Page 916 - Basic Electrical Engineering

vertically into the reactor vessel which is a large steel tank filled with water.
The fuel is placed in a precise grid pattern and is called the reactor core. The
boiling water reactor operates the same way as a boiler in a fossil fuel power

plant.
Pure water called reactor coolant moves upwards through the reactor core

absorbing the heat generated because of nuclear fission. Due to heat this
water becomes steam but contains some water particles. This steam and water

mixer moves up and enters the steam dryer and moisture separator. Dry
steam, also called saturated steam leaves the reactor vessel through a steam

line (insulated pipes) to the steam turbine. The turbine rotates due to the
pressure of the steam. Since the generator is coupled with the turbine, the
generator also rotates and produces electrical power which is stepped up and

transmitted through transmission lines to various places for use. The
exhausted steam is collected into the condenser where it is cooled into water.

The condensed water is reused for which it is pumped out of the condenser
back to the reactor vessel using a number of pumps. The coolant flow

through the core can be varied to change the reactor power as and when
required. If a nuclear power plant is not situated near a river, the excess heat

of the circulated water is removed by using a cooling tower for transferring
some of the heat to the air.
As compared to a coal-fired thermal power plant, the quantity of fuel

required in a nuclear power plant is much less. The transportation cost of fuel
is therefore less as compared to the transportation of coal or oil. Therefore, a

nuclear power station can be built near the place where power is to be
utilized, i.e., near the load centre. In a nuclear power plant, radioactive fuel
waste has to be removed with outmost care and precaution.

Some of the nuclear power plants in India with their installed capacity are
shown in Table 13.2.

Table 13.2 Some Nuclear Power Plants in Operation in India

Total capacity
Location Units (MW)