nuclear power plants - set · background ˜ high population growth ˜ greater urbanization ˜...

Nuclear Power Plants

Kaleem Ahmad

Kaleem Ahmad, PhDSustainable Energy Technologies Center

1st December 2015

Outline

� Background� Advantages of Nuclear Energy� Nuclear Fission� Nuclear Power Plants� Role of SET in Assisting and Promoting Nuclear

Technology Development in the Kingdom � Conclusions

Kaleem Ahmad, Sustainable Energy Technologies Center

Background� High population growth� Greater urbanization� Rapidly growing industrialization � KSA is the largest consumer of

petroleum in the middle east� Overall demand for fossil fuels is

estimated to grow from 3.4 to 8.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2028.

� If this growth continues, it will have major impact on oil export

http://www.kacare.gov.sa


National Strategy for Proposed Energy Mix of KSA

� Introduction of ~50% sustainable energy to Saudi Arabia's energy mix

� Nuclear energy is an integral partof Kingdom energy plan

It projects 17 GWe of nuclearcapacity by 2032

http://www.kacare.gov.saKaleem Ahmad, Sustainable Energy Technologies Center

KACARE Vision for KSA

Kingdom of Energy Kingdom of SUSTAINALBE ENERGY

• Transform KSA into the Kingdom of Sustainable Energy• To maintain KSA leadership role in the global energy landscape

http://www.kacare.gov.sa Kaleem Ahmad, Sustainable Energy Technologies Center

Advantages of Nuclear Energy


Why Nuclear Energy

• Nuclear energy is a base loadenergy source that generatespower more than 90 percent ofthe time, 24 hours a day, 365days a year on average.

• Essential part of Kingdomenergy mix strategy accordingto a Royal Decree

•Readily available, reliable proven technology without contributing to climate change

•Cost for nuclear is competitive with oil and gas as well as with renewable energy


Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Nuclear energy is a vital component of a clean energy strategy.Currently nuclear generation avoids the emission of over two billion tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.Nuclear power has already prevented the release of around 56 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide since 1971 equivalent to two years of global emissions at current rates.


Environnemental Pollutants in Fossil Fuels

Plant WasteCoal 44 000 tonnes of sulphur oxides

22 000 tonnes of nitrous oxides 320 000 tonnes of ash containing 400 tonnes of heavy metals

Nuclear 30 tonnes of high level radioactive spent fuel800 tonnes of low and intermediate level radioactive waste

A 1000 MW(e) coal plant produces annually an average

France over the past 30 years has, through a rapid expansion in nuclear power, lowered its CO2 emissions by more than 80%


Energy Density Comparisons (fuel requirements)1 kg firewood 1 kWh

1 kg coal: 3 kWh

1 kg oil: 4 kWh

1 kg uranium: 50 000 kWh

(3 500 000 kWh with reprocessing)

2 .6 million t Coal: 2000 train cars(1300 t each)

2 million t oil: 10 supertankers30 t uranium: reactor core

(10 cubic meters)

Annual Fuel Requirements of 1000 MWe plant (Tonnes)


Land requirement comparisons

Fossil and nuclear sites: 1–4 km²Solar thermal or photovoltaic(PV) parks:

20–50 km²(a small city)

Wind fields: 50–150 km²Biomass plantations: 4000–6000 km² (a province)

Area requirement for 1000 MWe

http://www.alternateenergyholdings.com/facts-about-nuclear-energy.aspx


Nuclear Fission


Nuclear Fission

A reaction in which an atomic nucleus of heavy elementsnotably uranium and plutonium splits by bombardment ofa neutron, with simultaneous release of large amounts ofenergy is called fission

U23899.3 %

U235 0.7 %


Nuclear Fission


Fission

Chain

Reaction


Fission Chain Reaction


Nuclear Power Plants


Basics of a Power Plant

The basic premises for the majority of power plants is to:� Create heat� Boil Water� Use steam to turn a turbine� Use turbine to turn generator� Produce Electricity


Nuclear ReactorA nuclear reactor is a system that contains and controls sustained nuclear chain reactions.Commercial reactors are used for generating electricity,

� Propulsion power for submarines/ships � Producing medical isotopes for imaging and cancer treatment � Conducting research, training and material testing.


Nuclear Reactor Components

1. Fuel rodsThese contain U235 or Pu239. They

become very hot due to nuclear fission.

2. Control rodsMade of boron, when placed in-between

the fuel rods these absorb neutrons and so reducethe rate of fission.

3. ModeratorThis surrounds the fuel rods and slows

neutrons down to make further fission more likely.Kaleem Ahmad, Sustainable Energy Technologies Center

Uranium Fuel

235U only fissile nuclide – only 1 atom of 235U in 140 atoms of 238U


Nuclear Reactor Components (cont.)4. Coolant

This transfers the heat energy of the fuel rods to the heat exchanger. Coolant be water, carbon dioxide gas or liquid sodium.

5. Steam GeneratorFeed water is converted into high pressure

steam using the heat energy of the coolant.

6. Reactor pressure vesselThis is a thick steal vessel designed to

withstand the very high pressure and temperature.Kaleem Ahmad, Sustainable Energy Technologies Center

Nuclear Reactor Components (cont.)


