xvi.2. Components of a nuclear power plant
There are several components common to most types of reactors:
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Fuel |
Uranium is the basic fuel. Usually, pellets of uranium oxide (UO2) are arranged in tubes to form fuel rods. The rods are arranged into fuel assemblies in the Nuclear reactor core. In a 1000 MWe class PWR there might be 51,000 fuel rods with over 18 million pellets. |
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Moderator |
The material in the core slows down the neutrons released from fission so that they cause more fission. It is usually water but may be heavy water or graphite. |
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Control rods or blades |
These are made with neutron-absorbing material such as cadmium, hafnium or boron, and are inserted or withdrawn from the core to control the rate of reaction, or to halt it. |
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Coolant |
Fluid circulates through the core so as to transfer the heat from it. In light water reactors, the water moderator functions also as a primary coolant |
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Pressure vessels or pressure tubes |
Usually, a robust steel vessel contains the reactor core and moderator/coolant, but it may be a series of tubes holding the fuel and conveying the coolant through the surrounding moderator. |
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Steam generator |
Part of the cooling system of pressurised water reactors (PWR & PHWR) where the high-pressure primary coolant bringing heat from the reactor is used to make steam for the turbine, in a secondary circuit. |