NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

NUCLEAR
POWER PLANT: PRESENT
SCENARIO

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

a nuclear power plant is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear
reactor .as is typical in all conventional thermal power stations the heat is used to
generate steam which drives a steam turbine connected to a generator which produces
electricity.About one – sixth off the world’s electricity is generated by nuclear power
plants over 435 of them are currently in operation around the gl globe. The nuclear
power plant stands on the border between humanity’s greatest hopes and the deepest
fears for the future. Nuclear power plant have an important role in our country. A
nuclear power plant is a place where people make electricity using heat from nuclear
reactions. The plant also has machines which remove heat from the reactor to operate
of steam turbine and generator to make electricity. Nuclear power plants are usually
near water to remove the heat the reactor makes. But what happens inside a nuclear
power plants to such marvels.
marvels

Nuclear Power Plants produce to controlled air pollutions such as sulphur and
particulates or green house gases. The use of nuclear energy in place of other energy
sources helps to keep the air clean, presence the earth’s
earth’s climate avoid ground level
ozone formation and prevent acid rain. Of all energy sources, nuclear energy has
perhaps the lowest impact on the environment specially in relation to kilowatts
produced because nuclear power plants do not emit harmful gases,
gases, require relatively,
small area and effectively minimize or negative other impacts. In other words, nuclear
power plant is the most “ecologically efficient” provides of all energy sources.

Fig.1.1 nuclear power plant

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2.0 HISTORY

1939. Nuclear fission discovered. 1942. The world´s first nuclear chain
reaction takes place in Chicago as part of the wartime Manhattan Project. 1945.
The first nuclear weapons test at Alamagordo, New Mexico.
Nuclear power was first used for electricity generation in the 1950s. The world’s first
nuclear power plant for commercial electricity generation, Calder Hall in Sellafield,
Great Britain, was completed in 1956 and produced electricity as well as plutonium
for defence purposes.

From 1960 through the late 1970s, the world’s nuclear capacity grew from
barely 1 GW to over 100 GW. Reasons behind this massive expansion were the
growth of electricity consumption and a political desire to move away from oil
dependency following the oil crisis of the 1970s.
Public opinion grew more critical of nuclear power in the mid-1970s. There
was a fear of accidents and an uncertainty as to the handling of radioactive waste.
Criticism was heightened on 28 March 1979, when the Three Mile Island
nuclear power plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in the US suffered a series of
technical errors which resulted in a partial meltdown. One reactor was destroyed, but
no radioactive material leaked out and no people were injured. Even so, the accident
had a major impact on the public debate and policy development.

Fig2.1 Calder Hall in Sellafield fig2.2 Pennsylvania in the US

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In late 1973, the first world oil crisis erupted. The price of crude oil more than
quadrupled from US.$2.55 per barrel in April 1973 to US $10.84 per barrel in
December 1974 and at the same time, OPEC imposed a partial oil embargo to the
Philippines. With the Philippines 95% dependent on imported oil for its commercial
energy consumption, the crisis has unfolded the country’s absolute vulnerability to
drastic changes in the international oil market.

Fig2.2 all-india installed capacities

In 1934, an Italian scientist named Fermi and his

colleagues bombarded uranium with slow moving neutrons and he realized that it
produced much higher radioactivity than any other element treated the same way. Five
years later Fermi discovered that the nucleus of uranium 235, if hit by a neutron,
would split down the middle in two very similar fragments. This process was to be
known as nuclear fission and it resulted in strong energy emission at the expense of
the nucleus’ initial mass. The use of nuclear fission for civilian uses bases itself on the
ability of controlling the chain reaction of such a process. In nuclear plants, the
process of fission is tightly controlled through the use of special materials such as
cadmium that are able to absorb neutrons and regulate the heat produced. India has a
streamlined nuclear power program and expects to have 20,000 MWe nuclear
capacities on line by 2020. It aims to supply 25% of electricity from nuclear power by
2050. Since India is outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty due to its weapons
program, it had been largely excluded for 34 years from trade in nuclear plant or
materials, which has hindered its development of civil nuclear energy until 2009.
After the NSG approval the problems have been rectified. India’s vision is to become

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3.0 NUCLEAR REACTIONS

In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, a nuclear reaction is semantically

considered to be the process in which two nuclei, or else a nucleus of an atom and a
subatomic particle (such as a proton, neutron, or high energy electron) from outside
the atom, collide to produce one or more nuclides that are different from the nuclide(s)
that began the process. Thus, a nuclear reaction must cause a transformation of at least
one nuclide to another. If a nucleus interacts with another nucleus or particle and they
then separate without changing the nature of any nuclide, the process is simply
referred to as a type of nuclear scattering, rather than a nuclear reaction.

