NUCLEAR FISSION POWER PLANT

A nuclear fission power plant is a thermal power plant in which the heat source is a nuclear fuel. It uses the heat generated from a nuclear fuel in a nuclear reactor to produce steam that is used to drive a steam turbine connected to a generator to generate electricity.

A nuclear fission power plant consists of several components that work together to generate electricity and they are; nuclear reactor, cooling unit, steam generation unit, power generation unit, containment unit, safety unit, control unit, auxiliary unit and radiation protection unit.

The nuclear reactor is made of the reactor core, which contains the fuel assemblies, control rods and moderator. The fuel assembly is typically made of enriched uranium. The uranium is processed into small ceramic pellets and stacked together into a sealed metal tubes called fuel rods. Typically more than 200 of these rods are bundled together to form a fuel assembly. Inside the reactor vessel, the fuel rods are immersed in water which acts as both a coolant and moderator. The moderator helps slow down the neutrons produced by fission to sustain the chain reaction. Control rods can then be inserted into the reactor core to reduce the reaction rate or withdrawn to increase it. The heat created by fission turns the water into steam which is used to power the steam turbine to produce electricity.

The steam generation unit consists of the steam generator and the steam turbine. The steam generator produces steam turbine. The steam generator produces steam using the heat transferred from the primary coolant. The steam turbine, converts the thermal energy of the steam into mechanical energy.

The containment unit consists of the reactor building and the containment vessel. The reactor building houses the reactor core and the primary coolant unit. While, the containment vessel is a strong airtight structure surrounding the reactor core is used to prevent radioactive releases.

The safety unit consists of the emergency core cooling system (ECCS), containment spray system and emergency diesel generators. The emergency core cooling system provides cooling in case of an emergency. The containment spray system reduces pressure and temperature in the containment building. The emergency diesel generators provide the building with backup power in emergency especially when there power outage from the grid supply.

The control unit consists of the reactor control system and the plant control system. The reactor control system regulates the reaction rate and maintains reactor stability and the plant control system monitors and controls the entire plant operation.

The auxiliary unit consists of the feed water system and the waste treatment system. The feed water system supplies water to the steam generator. The waste treatment system manages the radioactive waste generated by the plant.

The radiation protection unit consists of radiation monitoring and shielding. Radiation monitoring detects and measures radiation levels in the plant and shielding protects personnel from radiation exposure.

The advantages of nuclear power plants are; nuclear power plants do not emit greenhouse gases. Nuclear power plants are reliable, dependable and cost effective power generation method. Nuclear power can operate indefinitely for long periods without need for maintenance.

The disadvantages of nuclear power plants are; radioactive waste from nuclear power plants are a health menace to humans and the environment and their disposal still remains a challenge. Nuclear power plants are unsafe to the workers and the environment because of the accompany radiation risk they posse. Nuclear power plants are very expensive to build and they require significant investment in both training and maintenance of staff and equipment.

The applications of nuclear power plants are as follows; nuclear plants are used for electricity generation for commercial and industrial use. Nuclear reactors can provide heat for industrial and residential processes such as chemical production, heating for offices and homes and heat for desalination plants. Furthermore, radioisotopes produced in nuclear reactors have medical use for the treatment of various diseases including cancer and diagnostic imaging.

The future of nuclear power plants is predicated on the developments in the following technologies; advanced reactor designs using new materials and processes. Development of small modular reactors for small scale and more flexible power generation. Novel approaches to reactor design, fuel cycles and waste management, global acceptance of nuclear power as an alternative source of safe and reliable power.

SOURCES:

• Nuclear power: A reference handbook by Harry Henderson.
• Nuclear engineering fundamentals by Robert E. Masterson.
• Advanced nuclear reactors by Daniel T. Ingersoll.
• Nuclear energy: Principles, practices and prospects by David Bodansky.
• Nuclear safety by James H. Rust.