Power Plant Engineering

314 POWER PLANT ENGINEERING

shell, etc. Chemical properties of an element are function of the number of valence electrons. The

electrons play little or not part nuclear interactions.

e

n

p

()d

e

n

p

e

e

()c

n

p

e

e

()b

p

e

()a

e

p

n

()e ()f

1516 pn e

()g

54 p

71 n

e

Fig. 10.2

10.4 Summary of Nuclear Energy Concepts and Terms

10.4.1 Summary of Features

1. Heat energy source is fission of radioactive material, (U-235)


2. Two typical plant designs:
   Pressurized water reactor (PWR) (U.S.)
   Boiling water reactor (BWR) (Russian)


3. Fuel pellets are in a large number of tubes (fuel rods)


4. Water circulates through core


5. Water converted to steam drives turbine


6. Turbine turns generator → electricity

10.4.2 Fission

Unstable (radioactive) elements spontaneously split (radioactive decay), emitting high energy
particles. Collision of particles with other atomic nuclei can trigger further nuclear decompositions. A
small amount of mass is converted into a large amount of energy, when atomic nuclei are split.

Einstein equation: E = mc^2

Conversion of mass to energy. E = energy, m = mass converted, c = speed of light