There are two types of nuclear reactions

 Nuclear Fusion
 Nuclear Fission

3.1 Nuclear Fusion

In nuclear physics, nuclear fusion is a nuclear reaction in which two or more atomic
nuclei collide at a very high speed and join to form a new type of atomic nucleus.
During this process, matter is not conserved because some of the matter of the fusing
nuclei is converted to photons (energy). Fusion is the process that powers active or
"main sequence" stars. Fusion power is the energy generated by nuclear fusion
processes. The origin of the energy released in fusion of light elements is due to
interplay of two opposing forces, the nuclear force which combines together protons
and neutrons, and the Coulomb force which causes protons to repel each other.

Fig3.1 nuclear fusion

The protons are positively charged and repel each other but they nonetheless stick
together, demonstrating the existence of another force referred to as nuclear attraction.
This force, called the nuclear force, overcomes electric repulsion in a very close range.
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Most nuclear fusion reactions involve the fusion of two hydrogen isotopes (Deuterium
and Tritium) to form a helium atom releasing huge amounts of energy and a neutron.

Nuclear fusion is currently in its experimental phases and is not being utilized for
commercial purposes due to its requirements of high initial energy and pressure so as
to overcome the coulombic forces and bring the nuclei in close proximity.

3.2 Nuclear Fission

In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fission is either a nuclear reaction
or radioactive decay process in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts
(lighter nuclei). The fission process often produces free neutrons and photons (in the
form of gamma rays), and releases a very large amount of energy even by the
energetic standards of radioactive decay.

Fig3.2 nuclear fission

Fission as encountered in the modern world is usually a deliberately produced man-

made nuclear reaction induced by a neutron. In an induced fission reaction, a neutron
is absorbed by uranium-235 nucleus turning it briefly into an excited uranium-236
nucleus, with the excitation energy provided by the kinetic energy of the neutron plus
the forces that bind the neutron. The uranium–236 in turn splits into fast moving
lighter elements (fission products) and releases three free neutrons at the same time,
one or more “prompt gamma rays” are produced as well.

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4.0 WORKING
ORKING OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

A nuclear power plant is basically steam power that is fuelled by a radioactive

element, like uranium. The fuel is placed in a reactor and the individual atoms are
allowed to split apart. The splitting process, known as fission, releases great amounts
of energy. This energy is used to heat water until it turns to steam.
From here, the mechanics of a steam power plant take over. The steam pushes
on turbines, which force coils of wire to interact with a magnetic field. This generates
on electric curre

Fig4.1 working of nuclear power plant

HEAT STEAM

HEAT MECHANICAL
ENERGY ENERGY
NUCLEAR CONVERSION STEAM
REACTOR TURBINE GENERAT
EQUIPMENT OR

PUMP PUMP
Fig 4.2 line diagram of NPP working

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5.0 TYPES OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

5.1.Pressurised water reactor (PWR)

This is the most common type, with over 280 operable reactors for power generation
and several hundred more employed for naval propulsion. The design of PWRs
originated as a submarine power plant. PWRs use ordinary water as both coolant and
moderator. The design is distinguished by having a primary cooling circuit which
flows through the core of the reactor under very high pressure, and a secondary circuit
in which steam is generated to drive the turbine. In Russia these are known as VVER
types – water-moderated and -cooled.

Fig 5.1 Pressurised water reactor (PWR)

A PWR has fuel assemblies of 200-300 rods each, arranged vertically in the core, and
a large reactor would have about 150-250 fuel assemblies with 80-100 tonnes of
uranium.
Water in the reactor core reaches about 325°C, hence it must be kept under about 150
times atmospheric pressure to prevent it boiling

5.2Boiling water reactor (BWR)

This design has many similarities to the PWR, except that there is only a single circuit
in which the water is at lower pressure (about 75 times atmospheric pressure) so that it
boils in the core at about 285°C. The reactor is designed to operate with 12-15% of the
water in the top part of the core as steam, and hence with less moderating effect and
thus efficiency there. BWR units can operate in load-following mode more readily
then PWRs. The steam passes through drier plates (steam separators) above the core
and then directly to the turbines, which are thus part of the reactor circuit. Since the
water around the core of a reactor is always contaminated with traces of radio

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nuclides, it means that the turbine must be shielded and radiological protection
provided during maintenance.
A BWR fuel assembly comprises 90-100 fuel rods, and there are up to 750 assemblies
in a reactor core, holding up to 140 tonnes of uranium. The secondary control system
involves restricting water flow through the core so that more steam in the top part
reduces moderation.