Types of Nuclear Reactors1. Light Water Reactors

� Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)� Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)

2. Heavy Water Reactors� Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR-

CANDU)

3. Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR)


Pressurized Water Reactor(PWR)

� 3.2% U-235 Fuel� 2-4 Loops => Steam� UO2 Pellets in Zircaloy� ~32% Efficiency� Pressurizer� Steam Generator� Top entry control rod


AREVA EPR (European Pressurized Water Reactor)

� 1650 MWe� 36 – 37% Efficiency� Mixed Oxide (MOX)

Fuel� 60 – yr Service Life� 3 – 4 yr Construction� Multiple Barriers and

Simple Safety Systems

http://www.areva.com/EN/global-offer-419/epr-reactor-one-of-the-most-powerful-in-the-world.html


Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) � 3.2% U-235 Fuel� UO2 Pellets in Zircaloy� ~32% Efficiency� Bottom entry control

rod� Direct cycle cooling


Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR)

� 1350 MWe� 77% more compact than

BWR design� 39 month construction

period

TOSHIBA, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 6, Japan

GE


CANDU-Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR)

� Natural UO2 Pellets (fuel)� Heavy water (coolant +

moderator)� Online refueling


Liquid Metal Cooled Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR)

01

239944.2

23993

01

23993min23

23992

23992

23892

PuNp

NpU

UUn

days


Nuclear Electricity Generation of Top Countries

Nuclear power plants provided 12.3 percent of the world's electricity productionKaleem Ahmad, Sustainable Energy Technologies Center

Reactor Type Reactor Type Descriptive Name

Number of Reactors

Total Net Electrical Capacity[MW]

PWRPressurized Light‐Water‐Moderated and Cooled Reactor 282 263387

BWR Boiling Light‐Water‐Cooled and Moderated Reactor 78 74755

PHWRPressurized Heavy‐Water‐Moderated and Cooled Reactor 49 24549

GCR Gas‐Cooled, Graphite‐Moderated Reactor 15 8175LWGR Light‐Water‐Cooled, Graphite‐Moderated Reactor 15 10219FBR Fast Breeder Reactor 2 580Total 441 381665Kaleem Ahmad, Sustainable Energy Technologies Center

Reactors under construction


Nuclear Power Plants in Operation (Pakistan)

KANUPP C-1 C-2

Location Karachi Mianwali Mianwali

Capacity 137MW 325 MW 325 MW

Start of Construction 1966 1993 2005

Commercial Operation Dec 1972 Sep 2000 May 2011

Capacity Factor (2014) 25%Till Nov.

201483% 83 %


Under Construction NPPs

Size and Type: 2x340 MW Pressurized Water ReactorsContractor: China National Nuclear Corporation

Details C-3 C-4

Contract Signing 20 Nov 2008 20 Nov 2008

Groundbreaking 5 Aug 2010 1 Apr 2011

First Concrete Pouring 4 Mar 2011 18 Dec 2011

IAEA Approval of Safeguards 8 Mar 2011 8 Mar 2011

Commercial Operation (as per contract)

Dec 2016 Oct 2017


Under Construction NPPs (Contd.)

Size and Type: 2x1100 MW Pressurized Water ReactorsContractor: China National Nuclear Corporation

Details K-2 K-3

Contract Signing 18 Feb 2013

Groundbreaking 14 Mar 2014 Dec 2014

First Concrete Pouring 21 Aug 2015 Mar 2016

Commercial Operation (as per contract)

Nov 2020 Sep 2021


Role of SET in Assisting and Promoting Nuclear Technology Development in the Kingdom


Indigenization in NuclearTechnology


Role of SET in Assisting and Promoting Nuclear Technology Development in the Kingdom

� Education and TrainingMaster Program in Nuclear Engineering Post Diploma Training Program for TechniciansPost Graduate Training program for Engineers/Scientists


Nuclear Fuel, Safeguards and Security

� Nondestructive performance evaluation of nuclearmaterials by the laser induced breakdownspectroscopy (LIBS)

� Characterization of Saudi Arabian ore forqualitative and quantitative estimation of a nuclearfuel content

� Nuclear security and safeguards applications indetecting illegal nuclear materials

Role of SET in Assisting and Promoting Nuclear Technology Development in the Kingdom (cont.)


Nuclear Reactor Safety� Power safety sensors and

communication devices forreactor safety

Spent Fuel� Spent fuel monitoring in

nuclear industry


Establishment of state-of-art lab for high performance thermoelectric energy harvester for nuclear energy applications


Simulation• Developing simulation models and techniques, performing

safety analysis, designing passive safety system andnuclear hybrid energy system for small modular nuclearreactors including nuclear forensics.

Background counting• The center has facilities to provide services in low

background counting, neutron flux monitoring, generalgamma spectroscopy, radon emanation etc.

Calibration of Survey Meters• Survey meters are normally used in different industries and

hospitals to measure the radiations. The center has thefacility to calibrate survey meters with different standardradiation sources.



Conclusions

� Nuclear energy is a crucial component of Kingdom’senergy mix strategy.

� Nuclear power is one of the major low-carbon energysource and could play a significant role in ensuringsustainable and reliable energy supplies while curbingGHG emissions in the Kingdom.

� Modern nuclear power plant designs are more inherentlysafe and are less capital intensive, thereby making themattractive as compared to other energy sources.

� SET can play a vital role in assisting and promotingKingdom’s program for development of nuclear energy.


nuclear power plants - set · background ˜ high population growth ˜ greater urbanization ˜...

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