In a PWR, the coolant water itself acts as a moderator. Thus the secondary loop is completely free from radioactive stuff. The heated water is transferred through heat exchanger where water from secondary coolant loop is converted into steam. The coolant (water) is kept at very high pressure so that it does not boil. This type of reactor uses regular water as coolant. Two types of nuclear reactors that are widely used. Moderator slows down the neutrons before they bombard on the fuel rods. The moderator can be graphite rods or the coolant itself. ![]() They are inserted into reactor and can be moved in or out to control the reaction. Control rods are of cadmium which absorb neutrons. ![]() A fuel rod contains small round fuel pallets (uranium pallets). A nuclear reactor consists of fuel rods, control rods and moderator. Hence, it is a chain reaction and it must be controlled, otherwise it may result in explosion. As the nuclei break up, it releases energy as well as more neutrons which further cause fission of neighboring atoms. Nuclear fission is done by bombarding slow moving neutrons on the nuclei of heavy element. Splitting up of nuclei of heavy atoms is called as nuclear fission, during which huge amount of energy is released. Since the nuclear fission is radioactive, the reactor is covered by a protective shield. Generator: it converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy.A nuclear reactor is a special apparatus used to perform nuclear fission. Therefore the heat energy is converted into mechanical energy in a turbine. Turbine: the turbine rotates due to the heat. Moderator: to decrease the speed of the fast moving neutrons formed during the fission.Ĭontrol rods: used to control the reaction or to stop the chain reaction.Ĭoolant: to absorb the heat produced by fission. The main components of a nuclear reactor are:įuel: the fissionable material used in the reaction. Inside a nuclear reactor the heat produced by nuclear reaction is converted into electricity by the means of a generator. Then by means of a pump the water is pumped back into the heat exchanger. The condenser converts the steam into water. For that the steam from the turbine is passed on to a condenser. The steam from the turbine should be converted back into water, so that it can be reused for the reaction. When the high pressure steam reaches the turbine, the turbine rotates due to the high pressure.ĭue to the rotation of the turbine the generator will produce electricity. Turbine is a mechanical component which is coupled to the generator. ![]() The high pressure steam from the heat exchanger is passed on to the turbine. The heat exchanger is again connected to the steel vessel. Inside the heat exchanger we have liquid sodium as coolant. Thus heat is transferred to the heat exchanger by means of a pump. When the reaction takes place a large amount of heat is produced. They are used to control the nuclear reactions. In between the fuel rods we have the control rods. Generally we use uranium-235 ($$), plutonium, thorium etc. These rods are the fissionable materials used for the reactions. It is inside this steel vessel where the nuclear reaction actually takes place. In a nuclear reactor, firstly we have a concrete chamber inside the chamber we have a steel vessel. ![]() The labeled diagram of a nuclear reactor is given above.
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