Fig 5.2Boiling water reactor (BWR)

5.3Pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR)

The PHWR reactor design has been developed since the 1950s in Canada as the
CANDU, and from 1980s also in India. PHWRs generally use natural uranium (0.7%
U-235) oxide as fuel, hence needs a more efficient moderator, in this case heavy water
(D2O).The PHWR produces more energy per kilogram of mined uranium than other
designs, but also produces a much larger amount of used fuel per unit output, with the
CANDU system, the moderator is enriched (i.e. water) rather than the fuel-a cost
trade-off.
The moderator is in a large tank called a calandria, penetrated by several hundred
horizontal pressure tubes which form channels for the fuel, cooled by a flow of heavy
water under high pressure (about 100 times atmospheric pressure) in the primary
cooling circuit, typically reaching 290°C. As in the PWR, the primary coolant
generates steam in a secondary circuit to drive the turbines. The pressure tube design
means that the reactor can be refuelled progressively without shutting down, by
isolating individual pressure tubes from the cooling circuit.
A CANDU fuel assembly consists of a bundle of 37 half metre long fuel rods
(ceramic fuel pellets in zircaloy tubes) plus a support structure, with 12 bundles lying
end to end in a fuel channel. CANDU reactors can accept a variety of fuels. About
4000 MWe of PWR might then fuel 1000 MWe of CANDU capacity, with addition of
depleted uranium. Thorium may also be used in fuel.

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Fig 5.3Pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR)

5.4.Advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR)

These are the second generation of British gas-cooled reactors, using graphite
moderator and carbon dioxide as primary coolant. The fuel is uranium oxide pellets,
enriched to 2.5-3.5%, in stainless steel tubes. The carbon dioxide circulates through
the core, reaching 650°C and then past steam generator tubes outside it, but still inside
the concrete and steel pressure vessel (hence 'integral' design). Control rods penetrate
the moderator and a secondary shutdown system involves injecting nitrogen to the
coolant.

Fig 5.4.Advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR)

The AGR was developed from the Magnox reactor. Magnox reactors were also
graphite moderated and CO2 cooled, used natural uranium fuel in metal form, and
water as secondary coolant. The UK's last Magnox reactor closed at the end of 2015.

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6.0 COMPONENTS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

CORE, FUEL, MODERATOR, HEAT TRANSFER FLUID(COOLENT)

,CONTROL ROD , VESSEL

6.1 CORE :

It’s the focal point of the reactor, where fuel is contained and nuclear fission reactions
take place. A nuclear reactor core is a key component of a nuclear reactor. In
reactor physics, the nuclear core is a bounded region, where a neutron multiplication
occurs and where chain reactions take place. The reactor core contains especially
the nuclear fuel (fuel assemblies), the moderator and the control rods. The core of the
reactor contains all the nuclear fuel assemblies and generates most of the heat
(fraction of the heat is genarated outside the reactor – e.g. gamma rays energy). The
assemblies are exactly placed in the reactor according to a fuel loading pattern

Fig6.1 core Fig6.2 fuel

6.2FUEL
Nuclear fuel is material used in nuclear power stations to produce heat to
power turbines. Heat is created when nuclear fuel undergoes nuclear fission. Most
nuclear fuels contain heavy fissile actinide elements that are capable of undergoing
and sustaining nuclear fission. The three most relevant fissile isotopes are Uranium-
233, Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239. When the unstable nuclei of these atoms are
hit by a slow-moving neutron, they split, creating two daughter nuclei and two or three
more neutrons. These neutrons then go on to split more nuclei. This creates a self-

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sustaining chain reaction that is controlled in a nuclear reactor, or uncontrolled in

a nuclear weapon

6.3 Moderator – Thisb is a material placed in the reactor to slow down the neutrons
produced by fission, in order to reach the most suitable speed allowing the chain
reaction to continue.

Fig 6.3 Moderator

6.4 Heat-transfer fluid (or coolant) :

This fluid (liquid or gas) cools the core and carries outside the heat that is produced
there. The most commonly used fluid is water, but some types of reactors use different
fluids (heavy water, molten sodium, carbon dioxide, helium and other fluids).

