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Nuclear Power Plants

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Thermodynamics in Nuclear Power Plant Systems

Abstract

Currently, about half of all nuclear power plants are located in the United States. There are many different kinds of nuclear power plants, and we will discuss a few important designs in this text. A nuclear power plant harnesses the energy inside atoms themselves and converts this to electricity. All of us use this electricity. In Sect. 18.1 of this chapter, we show you the idea of the fission process and how it works. A nuclear power plant uses controlled nuclear fission. In this chapter, we will explore how a nuclear power plant operates and the manner in which nuclear reactions are controlled. There are several different designs for nuclear reactors. Most of them have the same basic function, but one’s implementation of this function separates it from another. There are several classification systems used to distinguish between reactor types. Below is a list of common reactor types and classification systems found throughout the world, and they are briefly explained down below according to three types of classification either (1) classified by moderator material, (2) classified by coolant material, or (3) classified by reaction type.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Galaxy Advanced Engineering, Inc., University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Bahman Zohuri

  2. Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Patrick McDaniel

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Zohuri, B., McDaniel, P. (2019). Nuclear Power Plants. In: Thermodynamics in Nuclear Power Plant Systems. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93919-3_18

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