Nuclear Power

Powering the future

Controlled Chain reaction

A chain reaction is a sequence of reactions where a reactive product or by-product causes additional reactions to take place. In a chain reaction, positive feedback leads to a self-amplifying chain of events.
In case of nuclear fission, the product releases a extra neutron for each fuel atom, that can sustain the reaction.
This is controlled by absorbing the extra neutron.

Speaker: Dr Vellusamy

Recordings4:Controlled Chain reaction

Nuclear Reactor

Nuclear reactors use fission in a controlled chain reaction to produce power/electricity.
It contains:
- a fuel that will be reacted to form fission products and extra neutrons,
- a moderator to slowdown the produced neutrons,
- control rods to absorb the extra neutrons and
- coolant that takes the heat away from the core and generates energy as steam propels a generator.

Speaker: Dr Vellusamy

Recordings5:A basic nuclear Reactor

Types of Nuclear Reactor

RBMK: Graphite-moderated nuclear power reactor designed and built by the Soviet Union.
PWR: PWRs keep water under pressure so that it heats, but does not boil. Water from the reactor and the water in the steam generator that is turned into steam never mix. In this way, most of the radioactivity stays in the reactor area.
BWR: The reactor core heats water, which turns to steam and then drives a steam turbine.

RBMK

PWR

BWR

Speaker: Dr Vellusamy

Recording5:Cold fusion

Nuclear Fusion Reactor

A nulcear fusion reactor is a device to produce electrical power from the energy released in a nuclear fusion reaction.
The use of nuclear fusion reactions for electricity generation remains theoretical. The reason is because fusion is very hard to get going: the atomic nuclei of the hydrogen isotopes are positively charged, and we know that like charges repel each other

As You've seen fusion requires high temperatures and/or pressure to work, so imagine if it were possible at room temperatures.
This is the idea behind cold fusion, although now its more of a piper's dream.
In 1989, two electrochemists, Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons, reported that their apparatus, small tabletop experiment involved electrolysis of heavy water on the surface of a palladium (Pd) electrode, had produced anomalous heat ("excess heat") of a magnitude they asserted would defy explanation except in terms of nuclear processes.
However, no other scientist were able to replicate the results of the experiment.

Speaker: Dr Vellusamy