Fig. 6.4 Heat-transfer fluid (or coolant)

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6.5 Control rods :

These are rods used in specific materials (silver, indium, cadmium or boron
carbide) to control fission inside the core. Since they absorb neutrons, they are capable
of controlling the chain reaction which - depending on how deep down the rods are
inserted into the core - can be accelerated, slowed down or even stopped, thus
changing the capacity of the reactor. Indeed, if necessary, the reactor can be
immediately stopped when they are fully inserted.

Fig6.5 Control rods

6.6 Vessel :

The large steel recipient containing the core, the control rods and
the heat-transfer fluid.

Fig 6.6 Vessel

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7.0 SYSTEMS

The conversion to electrical energy takes place indirectly, as in conventional thermal

power plants. The heat is produced by fission in a nuclear reactor (a light water
reactor). Directly or indirectly, water vapour (steam) is produced. The pressurized
steam is then usually fed to a multistage steam turbine. Steam turbines in Western
nuclear power plants are among the largest steam turbines ever. After the steam
turbine has expanded and partially condensed the steam, the remaining vapour is
condensed in a condenser. The condenser is a heat exchanger which is connected to a
secondary side such as a river or a cooling tower. The water is then pumped back into
the nuclear reactor and the cycle begins again. The water-steam cycle corresponds to
the Rankine cycle.

7.1 NUCLEAR REACTORS :

A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction.
The most common use of nuclear reactors is for the generation of electric energy and
for the propulsion of ships.
The nuclear reactor is the heart of the plant. In its central part, the reactor core's
heat is generated by controlled nuclear fission. With this heat, a coolant is heated as it
is pumped through the reactor and thereby removes the energy from the reactor. Heat
from nuclear fission is used to raise steam, which runs through turbines, which in turn
powers either ship's propellers or electrical generators.

7.1.1 MECHANISM OF NUCLEAR REACTOR :

An induced nuclear fission event. A neutron is absorbed by the nucleus of a uranium-

235 atom, which in turn splits into fast-moving lighter elements (fission products) and
free neutrons. Though both reactors and nuclear weapons rely on nuclear chain-
reactions, the rate of reactions in a reactor occurs much more slowly than in a bomb.

fig 7.1.1 mechanism of nuclear reactor

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7.1.3 HEAT GENERATION :

The kinetic energy of fission products is converted to thermal energy when these
nuclei collide with nearby atoms. The reactor absorbs some of the gamma rays
produced during fission and converts their energy into heat.
Heat is produced by the radioactive decay of fission products and materials that
have been activated by neutron absorption. This decay heat-source will remain for
some time even after the reactor is shut down.
A kilogram of uranium-235 (U-235) converted via nuclear processes releases
approximately three million times more energy than a kilogram of coal burned
conventionally (7.2 × 1013 joules per kilogram of uranium-235 versus 2.4 × 107
joules per kilogram of coal).

7.1.4 COOLING :

A nuclear reactor coolant — usually water but sometimes a gas or a liquid metal (like
liquid sodium) or molten salt — is circulated past the reactor core to absorb the heat
that it generates. The heat is carried away from the reactor and is then used to generate
steam. Most reactor systems employ a cooling system that is physically separated
from the water that will be boiled to produce pressurized steam for the turbines, like
the pressurized water reactor. But in some reactors the water for the steam turbines is
boiled directly by the reactor core, for example the boiling water reactor.

fig7.1.4 cooling

7.1.5 REACTIVITY CONTROL :

The power output of the reactor is adjusted by controlling how many neutrons are able
to create more fission.
Control rods that are made of a neutron poison are used to absorb neutrons.
Absorbing more neutrons in a control rod means that there are fewer neutrons
available to cause fission, so pushing the control rod deeper into the reactor will
reduce its power output, and extracting the control rod will increase it.
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7.2 STEAM TURBINE :

The purpose of the steam turbine is to convert the heat contained in steam into
mechanical energy. The engine house with the steam turbine is usually structurally
separated from the main reactor building. It is so aligned to prevent debris from the
destruction of a turbine in operation from flying towards the reactor.
In the case of a pressurized water reactor, the steam turbine is separated from
the nuclear system. To detect a leak in the steam generator and thus the passage of
radioactive water at an early stage, an activity meter is mounted to track the outlet
steam of the steam generator. In contrast, boiling water reactors pass radioactive water
through the steam turbine, so the turbine is kept as part of the control area of the
nuclear power plant.

