How does a nuclear power plant work?

Summary

Elektra Bell operates seven nuclear power plants in Belgium, generating half of the country's electricity without emitting CO2. These plants, located in Dual and Tiage, use nuclear fission to heat water and produce steam, which drives turbines connected to generators that create electricity. The process involves a controlled chain reaction of uranium fission, with control rods and boric acid ensuring safety. The plants use three separate water circuits for heat exchange, producing steam, and cooling the system. The cooling process involves using water from local sources and a cooling tower to condense the steam and return water to the environment.

Takeaways

• 😀 Nuclear power plants in Belgium (Dual and Tiage) provide half of the country's electricity without emitting CO2.
• ⚡ Nuclear power plants operate similarly to conventional thermal plants, using steam to drive turbines that generate electricity.
• 🔬 The key difference in nuclear plants is the heat source—nuclear fission, rather than burning coal or gas.
• ⚛️ Uranium oxide fuel is used in the reactors, with uranium atoms split in a controlled chain reaction to generate heat.
• 🛑 Boric acid in the reactor's water and control rods are used to regulate the chain reaction and prevent escalation.
• 💧 The plants have three water circuits: primary, secondary, and tertiary, each responsible for specific parts of the heat transfer process.
• 🌡️ The primary circuit keeps the reactor water at 320°C under high pressure, preventing boiling.
• 💨 The secondary circuit absorbs heat from the primary circuit and turns it into steam to drive turbines.
• 🔌 The turbines generate electricity, which is then transported to users through transformers that increase the voltage.
• 🌬️ After passing through the turbines, the steam is cooled in a condenser using cooling water from the tertiary circuit, then returned to the system.
• 💦 The cooling water in the tertiary circuit is cooled in massive cooling towers before being returned to the condenser or discharged as vapor.

Q & A

How many nuclear power plants does Elektra Bell have, and where are they located?

Elektra Bell operates seven nuclear power plants, four in Doel and three in Tihange, covering half of Belgium's electricity consumption.

How does a nuclear power plant generate electricity?

A nuclear power plant generates electricity by converting water into steam, which drives a turbine connected to a generator. The generator then converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

What is the key difference between a nuclear power plant and a conventional thermal power plant?

The key difference is that in a nuclear power plant, heat is produced by nuclear fission, whereas in a conventional thermal power plant, heat is generated by burning coal, natural gas, or biomass.

What type of uranium is used in the nuclear power plants at Doel and Tihange?

The nuclear power plants at Doel and Tihange use fissile uranium oxide as fuel.

How is uranium oxide used in nuclear power plants?

Uranium oxide is compressed into fuel pellets, which are packed into sealed fuel rods. Multiple rods form fuel elements, which are immersed in water within the reactor vessel.

What happens during the fission process in a nuclear reactor?

During fission, uranium nuclei are bombarded with neutrons, which causes them to split and release two or three more neutrons, creating a chain reaction.

How is the chain reaction controlled in a nuclear reactor?

The chain reaction is controlled by using boric acid in the water of the reactor vessel and lowering control rods. The control rods absorb excess neutrons, and if all rods are lowered, the chain reaction stops within 1.3 seconds.

What are the three circuits in a pressurized water reactor like those at Doel and Tihange?

The three circuits are the primary circuit, secondary circuit, and tertiary circuit. Each serves a different function in transferring heat and generating electricity.

How does the heat exchanger or steam generator work in a nuclear power plant?

In the heat exchanger, water from the primary circuit passes through pipes that transfer heat to water in the secondary circuit. This heats the water, turning it into steam.

What happens to the steam after it drives the turbine?

After the steam drives the turbine, it passes through a condenser where it cools down and condenses back into water, which is then returned to the steam generator to be reheated.

How is the cooling process managed in a nuclear power plant?

The cooling process involves passing cooling water from the tertiary circuit through the condenser, where it absorbs heat from the steam. The cooled water is then returned to the cooling tower, where it cools down further before being discharged back into the environment or reused.

Where does the cooling water in Doel and Tihange come from?

In Doel, the cooling water comes from the Scheldt River, while in Tihange, it comes from the Meuse River.