Lecture Notes: The Nuclear Power Industry

Introduction to Energy Production

• Overview of energy production and the role of nuclear energy.
• Nuclear physics is fundamental to the process.
• Comparison of energy production methods: nuclear, offshore gas, biomass, wind.

Heisham Nuclear Power Stations

• Location: Northwest England, near Morecambe.
• Heisham 1 and Heisham 2 nuclear power stations.
  • Together, power more than 4 million homes.
  • Largest operating nuclear site in Britain.
  • Both reactors produce over 2.3 gigawatts of energy.
• Nuclear stations meet approximately 20% of the UK's power needs.

Reactor Operations

• Reactor Overview:
  • Reactors are massive; their reactor halls are cathedral-sized.
  • Fuel Channels: 324 fuel channels in Heisham 1.
  • Fueling machine is crucial for nuclear operations.
• Nuclear Reaction Process:
  • Small uranium pellets are used.
  • Chain reaction generates heat (over 600°C).
  • Heat converts water into steam, powering turbines.

Safety and Monitoring

• Importance of radiation monitoring:
  • Use of electronic personal dose meters for workers.
  • Regular monitoring ensures safety.
  • Typical doses are low (comparable to a chest x-ray).
• Safety checks for contamination upon exit from reactor areas.

Springfield's Nuclear Fuel Site

• Location: Outskirts of Preston.
• Role in producing nuclear fuel:
  • Uranium dioxide baked into pellets.
  • Highly automated but still requires human oversight.
  • Noise from radiation monitoring system.
• Energy Efficiency:
  • One uranium pellet = 1.5 tons of coal.
  • Significantly contributes to the UK's net-zero target.

Industry Pride and Rivalry

• Staff pride in their work at Heisham.
• Directors of Heisham 1 and Heisham 2 discuss their facilities:
  • Both power stations have around 500 permanent staff.
  • Healthy competition regarding efficiency and output.

Maintenance and Outages

• Outage Process:
  • Detailed inspections every three years.
  • 15,000 tasks performed during outages to ensure safety.
• Control Room Operations:
  • Simulations for safely shutting down reactors.
  • Importance of training for real-life scenarios.

Historical Context of Nuclear Power in Britain

• Britain's nuclear history began almost 70 years ago.
• Early challenges included the Windscale fire in 1957.
• Current facilities, such as Heisham, represent advanced technology and safety.

National Security and Community Engagement

• Nuclear facilities are guarded by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.
• Officers are trained for counter-terrorism and community engagement.

Recent Challenges and Future of Nuclear Energy

• Impact of COVID-19 on nuclear outages and operations.
• Continued importance of nuclear energy in future energy solutions.
• Upcoming decommissioning of Heisham 1 (2024) and Heisham 2 (2030).
• Ongoing projects such as the new plant at Hinckley Point C.