Fig 7.2 steam turbine

7.2.1 BLADE AND STAGE DESIGN:

Steam turbines are made in a variety of sizes ranging from small 0.75 kW units used
as mechanical drives for pumps, compressors and other shaft driven equipment, to
1,500,000kW turbines used to generate electricity. Steam turbines are widely used for
marine applications for vessel propulsion systems. In recent times gas turbines, as
developed for aerospace applications, are being used more and more in the field of
power generation once dominated by steam turbines.
Turbine blades are of two basic types, blades and nozzles. Blades move entirely
due to the impact of steam on them and their profiles do not converge. This results in a
steam velocity drop and essentially no pressure drop as steam moves through the
blades. A turbine composed of blades alternating with fixed
nozzles is called an impulse turbine, Curtis turbine, Rateau turbine, or Brown-Curtis
turbine.
Nozzles appear similar to blades, but their profiles converge near the exit. This
results in a steam pressure drop and velocity increase as steam moves through the
nozzles. Nozzles move due to both the impact of steam on them and the reaction due
to the high-velocity steam at the exit. A turbine composed of moving nozzles
alternating with fixed nozzles is called a reaction turbine or Parsons turbine.

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fig 7.2.1 blade and stage design

7.2.2
.2.2 STEAM SUPPLY AND EXHAUST CONDITIONS :

Condensing turbines are most commonly found in electrical power plants. These
turbines exhaust steam from a boiler in a partially condensed state, typically of a
quality near 90%, at a pressure well below atmospheric to a condenser.
Non-condensing
condensing or back pressure turbines are most widely used for process
steam applications. The exhaust pressure is controlled by a regulating valve to suit the
needs of the process steam pressure. These are commonly found at refineries, district
heating units, pulp and paper plants, and desalination facilities where large amounts of
low pressure process steam are needed.
Reheat turbines are also used almost exclusively in electrical power plants. In a
reheat turbine, steam flow exits from a high pressure section of the turbine and is
returned to the boiler where additional superheat is added. The steam then goes back
into an intermediate pressure section of the turbine and continues its expansion.
Extracting type turbines are common in all applications. In an extracting type
turbine, steam is released from various stages of the turbine, and used for industrial
process needs or sent to boiler feed water heaters to improve overall cycle efficiency.
Extraction flows may be controlled with a valve, or left uncontrolled.
Induction turbines introduce low pressure steam at an intermediate stage to
produce additional power.

7.2.3 CASING OR SHAFT ARRANGEMENTS :

These arrangements include single casing, tandem compound and cross compound
turbines. Single casing units are the most basic style where a single casing and shaft
are coupled to a generator. Tandem compound are used where two or more casings are
directly coupled together to drive a single generator. A cross compound turbine
arrangement features two or more shafts not in line driving two or more generators
that often operate at different speeds. A cross compound turbine
turbine is typically used for
many large applications.

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7.2.4 A TWO – FLOW TURBINE ROTORS :

The moving steam imparts both a tangential and axial thrust on the turbine shaft, but
the axial thrust in a simple turbine is unopposed. To maintain the correct rotor position
and balancing, this force must be counteracted by an opposing force.
Either thrust bearings can be used for the shaft bearings, or the rotor can be
designed so that the steam enters in the middle of the shaft and exits at both ends. The
blades in each half face opposite ways, so that the axial forces negate each other but
the tangential forces act together. This design of rotor is called two-flow, double-
axial-flow, or double-exhaust. This arrangement is common in low-pressure casings of
a compound turbine.

fig7.2.4 two – flow turbine rotors

7.3 GENERATOR :

The generator converts kinetic energy supplied by the turbine into electrical energy.
Low – pole AC Synchronous generators of high rated power are used.

7.3.1 DYNAMO :

A dynamo is an electrical generator that produces direct current with the use of a
commutator. Dynamos were the first electrical generators capable of delivering power
for industry, and the foundation upon which many other later electric-power
conversion devices were based, including the electric motor, the alternating-current
alternator, and the rotary converter. Today, the simpler alternator dominates large
scale power generation, for efficiency, reliability and cost reasons. A dynamo has the
disadvantages of a mechanical commutator. Also, converting alternating to direct
current using power rectification devices (vacuum tube or more recently solid state) is
effective and usually economic.

