site selection criteria for nuclear power plant
In our previous blog, we discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the nuclear power plant. In today’s blog, we will discuss factors for site selection of nuclear power plant.such as Availability of water supply , Availability of space for disposal of waste, Distance from a populated area etc.
Factors for site selection of nuclear power plant.
Following are some factors to consider while selecting a nuclear power plant site for an economical and efficient generation.
Availability of water supply
Inside the reactor of the nuclear power plant, water is used as a moderator for cooling the heat generated by fission reaction and for other cooling purposes also so the requirement of water in a nuclear power plant is very high (that is twice the requirement of water in thermal power plant) so the plant must be located in the area where availability of water is plenty that is near the river, lake or by the seaside.
Distance from a populated area
As we know that for fuel we use for the nuclear power plant is radioactive materials like uranium, thorium, etc., and though we take all the safety measures, we cannot make all the environment around the power plant radioactive free, so there should be a reasonable distance between the nuclear power plant and the nearest populated area from the safety point of view.
However, as a precautionary measure, a dome structure is used in the plant, which does not allow radioactivity to spread through underground waterways or wind.
Also, it is highly undesirable to choose a site adjacent to the chemical industry, oil refineries, hospitals, or schools. So the power plant must be located away from a populated area.
Transportation facilities
We have studied in a steam power plant that we need railway lines to transfer the tones of coal. Still, in the case of nuclear power plants, the fuel requirement is very less. Hence, we require the transportation facility during the nuclear power plant construction only. In contrast, we may not require all the transportation facilities like steam power plants for normal working days.
Nearness to the load center
The transmission cost of electricity depends upon the nearness of the plant to the load center more the distance more the transmission cost; hence practically, a power plant should always be located near the load center, but we cannot place nuclear power plant that closes to the load center so for this authorities have to erect a nuclear power plant by taking all safety consideration.
Availability of space for disposal of waste
Like the other power plants, we cannot dispose of the wastage of nuclear power plant, after all the use of fuel to generate electricity. Even after decaying that fuel, it still remains radioactive and hazardous for us.
So while selecting the location of the nuclear power plant, one must think of the availability of space for the disposal.
Accessibility
There should be reasonable accessibility for plant personnel, haul equipment, and dispatch and receive heavily shielded radioactive materials.
Type of land
Reactors used for a nuclear power plant may weigh 100,000 tonnes and impose bearing pressure around 50 tones/m2. While selecting the site for nuclear power plant, one should select the land having high sustainability to withstand all the burdens of reactors and other heavy types of machinery.
Areas remote from coal fields, and hydro sites are preferable to improve supply reliability over the area.
Whereas generally, hydroelectric power plants are located far from the load center. In a thermal power plant, enormous shipment is required. The location of the nuclear power plant is practically independent of geographical factors, the only requirement being that there should be a good supply of water.
Hence the ideal choice for nuclear power plant should be near a sea, lake, or river and away from a populated area.
