Nuclear Power Plant Design
The Basic Design
Design Explanation
Inside the reactor, water is pumped around the fuel rods to remove heat. This contaminated water is then pumped through a pipe that transfers its heat into cooler water inside the steam generator. The steam from the steam generator rotates a turbine and generates electricity for use in the power grid (Marshall & Lamb, 2000).
The diagram also shows the intake from a body of water that is pumped into the building. The water is used to condense the steam after it has generated electricity. Once the condensing water has been heated to a high temperature, it is pumped into the cooling tower where it boils off into the atmosphere (Marshall & Lamb, 2000).
Fission
Uranium Extraction and Refining
The Mining Process
The Refining Process
Environmental Hazards
Meltdowns
Waste
Findings from the Lab
Personal Thoughts on Design
References
Marshall, B & Lamb, R., (2000). Inside a nuclear power plant. Retrieved from http://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-power2.htm
Nave, R. (2011.). Retrieved from http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nucene/fission.html
Uranium mining overview. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle/Mining-of-Uranium/Uranium-Mining-Overview/
Fission Fragments. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nucene/fisfrag.html
Radioactive waste management. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle/Nuclear-Wastes/Waste-Management-Overview/
Matson, J. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=nuclear-energy-primer