nciple of Nuclear Reac

NUCLEAR
FISSION
 Fission Process
235
U+n 236
U* (A1,Z1) + (A2,Z2) + Nn + Υ

• Z1 + Z2 = 92, A1 + A2 + N = 236
• A1 = A2, symmetric fission rare (~0.01%)
• Capture of neutron by 235U forms compound nucleus
• ~2.4 prompt neutrons released per fission event
• Delayed neutrons account for ~0.65% of fission neutrons
• Probability of fission occuring is dependant upon the cross-
section for that reaction
The Nuclear
Reactor
 To build a nuclear reactor, what you need is some mildly
enriched uranium. Typically, the uranium is formed into pellets .
The pellets are arranged into long rods, and the rods are
collected together into bundles. The bundles are then typically
submerged in water inside a pressure vessel. The water acts as a
coolant. In order for the reactor to work, the bundle, submerged
in water, must be slightly supercritical. That means that, left to
its own devices, the uranium would eventually overheat and
melt.

 To prevent this, control rods made of a material that absorbs

neutrons are inserted into the bundle using a mechanism that
can raise or lower the control rods. Raising and lowering the
control rods allow operators to control the rate of the nuclear
reaction. When an operator wants the uranium core to produce
more heat, the rods are raised out of the uranium bundle. To
create less heat, the rods are lowered into the uranium bundle.
The rods can also be lowered completely into the uranium bundle
to shut the reactor down in the case of an accident or to change
the fuel.
The Lead-Cooled
Fast Reactor
(LFR)
 The Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) system features a
fast-spectrum lead or lead/bismuth eutectic liquid metal-
cooled reactor and a closed fuel cycle for efficient
conversion of fertile uranium and management of actinides.

Fuel : Metal or nitride based uranium and transuranics.

Coolant Temperature :
The Molten
Salt Reactor
(MSR)
FUEL: the fuel is a circulating liquid mixture of sodium,
zirconium,and uranium fluorides.

POWER EFFECIENCY : 1,000 MWe.

 SYSTEM TEMP. : 700 degrees Celsius 800 degrees Celsius

 The
Supercritical-
Water-Cooled
Reactor
(SCWR)
 The supercritical water coolant enables a thermal efficiency
about one-third higher than current light-water reactors, as
well as simplification in the balance of plant.

FUEL: The fuel is uranium oxide.

POWER EFFECIENCY : 1,700 MWe

SYSTEM TEMP.: 510 degrees Celsius to 550 degrees Celsius.

The Sodium-Cooled
Fast Reactor
(SFR)
 The SFR's fast spectrum makes it possible to use available
fissile and fertile materials (including depleted uranium)
considerably more efficiently than thermal spectrum reactors
with once-through fuel cycles.

FUEL : uranium-plutonium-minor-actinide-zirconium metal alloy

fuel

POWER EFFICIENCY : a)Intermediate Size – 150 to 600 Mwe

b)Large Size - 500 to 1,500 MWe

SYSTEM TEMP.: The outlet temperature is approximately 550

degrees Celsius for both.
Advantages Of
Nuclear energy
over other
forms
Economical aspect
Environmental friendly
Nuclear Energy – The Future…
 Economics
 ~90% capacity
Reliable and available Average Capacity Factor by Energy Source, 2002
 Fuel cost relatively low
 Decreasing capital
investment with NGR
 Social, health, and
environmental costs are
lower
 1Kg U yields ~20 000
times more energy than
same amount of coal
 Environmental Friendly

 Reduced SO2 and CO2

emissions
 Solidified high-level waste
is geologically disposed
 THE FUTURE
 440 reactors currently operating worldwide
 30 being built and 33 in planning
 Another 69 are being proposed
 Generation lV reactor designs are being
developed
 U.S. investing $410 million into research
 Enrollment in nuclear engineering is up
 Conclusions
 Solution to energy crisis… more construction
on the way.
 Better for the environment, more economical,
and more abundant than other energy
sources.
 Less dependance on foreign oil.
 Nuclear power can prove disastrous … but
mankind has to work on its positive aspect
and our earth can become a heaven to live in.