Introduction to Nuclear Power, Second Edition

The authors of this text aim to educate the reader on nuclear power and its future potential. It focuses on nuclear accidents such as Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, and their consequences, with the understanding that there are safety lessons to be learned if nuclear power generation is going to be expanded to meet our growing energy needs.

Preface to Second Edition

xi

Preface to First Edition

xiii

The Earth and Nuclear Power: Sources and Resources

1

(27)

Introduction

1

(8)

Forms of Energy

2

(3)

Units of Energy

5

(1)

Energy Conversion Process

6

(3)

Earth's Internal Heat Generation

9

(6)

The Earth's Energy Flow

15

(2)

The Fission Process

17

(5)

Thermal Energy Resources

22

(6)

References

24

(1)

Examples and Problems

25

(1)

Bibliography

26

(2)

How Reactors Work

28

(34)

Introduction

28

(1)

The Fission Process

28

(6)

Basic Components of a Nuclear Reactor

34

(3)

Thermal Reactors

37

(18)

Natural Uranium Graphite-Moderated (Magnox) Reactors

37

(3)

Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactors

40

(3)

Pressurized-Water Reactors

43

(3)

Boiling-Water Reactors

46

(2)

Natural Uranium Heavy Water-Moderated and-Cooled Reactors

48

(2)

Boiling-Water, Graphite-Moderated Direct-Cycle Reactor (RBMK)

50

(5)

Fast Reactors

55

(7)

Liquid Metal-Cooled Fast Breeder Reactors

55

(5)

Examples and Problems

60

(1)

Bibliography

61

(1)

Cooling Reactors

62

(30)

Introduction

62

(1)

General Features of a Reactor Coolant

62

(2)

Principles of Heat Transfer

64

(8)

Gaseous Coolants

72

(3)

Air

72

(1)

Carbon Dioxide

73

(1)

Helium

74

(1)

Steam

75

(1)

Liquid Coolants

75

(5)

Light Water

75

(2)

Heavy Water

77

(1)

Organic Fluids

77

(1)

Molten Salts

78

(1)

Liquid Metals

78

(2)

Boiling Coolants

80

(2)

Water

81

(1)

Liquid Metals

81

(1)

Alternative Forms of Reactor Coolant Circuits

82

(10)

Loop-Type Circuits

83

(1)

Integral-Type Circuits

84

(1)

Pool-Type Circuits

85

(2)

Future Developments

87

(1)

References

88

(1)

Examples and Problems

88

(3)

Bibliography

91

(1)

Loss of Cooling

92

(50)

Introduction

92

(7)

The Electric Kettle

99

(2)

Pressurized-Water Reactor

101

(22)

Operating States of the PWR

101

(6)

Energy Balances in the PWR under Fault Conditions

107

(2)

The Large-Break LOCA in the PWR

109

(7)

The Small-Break LOCA

116

(7)

Alternative ECCSs

123

(1)

Boiling-Water Reactor

123

(5)

Large-Break LOCA in a BWR (the Design Basis Accident)

124

(2)

Small-Break LOCAs in BWRs

126

(2)

CANDU Reactor

128

(2)

Gas-Cooled Reactors

130

(4)

Design Basis Accident for the AGR: Depressurization Fault

133

(1)

Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor

134

(8)

Reference

136

(1)

Examples and Problems

136

(5)

Bibliography

141

(1)

Loss-Of-Cooling Accidents: Some Examples

142

(66)

Introduction

142

(1)

Incidents in Light Water--Cooled Reactors

143

(41)

The SL-1 Accident

143

(1)

The Millstone 1 Accident

144

(1)

The Browns Ferry Fire

145

(1)

The Three Mile Island (TMI) Accident

146

(14)

The Ginna Incident

160

(1)

Mihama 2 Incident

161

(3)

The Serious Accident at Chernobyl

164

(20)

Heavy Water--Moderated Reactors

184

(4)

The NXR Incident

184

(2)

The Core-Damage Incident at Lucens

186

(2)

Gas-Cooled Reactors

188

(6)

The Windscale Fire

188

(2)

The Fuel Meltdown at St. Laurent

190

(1)

Seawater Ingress in the Hunterston BAGR Station

191

(2)

Fuel Damage during Charging at the Hinkley Point BAGR

193

(1)

Liquid Metal--Cooled Fast Reactors

194

(3)

The EBR-1 Meltdown Accident

194

(2)

Fuel Melting Incident at the Enrico Fermi 1 Fast Breeder Reactor

196

(1)

The International Nuclear Event Scale (INES)

197

(11)

References

202

(1)

Examples and Problems

202

(5)

Bibliography

207

(1)

Postulated Severe Accidents

208

(26)

Introduction

208

(1)

Postulated Severe Accidents in Water-Cooled Reactors

209

(8)

Core Damage

209

(2)

Challenges to the Reactor Pressure Vessel

211

(2)

Challenges to the Reactor Containment

213

(3)

Mitigating the Consequences of Severe Accidents

216

(1)

Specific Phenomena relating to Severe Accidents

217

(8)

Fuel-Coolant Interactions:-``Steam Explosions''

217

(2)

Debris Beds and Their Cooling

219

(2)

Hydrogen Formation: Burning and Explosions

221

(2)

Containment Basement Melt-Through and Failure

223

(2)

Severe Accidents in Other Reactor Types

225

(3)

Fission Product Dispersion following containment Failure

228

(6)

References

228

(1)

Examples and Problems

229

(4)

Bibliography

233

(1)

Cooling during Fuel Removal and Processing

234

(23)

Introduction

234

(2)

Refueling

236

(7)

Refueling of Gas-Cooled Reactors

236

(2)

Refueling of CANDU Reactors

238

(3)

Refueling of Light-Water Reactors

241

(1)

Refueling of Liquid Metal--Cooled Fast Breeder Reactors

242

(1)

Spent Fuel Storage and Transport

243

(5)

Reprocessing Plant

248

(9)

References

252

(2)

Examples and Problems

254

(2)

Bibliography

256

(1)

Cooling and Disposing of the Waste

257

(24)

Introduction

257

(1)

Classification of Waste Products

257

(2)

Fission Products and Their Biological Significance

259

(3)

Options for Nuclear Waste Disposal

262

(2)

Long-Term Storage and Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel

264

(5)

Ultimate Disposal in Salt Deposits

267

(1)

Geological Storage

267

(2)

Storage and Disposal of Fission Products from Reprocessing Plants

269

(4)

Disposal of Other Materials

273

(8)

References

275

(1)

Examples and Problems

275

(5)

Bibliography

280

(1)

Fusion Energy: Prospect for the Future

281

(18)

Introduction

281

(1)

The Fusion Process

282

(2)

Confinement

284

(2)

Current Technical Position

286

(7)

Conclusions

293

(6)

References

294

(1)

Examples and Problems

294

(3)

Bibliography

297

(2)

Index

299

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Introduction to Nuclear Power, Second Edition

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials