled by the
United Nations to measure and various countries' levels of social and economic
development.” The HDI uses components such as average annual income and
educational expectations to rank and compare countries. Access to modern and clean
energy sources has an impact on HDI. As the usage levels of energy and of electricity
are recognized to have an impact on the HDI; access to energy is inextricably linked
to improved welfare and human development. Modern energy is an indispensable
factor for the social and economic development of societies, since modern energy like
electricity has a direct impact on productivity, health, education, and communication.

Primary energy is calculated based on the 'substitution method' which takes account
of the inefficiencies in fossil fuel production by converting non-fossil energy into the
energy inputs required if they had the same conversion losses as fossil fuels. As per
data in 2019, 171240 TWh was consumed by whole world. Of this, 6711 TWh was
from nuclear sources. As population grows, consumption of energy increases
drastically. There is a must-do situation to increase the efficiency of energy sources.
Growing energy consumption makes the challenge of transitioning our energy
systems away from fossil fuels towards low-carbon sources of energy more difficult:
new low-carbon energy must meet this additional demand and try to displace existing
fossil fuels in the energy mix. global energy consumption has increased nearly every
year for more than half a century. Global energy consumption continues to grow, but
it does seem to be slowing – averaging around 1% to 2% per year.

There is an energy inequality between developing and developed countries. A term

“Energy poverty” has been coined. In developing nations, many people don’t have
access to clean cheap energy. The UN defines energy poverty as the “inability to cook
with modern cooking fuels and the lack of a bare minimum of electric lighting to read
or for other household and productive activities at sunset”. As per a UN report, USA
consumes thrice the global average while Africa consumes 1/3 of the average.
Developed countries consume a large amount of energy and have a higher HDI. Yet
after a point, consumption does not improve HDI. The developing countries which
have less access to energy have a lower HDI.
As technology advances, it should also be considered am imperative task to improve
the energy source. Pollution is a major factor. Burning fossil fuels generates lot of
smoke and pollutants which is in no way beneficiary. Transition towards green energy
sources should be focused upon. Wind, Solar energy are major players here. Even
nuclear energy helps reduce such dangers to a large extent.

A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate, and control, a sustained nuclear chain

reaction. The most common use of nuclear reactor is for the generation of electrical
power also termed as nuclear power. There are six types of nuclear reactors. These are
BWR-Boiling Water Reactor, PWR-Pressurized Water Reactor, PHWR-Pressurized
Heavy Water Reactor, GCR-Gas Cooled Reactor, AGR-Advanced Gas-Cooled
Reactor and LGR-Light Water Cooled - Graphite Moderated Reactor.
Pressurized Water Reactor(PWR) is the most widely used type in the world. The
fuel, 3.2% Uranium 235 dioxide, is held in a steel vessel through which water at high
pressure is pumped (primary loop) and then passed through steam generators
(secondary loop), which then drives the turbine. High pressure is required to suppress
boiling. This water aslo act both as coolant and moderator but this water doesn’t flow
to turbine, taking an advantage that a fuel leak in the core would not pass any
radioactive contaminants to the turbine and condenser. For safety purpose, whole
system is contained inside the concrete shield. temperature, about 160 atm and about
315°C. This provides a higher efficiency than the boiling water reactor (BWR) in
which water is allowed to boil within the reactor circuit to directly convert it to steam
(with a disadvantage that it can make water radioactive which in process will make
the whole loop contaminated). A typical operating pressure for BWR is about 70 atm
at which the water boils at about 285°C. This operating temperature gives a efficiency
of only 42% with a practical operating efficiency of around 32%,

Magnox (GCR-Gas Cooled Reactor) reactor is one of the earliest designs. An alloy
of Magnesium beset the fuel (natural Uranium). Vertical channels made from
Graphite, cases fuel and control rods (strong neutron absorbers). Control rods are an
important part in controlling the rate of reaction and in turn the heat output. Carbon
dioxide is blown to cool the whole assembly to enhance heat transfer. The hot gas
convert water to steam, which in turn rotates turbine. They can have a high thermal
efficiency when compared with PWRs due to higher operating temperatures.
Improving upon Magnox reactor, Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR) takes birth.
To achieve higher thermal efficiencies and power densities, it was necessary to go to
higher temperatures. This led to increase in cooling gas pressure and a swap between
Magnox and stainless steel and from Uranium235 to Uranium dioxide. As a
moderator, Graphite is used and the steam generators and gas circulators are placed
within a combined concrete pressure/radiation shield.

Next is LGR (Light Water-Cooled Graphite-Moderated Reactor). In this type of

reactor heat is removed from the fuel by pumping water under pressure up through the
channels where it is allowed to boil, steam generated here drives electrical turbo-
generators. Many of the major components, including pumps and steam drums, are
located within a concrete shield to protect operators against the radioactivity of the
steam. The design of this type of reactor is known as the RBMK Reactor.

Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (CANDU) is the only design of heavy water
moderated reactor in commercial use. It was designed in Canada. In horizontal
Zirconium alloy tubes are loaded Zirconium alloy cans in which unenriched Uranium
dioxide (fuel) is held. The fuel is cooled by pumping heavy water through the tubes
(under high pressure to prevent boiling) and then to a steam generator to raise steam
from ordinary water (also known as natural or light water) in the normal way.
Additional necessary moderation is achieved by immersing the Zirconium alloy tubes
in an unpressurized container, called a callandria, containing more of heavy water.
Movement (insertion and withdrawn) of the Cadmium rods facilitate control of the
reaction. Again the whole system is shielded inside the concrete shield and
containment vessel. PHWRs can be refueled while at full power, which makes them
very efficient in their use of uranium.

In India, after coal, gas, hydro and wind comes nuclear power in terms of source of
electricity. 23 reactors are operational in 7 nuclear power plants in India with capacity
of 7480 MW. For future, 10 more reactors are under construction. One reason for low
capacity factor is the lack of nuclear fuel (Uranium) because we have less uranium
reserves and we are heavily dependent on uranium imports. India is working on
Thorium based fuels also and to develop a prototype for such reactor.
Following are the power plants in India. Each of the reactor in India is run by NPCIL
(Nuclear power corporation of India limited):
 Tarapur, Maharastra. It was the first power plant to be set up in India with
collaboration from USA and IAEA (International Atomic Energy Association
– organization that looks after all the aspects of nuclear energy). It is also the
India’s largest plant. Total capacity is 1400 MW. It’s type is BWR IPHWR-
540.
 Rawatbhata, Rajasthan. It was once maintained very neatly and ran for 2
continuous years. Total capacity is 1180 MW and of CANDU IPHWR-220
type.
 Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu. Total capacity of 2000 MW. Type is VVER-1000
 Kaiga, Karnataka. It ran properly for 941 days continuously without
maintenance, breaking record of one of the reactor of UK. Total capacity is
880 MW. Type is IPHWR-220.
 Kakrapar, Gujarat. In January 2003, it was given best performing pressurized
heavy water reactor title. Total capacity is 1140 MW.
 Kalapakkam, Tamil Nadu. 440 MW is the total capacity with IPHWR-220 as
type.
 Narora, Uttar Pradesh. Type is IPHWR-220 and 440 MW capacity.

The climate change requires a transition to a carbon-constrained world. Consequently,

there is an urgent need not only to greatly scale up support for energy access but also
to link this support more closely to the climate agenda, to the revitalization of rural
areas, and to better management of the urban and peri-urban development that has
dominated the changing energy landscape of recent decades. Thus, improving access
to adequate energy services, affordable, reliable, effective and sustainable in
environmental terms is crucial for economic growth and human development of our
sample and to contribute to the fight against climate change.