Methods: 1.use of Control Rods
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onikMethods: 1.use of Control Rods
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onik Methods:
1.Use of control rods:
Control rods provide the ability to change the amount of neutron
absorption.
The control rods are operated by control-rod drives that can move
them in and out of the core around a power equilibrium position
which is usually a partially inserted position.
2.Use of chemical shim in addition to control rods:
Chemical shim is the use of a soluble absorber, usually boric acid
(H3BO3), in the moderator coolant.
Boric acid strongly absorbs neutrons in proportion to the number of
boron (B) atoms and thus inhibits neutron multiplication.
The concentration of this absorber in the moderator coolant is
decreased slowly during the core lifetime to overcome the effect of
fuel depletion.
3.Use of reflectors:
These are mechanically operated devices, situated just outside the
core.
The reflectors are swung away or toward or are axially moved with
respect to the core to increase or decrease power.
4.Use of movable fuel rods.
waste disposal:
Q. How waste is disposed off in a nuclear power
station? What are main difficulties in handling
radioactive waste?
One of the major problems in nuclear power plant is the
disposal of waste products that are highly radioactive.
They emit large quantities of --- rays & these high-energy --- rays
destroy all living matter through which they pass.
Wastes require strong control to ensure that radioactivity is not
released into the atmosphere to avoid atmospheric
pollution.
Wastes form: 1) Liquid
2) Gas
3) Solid
Liquid wastes:
Ways of disposal:-
1) Dilution:
Liquid wastes are diluted with large quantities of water and then
released into the ground.
This method suffers from the drawback that there is a chance of
contamination of underground water if the dilution factor is
not adequate.
2) Concentration to small volumes & storage:
When the dilution of radioactive liquid wastes is not desirable due to
amount or nature of isotopes, the liquid wastes are concentrated to
small volumes & stored in underground tanks.
3) Freezing:
Disposing off liquid waste by freezing is an easy & economical
method.
Gaseous wastes:
Gaseous wastes like strontium, caesium & iodine can most easily
result in atmospheric pollution.
Strontium & iodine are absorbed by the plants & they enter into the
human body through food.
Caesium is absorbed in muscle & strontium is absorbed in bones
resulting in paralyses of the body.
Generally, radioactive gases are collected & stored in a tank buried
in the ground & disposed off to the atmosphere through high stacks
when radioactivity level is sufficiently low.
Solid wastes:
Solid wastes consist of scrap material or discarded objects
contaminated with radioactive matter.
These wastes if combustible are burnt & the radioactive matter is
mixed with concrete, drummed & shipped for burial.
Non-combustible solid wastes, are always buried deep in the ground.
Q. what is the function of pressurizer in a pressurized water reactor?
OR, Differentiate between vapor pressurizer & gas pressurizer.
OR, How vapor pressurizer works?
Pressurizer:
In PWR primary loops, the coolant is maintained at a pressure
around 155 bar greater than saturation pressure corresponding to
the maximum coolant tem𝑝𝑟 in the reactor.
This avoids bulk boiling of the coolant & keeps it in the liquid phase
throughout the loop.
Because liquids are incompressible, small changes of vo𝑙 𝑚 caused by
changes in coolant tem𝑝𝑟 𝑠 because of normal load changes cause
severe or oscillatory pressure changes.
These may be quite unsafe when the pressures increase.
They cause flashing into steam & consequent disruption of the
reactor nuclear characteristics & possible burnout of the reactor fuel
elements.
They cause cavitation when pressures decrease.
For these reasons it is necessary to provide a surge chamber that will
accommodate coolant vo𝑙 𝑚 changes while maintaining pressure
within acceptable limits.
Such a chamber is called a pressurizer.
Vapor pressurizer:
A small boiler.
Liquid in pressurizer is the same as primary coolant.
It is maintained by controlled electrical heating at a constant tem𝑝𝑟
& consequently a constant vapor pressure above its full surface.
The pressure in pressurizer is same as that of primary coolant at the
junction be𝑡 𝑛 pressurizer & hot leg of the primary loop.
The pressurizer tem𝑝𝑟 is higher than primary coolant tem𝑝𝑟 .
The heaters are of electric immersion type, located in lower section
of the pressurizer vessel.
The bottom of pressurizer is connected to the hot leg of the primary
coolant system.
Under normal full-power operation, the pressurizer is about half full
of water.
The top half is full of vapor.