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Fig 7.3.1 dynamo

7.3.2 ALTERNATOR :

Without a commutator, a dynamo becomes an alternator, which is a synchronous

singly fed generator. Alternators produce alternating current with a frequency that is
based on the rotational speed of the rotor and the number of magnetic poles.
Automotive alternators produce a varying frequency that changes with engine speed,
which is then converted by a rectifier to DC. By comparison, alternators used to feed
an electric power grid are generally operated at a speed very close to a specific
frequency, for the benefit of AC devices that regulate their speed and performance
based on grid frequency.
Some devices such as incandescent lamps and ballast-operated fluorescent
lamps do not require a constant frequency, but synchronous motors such as in electric
wall clocks do require a constant grid frequency.
Typical alternators use a rotating field winding excited with direct current, and
a stationary (stator) winding that produces alternating current.
Since the rotor field only requires a tiny fraction of the power generated by the
machine, the brushes for the field contact can be relatively small. In the case of a
brushless exciter, no brushes are used at all and the rotor shaft carries rectifiers to
excite the main field winding.

7.4 COOLING SYSTEM :

A cooling system removes heat from the reactor core and transports it to another area
of the plant, where the thermal energy can be harnessed to produce electricity or to do
other useful work. Typically the hot coolant is used as a heat source for a boiler, and
the pressurized steam from that boiler powers one or more steam turbine driven
electrical generators.

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Fig 7.4 cooling system

7.5 SAFETY VALVES :

In the event of an emergency, two independent safety valves can be used to

prevent pipes from bursting or the reactor from exploding. The valves are designed so
that they can derive all of the supplied flow rates with little increase in pressure. In the
case of the BWR, the steam is directed into the condensate chamber and condenses
there. The chambers on a heat exchanger are connected to the intermediate cooling
circuit.

Fig 7.5 safety valves

7.6 FEEDWATER PUMP :

The water level in the steam generator and nuclear reactor is controlled using the feed
water system. The feed water pump has the task of taking the water from the
condensate system, increasing the pressure and forcing it into either the steam
generators (in the case of a pressurized water reactor) or directly into the reactor
vessel (for boiling water reactors).

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Fig 7.6 feedwater pump

7.7 EMERGEMCY POWER SUPPLY :

The emergency power supplies of a nuclear power plant are built up by several layers
of redundancy, such as diesel generators, gas turbine generators and battery buffers.
The battery backup provides uninterrupted coupling of the diesel/gas turbine units to
the power supply network.
If necessary, the emergency power supply allows the safe shut down of the
nuclear reactor. Less important auxiliary systems such as, for example, heat tracing of
pipelines are not supplied by these backups. The majority of the required power is
used to supply the feed pumps in order to cool the reactor and remove the decay heat
after a shut down.

Fig.7.7.1. EPSC Fig 7.7.2 emergemcy power supply citcuit

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8.0 NUCLEAR POWER PLANT : INDIAN SCENARIO

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is a Public Sector

Enterprise under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy
(DAE), Government of India. The Company was registered as a Public Limited
Company under the Companies Act, 1956 in September 1987 with the objectives of
operating atomic power plants and implementing atomic power projects for generation
of electricity in pursuance of the schemes and programmes of the Government of
India under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. NPCIL also has equity participation in
BHAVINI, another PSU of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) which implements
Fast Breeder Reactors programme in the country.
NPCIL is responsible for design, construction, commissioning and operation of
nuclear power reactors. NPCIL is a MOU signing, profit making and dividend paying
company with the highest level of credit rating (AAA rating by CRISIL and CARE).
NPCIL is presently operating 22 commercial nuclear power reactors with an installed
capacity of 6780 MW. The reactor fleet comprises two Boiling Water Reactors
(BWRs) and 18 Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) including one 100 MW
PHWR at Rajasthan which is owned by DAE, Government of India and two 1000
MW VVER reactor KKNPS-1&2, in this, latest addition to the fleet is the unit-2 of
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Station, a 1000 MW VVER (Pressurised Water Reactor
type), which has started its commercial operation on March 31, 2017. Currently
NPCIL has Eight reactors under various stages of construction totaling 6200 MW
capacity.
Pre-project activities at new sites, which were accorded ‘in principle' approval by the
Government, have been initiated so as to enable early launch of projects at these sites.
Being a responsible corporate citizen, NPCIL accomplishes CSR activities and
implements projects related to Sustainable Development (SD). The company is
compliance to Corporate Governance as per guidelines issued by Department of
Public Enterprises (DPE).

