Nuclear Power Volume II - Nuclear Power Plants - a PDH Online Course for Engineers, Architects and Surveyors

Nuclear Power Volume II - Nuclear Power Plants

Course Outline

This course, Volume II – Nuclear Power Plants, reviews the classifications of nuclear power plants and the basic components of a nuclear power plant. The course covers the design and operation of the current generation of nuclear power plants in operation today. Each type of commercial nuclear generating plant will be covered in sequence, starting with pressurized water reactors.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

Upon completing this course, you should be able to do the following:

Explain the types of fuels used in nuclear reactors;
Describe the different types of moderators used in nuclear reactors;
Describe the types of coolants used in nuclear reactors;
Explain the purpose of a steam generator in a PWR;
Describe how nuclear reactors are classified;
Understand the purpose of a pressurizer in a PWR;
Explain the purpose of a CVCS system in a thermal reactor;
Describe the safety systems of a thermal reactor;
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each type of nuclear reactor;
Explain how a PWR reactor works;
Explain how a BWR reactor works;
Explain how a CANDU reactor works;
Explain how a RBMK reactor works;
Explain how a GCR works; and
Explain how a LMFBR works.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for engineers who want to understand how the current generation of nuclear power plants operations.

Benefit to Attendees

This course is an overview of the current fleet of nuclear power plants in use today. By taking this course you will understand how each of the current generation of power plants operates including the advantages and disadvantages of each type.

Course Introduction

The world demand for electricity continues to grow. The current electrical energy consumption for the entire planet is approximately 1,517 gigawatts (GW) of continuous power. Approximately 16% of this electric demand is served from 439 nuclear power plants with a capacity of 371 GW. The United States produces the most nuclear energy, with nuclear power providing 19% of the electricity it consumes, while France produces the highest percentage of its electrical energy from nuclear reactors—77% as of 2006. It is quite possible to utilize nuclear power to provide the vast majority of an entire country's need for electricity.

This course is the second in a series about the use of nuclear energy to generate electricity. Volume I in this series included an overview of the nuclear industry and covered the basics of nuclear physics and uranium as a fuel source. While it is not necessary to read Volume I first, it will help understand the concepts and terms presented in Volume II.

Volume II delves into the specific types of nuclear reactors in use around the world today. We will begin with a broad overview of the different types of reactors and how they are classified. Then we will look at each type of nuclear reactor that is currently in commercial operation.

Course Content

This course content is in the following PDF document:

Nuclear Power Volume II - Nuclear Power Plants

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.

Course Summary

Proponents of nuclear energy contend that nuclear power is a sustainable energy source that does not create air pollution, reduces carbon emissions and increases energy security by decreasing dependence on foreign oil. The operational safety record of nuclear plants in the Western world is far better when compared to the other major types of power plants. With the exception of Chernobyl, no radiation-related fatalities ever occurred at any commercial nuclear power plant. Optimists point out that the volume of radioactive waste is very small, and claim it can be stored safely deep underground. Future designs of reactors are promised to eliminate almost all waste.

Critics believe that nuclear power is a potentially dangerous energy source, with decreasing proportion of nuclear energy in production. They claim that radioactive waste cannot be stored safely for long periods of time, that there is a continuing possibility of radioactive contamination by accident or sabotage, and that exporting nuclear technology to other countries might lead to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The recent slow rate of growth of installed nuclear capacity is said to indicate that nuclear reactors cannot be built fast enough to slow down climate change.

This volume in the series on the nuclear power industry has reviewed the types of plants currently in operation. The final volume in this series, Volume III, looks at the future of nuclear power and the types of plants we are likely to see in the first half of the 21st Century.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.