Components Of A Nuclear Reactor

What is a Nuclear Reactor?

Formerly known as atomic clusters, nuclear reactors are devices used to initiate and control fission chain reactions or fusion reactions. Reactors are used to generate electricity at nuclear power plants and propulsion of nuclear ships. The heat from fission is supplied to the working medium (water or gas), which flows through the steam turbine. 

These drive the propellers of the ship or rotate the generator’s shaft. As a rule, the steam produced by nuclear technology can be used for heat in industrial processes or district heating. In addition, some reactors are used to produce medical and industrial isotopes or to produce weapon-grade plutonium. At the beginning of 2019, 454 nuclear power plants and 226 reactors were in operation worldwide, according to the IAEA.

Just as traditional thermal power plants use the heat energy released by burning fossil fuels to generate electricity, reactors convert the energy released by controlled fission into heat energy, and more mechanically or mechanically. Converts to electrical form. 

The core of a nuclear reactor generates heat in several ways. First, the kinetic energy of the fission products is converted into thermal energy when these cores collide with nearby atoms. Reactors absorb some gamma rays produced during fission and convert their energy into heat. Heat is generated by the radioactive decay of fission products and matter activated by neutron absorption. This decay heat source remains for some time after the reactor shuts down.

How does cooling work in a nuclear reactor?

Reactor coolant (usually water, but in some cases gas or liquid metal (such as liquid sodium or lead) or molten salt) circulates through the reactor core and absorbs the heat generated. The heat is removed from the reactor and used to produce steam. Most reactor systems, like pressurized water reactors, use a cooling system that is physically separated from boiling water to produce pressurized steam for the turbine. However, in some reactors, steam turbine water boils directly in the core. For example, a boiling water reactor.

Which was the First nuclear reactor made in India?

Apsara was India’s and Asia’s first nuclear reactor, which reached critical mass at 3:45 pm on 4 august 1956 and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Nehru on 20 January 1957. At a meeting of the Atomic Energy Commission on March 15, 1955, it was decided to build a small reactor in Trombay. 

The reactor will be used for research purposes such as training personnel to operate future reactors, nuclear physics experiments, studying the effects of irradiation, and producing isotopes for medical, agricultural and industrial research. Increase. In October 1955, the British Atomic Energy Agency and the Ministry of Nuclear Energy of India signed an agreement that the United Kingdom would supply uranium fuel components to pool reactors designed by India. 

The agreement further ensured “close cooperation and mutual support between the ministry and the agency in promoting and developing the peaceful use of nuclear energy” and later provided for future design and cooperation in the construction of high flux reactors. A reactor named Apsara was housed in a 100 x 50 x 70 cm concrete building.

What is a Moderator in a Nuclear Reactor? And how does it function?

Moderators in nuclear reactors are substances that slow down neutrons. In a traditional reactor, the moderator is the same as the coolant: it’s water! When a fast neutron hits a hydrogen atom in H2O, it slows down significantly (like a billiard ball hits another ball). There are other excellent moderators such as graphite and beryllium. When an incident neutron divides a nucleus, other neutrons are emitted at a very high speed. A sustained chain reaction is possible if at least one (average) of those neutrons can be tricked into splitting another fuel atom. Coincidentally, fuel atoms (such as uranium) are more likely to absorb neutrons at slower times. Therefore, many reactor designs use moderators to facilitate the achievement of chain reactions.

Conclusion: 

Nuclear power is an important low-carbon energy source for power generation around the world and is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. However, nuclear energy must be safe, reliable and economical compared to other energy sources such as hydro, wind, solar, natural gas and even coal.