Nuclear energy and pollution

Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy is obtained from 2 different physical processes : fission energy Fusion energy

 Fission energy : fission energy is obtained by the decay of isotopes of uranium and plutonium a nucleus of uranium 235 struck by a neutron can break into 2 nuclei called fission products and can release two or three neutrons

 Fusion energy : obtained by the fusion reaction of hydrogen atoms. this reaction is not controlled but is more energetic and cleaner

Nuclear power plant

Pressurized water reactor

Pressurized water reactor ( PWR ) Reactor vessel :

the heart of a nuclear type consists of PWR fuel assemblies made of uranium oxide or mixed of uranium and plutonium ( MOX) , bathed in a pressurized water the tubes inside the reactor are formed of stainless graphite of ( 24 -16 ).

Pressurized water reactor ( PWR)

Primary coolant loop

Water , which has recovered heat from the fission of heavy nuclei , circulates in the primary circuit at a temperature of about 300 degrees and a high pressure ( 155 bars ) The water present in the primary loop is contaminated by radiation and splitting product . This water is treated with process to eliminate radiation and in some countries thrown directly in water .

Pressurized water reactor ( PWR ) Steam Generator :

The water in the primary circuit exchange the heat with the water of the secondary circuit.

Pressurized water reactor ( PWR ) Secondary coolant loop :

the steam created in the steam generator flows through the secondary circuit. It acts as a gas , which turns a turbine

Pressurized water reactor ( PWR )

Condenser :
After passing through the turbine , the steam of the secondary circuit becomes liquid in the condenser before returning to the steam generator The water vapor cools in the condenser flows through a third circuit that is either open ( water exchanged or cooled by the sea or river ) or closed ( cooled by the air )

Cooling tower

Cooling tower
The water in the third circuit is cooled by air in the cooling towers A huge concert tower ( 165 m high and 155 m in a diameter at the base ) The air rushes to the bottom and rises by the natural draft. The water coming from the condenser through a pipe , spread on the floor where it falls into droplets . The rising air meets the water spray coolant The air is now rich of water vapor , is released in the plume at the top of the tower The cooled water falls into a pool before returning to the condenser.

PWR fuel

PWR fuel
Cylindrical rods put into bundles A uranium oxide ceramic is formed into pellets ( 13mm height , 8 mm diameter and about ten grams) and inserted into zircaloy tubes that are bundled together. The zircaloy tubes are about 1 cm in diameter and 5m of height and the fuel cladding gap is filled with helium gas to improve the conduction of heat from the fuel to the cladding. 200 pellets/ tube Every 3 year they change 1/3 of the fuel rods

PWR fuel
There are about 179 264 fuel rods per fuel bundle and about 121 to 193 fuel bundles are loaded into a reactor core. 104 t of uranium/ reactor 3 to 4 year of electricity production (13 MW)

PWR fuel
PWR fuel bundles are about 4 meters in length. In PWR fuel bundles, control rods are inserted through the top directly into the fuel bundle The fuel bundles usually are enriched several percent in 235U ( 3 % ) The uranium oxide is dried before inserting into the tubes to try to eliminate moisture in the ceramic fuel that can lead to corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement . The zircaloy tubes are pressurized with helium to minimize pellet cladding interaction (PCI) which can lead to fuel rod failure over long periods

Nuclear fuel treatment

Vitrification :
long term storage of radioactive waste requires the stabilization of the waste for many thousands of years. Fission products and radioactive wastes are incorporated in borosilicate (Glass melt) The mixture is poured at 1150 C in a sealed container of stainless steel ( highly resistant to water ) The containers are stored in a ventilated areas for cooling .

Nuclear waste decay

PWR wastes
After several years spent in a nuclear the fuel contains several proportions of raw energy as well as new elements. At this stage we have 2 solutions :
consider all used fuel as wastes Separate the reusable uranium and plutonium from the wastes

Chernoble accident
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine , which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities in Moscow. An explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive contamination into the atmosphere, which spread over much of Western part and Europe