Fig 8.0 peak demand chart

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8.1 LIST OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN INDIA

S.NO NAME OF THE STATE operator Total Date of

NUCLEAR capacity commercial
POWER PLANT opration

1 Tarapur Atomic Maharashtra NPCIL 1,400 28

Power Station oct 1969

2 Kakrapar Atomic Gujarat NPCIL 440 6

Power Station may 1993

3 Kudankulam Tamil Nadu NPCIL 2,000 22

Nuclear Power oct 2013
Plant

Karnataka
4 Kaiga Nuclear NPCIL 880 16
Power Plant Nov 2000

5 Madras Atomic Tamil Nadu NPCIL 440 24

Power Station Jan 1984

6 Rajasthan Atomic Rajasthan NPCIL 1,180 16

Power Station Dec 1973

7 Narora Atomic Uttar NPCIL 440 1

Power Station Pradesh Jan 1991

Table 8.1 list of nuclear power plants in india

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8.2 The projects under construction are

S.No Power station State Operator Total capacity

1 Rajasthan Unit Rajasthan NPCIL 1,400

7 and 8

2 Kakrapar Unit Gujarat NPCIL 1,400

3 and 4

3 Madras Tamil Nadu NPCIL 500

(Kalpakkam)

4 Kudankulam Tamil Nadu NPCIL 2,000

Table 8.2 list of nuclear power plants in india

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8.3 THE PLANNED PROJECTS ARE

S. No Power station State Operator Total capacity

1 Jaitapur Maharashtra _ 9,900

2 Kovvada Andhra Pradesh _ 6,600

3 Gorakhpur Haryana NPCIL 2,800

4 Bhimpur Madhya NPCIL 2,800

Pradesh

5 Mahi Banswara Rajasthan NPCIL 2,800

6 Kaiga Karnataka NPCIL 1,400

7 Chutka Madhya NPCIL 1,400

Pradesh

8 Madras Tamil Nadu BHAVINI 1,200

9 Tarapur Maharashtra _ 300

10 t.b.d. (was West Bengal _ 6,600

Haripur)

11 t.b.d. (was Gujarat _ 6,600

Mithi Virdi)

Table 8.3 the planned projects

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9.0 ENVIRONMENT / ECONOMIC EFFECT

Nuclear power plant is a controversial subject and multibillion dollar investments ride
on the choice of an energy source. Nuclear power plants typically have high capital
costs. But low direct fuel costs, with the costs of fuel
extraction, processing, use and sent fuel storage internalized costs. On the other hand
construction or capital costs, aside measures to mitigate global warning such as a
carbon fax or emissions trading, increasingly favour the economics and nuclear
power.

9.1.CARBON DIOXIDE :

Nuclear power has been called a clean source of energy because the power plants do
not release carbon dioxide. While this is true, it is deceiving. Nuclear power plants
may not emit carbon dioxide during operation, but high amounts of carbon dioxide are
emitted in activities related to building and running the plants. Nuclear power plants
use uranium as fuel. The process of mining uranium releases high amounts of carbon
dioxide into the environment. Carbon dioxide is also released into the environment
when new nuclear power plants are built. Finally, the transport of radioactive waste
also causes carbon dioxide emissions.

9.2 LOW LEVEL RADIATION :

Nuclear power plants constantly emit low levels of radiation into the environment.
There is a differing of opinion among scientists over the effects caused by constant
low levels of radiation. Various scientific studies have shown an increased rate of
cancer among people who live near nuclear power plants. Long-term exposure to low
level radiation has been shown to damage DNA. The degree of damage low levels of
radiation cause to wildlife, plants and the ozone layer is not fully understood. More
research is being done to determine the magnitude of effects caused by low levels of
radiation in the environment.

10.0 ADVANTAGES

 Nuclear power plants don't require a lot of space - they have to be built on the
coast, but do not need a large plot like a wind farm.
 It doesn't contribute to carbon emissions - no CO2 is given out - it therefore
does not cause global warming.
 It does not produce smoke particles to pollute the atmosphere.
 Nuclear energy is by far the most concentrated form of energy - a lot of
energy is produced from a small mass of fuel. This reduces transport costs -

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although the fuel is radioactive and therefore each transport that does occur is
expensive because of security implications).
 It is reliable. It does not depend on the weather. We can control the output It is
relatively easy to control the output - although the time factor for altering
power output is not as small as for fossil fuel stations.
 It produces a small volume of waste

11.0 DISADVANTAGES

 Disposal of nuclear waste is very expensive. As it is radioactive it has to be

disposed of in such a way as it will not pollute the environment.
 Decommissioning of nuclear power stations is expensive and takes a long time.
(In fact we have not ever decommissioned one!)
 Nuclear accidents can spread radiation producing particles over a wide area,
This radiation harms the cells of the body which can make humans sick or even
cause death. Illness can appear or strike people years after they were exposed to
nuclear radiation and genetic problems can occur too. A possible type of
reactor disaster is known as a meltdown. In a meltdown, the fission reaction of
an atom goes out of control, which leads to a nuclear explosion releasing great
amounts of radioactive particles into the environment. See Chernobyl.

