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Weaver: Special Edition dedicated to ASPAM
Nuclear power plants also chain reactions are of two types
cause pollution and the waste is through which electricity can be
radioactive in nature. This means that generated- (a) Fission chain reaction
the waste takes a very long time – (b) Fusion chain reaction. Utilization
hundreds to years – to lose its of the released energy during either
radioactivity. Dumping of nuclear the fission or fusion chain reaction is
waste is a very difficult task. Again, the main objective in the nuclear
accidents at nuclear power stations power generation methodology.
can be fatal. Chernobyl in Russia is a
prime example of how bad accidents Main components of a
in nuclear power stations can be.
nuclear reactor
What is Nuclear Reactor? • Core - The core of the reactor
contains the nuclear fuel, basically
Have you thought off, what will “uranium” in the form of bundles.
happen when all the reserve of the • Coolant- The heat produced during
coal exhaust and due to which all the the nuclear reaction is taken out by
thermal power plant forced to shut the coolant. The most common type
down? How the electricity will be
of coolant is plain water (H2O), heavy
generated? As an answer, there are a water (D2O), liquid sodium and
few options we have as the alternative helium.
such as hydro, nuclear, solar etc.
• Control rods - These are required
Among them the most prominent one for controlling the reaction and
is a nuclear power plant. Nuclear
shutting down the plant.
power plant uses nuclear reactors for • Turbine – It transfers the heat
generating the electricity. A nuclear taken out coolant to electricity just
reactor is also used in moving like in any other conventional power
spacecrafts and submarines, plant.
producing isotopes for medical and
• Containment – It is the structure
diagnostic uses and also for which separates the nuclear reactor
conducting research by scientists. A from the outer environment. These
nuclear reactor is a mechanical system
are made of high density, steel
where sustained and controlled reinforced concrete to conceal the
nuclear chain reaction is allowed to
harmful radiation inside.
take place.
• Cooling towers – These require
some time to dump the excess heat,
Principle of working which cannot be converted to
Fuel kept in the reactor vessel takes electricity, because of the limitation
part in a chain reaction and yield imposed by the laws of
enormous heat. This heat is extracted thermodynamics.
to produce the electricity. The nuclear
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