11.0 CURRENT ISSUES

11.1PROBLEMS OF NUCLEAR REACTORS :

Concerns about the safety of nuclear fission reactors include the possibility of
radiation-releasing nuclear accidents, the problems of radioactive waste disposal, and
the possibility of contributing to nuclear weapon proliferation. Although most
technical analyses have rated nuclear electricity generation as comparable in safety to
coal-powered generation, the low public confidence in nuclear power has blocked
further development of nuclear power in the United States. No new nuclear power
plants have been ordered since the Three Mile Island accident, and some partially
completed projects have been abandoned.

11.2 REACTOR ACCIDENTS :

The nuclear accident at Chernobyl was the worst nuclear accident to date, spewing
about 100 million Curies of radioactive material into the environment. By contrast, the
accident at Three Mile Island released only some 15 Curies. Though its health effects
were minimal, Three Mile Island did perhaps irreparable damage to the level of public
confidence in nuclear reactors for electric power production in the United States.
Preceding these two high-profile accidents are a number of nuclear accidents with
radiation release. These include accidents at the Fermi I reactor near Detroit, at the
NRX reactor at Chalk River, Canada, at the Wind scale reactor in England, and the
SL-1 Reactor at Idaho Falls.
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Changes in US electric power generation 2007 & 2019

2007 2019

Fig11.2 Changes in US electric power generation 2007 & 2019

11.3 RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL

The nuclear fission of uranium-235 produces large quantities of intermediate mass

radioisotopes. The mass distribution of these radioisotopes peaks at about mass
numbers 95 and 137, and most of them are radioactive. The most dangerous for
environmental release are probably cesium and strontium because of their
intermediate halflives and propensity for reconcentration in the food chain. When
spent fuel assemblies are removed from nuclear reactors, they are transported to
"swimming pool" storage facilities to dissipate the heat of decay of short-lived
isotopes as well as for isolation from the environment. The long term disposal of these
wastes remains a major problem. It was assumed that these wastes would be encased
in glass and placed in geologic disposal sites in underground salt domes. The site at
Yucca Mountain was chosen as a first site, but both technical and political problems
have thus far blocked its implementation.

11.4 NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROLIFERATION :

One concern about nuclear reactors is that the fuel could be diverted for the
production of nuclear weapons. While the the uranium fuel is enriched to only 3-5%
and could not easily be further separated to the > 90% U-235 needed to produce a
bomb, the spent fuel elements contain plutonium- 239. The plutonium could be
separated chemically and diverted to nuclear weapons production. Security concerns
about the plutonium has thus far blocked any reprocessing of fuel from nuclear power
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plants. A similar concern exists for fast breeder reactors, where the breeding process
produces plutonium-239 for future generations of reactors.

12.0 CONCLUSION

Nuclear power is an efficient and volatile method of creating electricity using

controlled nuclear fission, or, less commonly, nuclear fusion. Most nuclear power
plants create energy by submerging uranium molecules in water and then inducing
fission in the molecules. This process heats the water, which is transformed into
pressurized steam that turns a turbine powering a generator, creating energy. Some
nuclear plants use plutonium or thorium instead of uranium, while others fuse
hydrogen atoms to create helium atoms, a process that also causes heat and,
subsequently, energy. However, uranium fission is overwhelmingly the most popular
form of creating nuclear power because the element is more common than plutonium
or thorium. Nuclear power plants produce no controlled air pollutants, such as sulphur
and particulates, or greenhouse gases. It is important to our lives because it can easily
provide electrical energy and no carbon dioxide is given to cause global warning not
just like other power station or electrical commissioning.

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REFERENCESRE

 www.world-nuclear.org/info/current-and-future-enerationandfuturegeneration/
outline-history of nuclear-energy
 http://en.m.Wikipedia.org/wiki/nuclear-power
 http://en.m.Wikipedia.org/wiki/batan-nuclear-power-plant
 http://www.duke-energy.com/about-enegy/generatingelectricity/
 nuclear-how.asp
 YouTube/Canadian/Nuclear Safety Commission
 http://zidbits.com/tag/nuclear-power/
 http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear-reactor
 http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricgenerator

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