Using a diagram briefly explain the layout and functioning of a nuclear power station In your answer refer to the three separate water circuits?

Answer 1

The three water circuits in the nuclear plant are the primary coolant, the secondary or main steam circuit, and the tertiary or condenser cooling system. Below is link to a fairly clear diagram that has all three water circuits in it. Look at the diagram as we give you the scoop one loop at a time. Primary coolant is circulated (forced by the main coolant pumps) through the reactor core to pick up heat. This hot primary coolant is circulated through that steam generator where it boils secondary water to create steam. The primary coolant leaves the steam generator cooler than when it went in (but still hot!), and then returns to the reactor's pressure vessel (where the reactor core is housed) to be reheated. It's a closed loop. In the secondary or main steam system, the feedwater turns to steam in the steam generator. It then leaves that steam generator and goes through the main steam header to the big steam turbines that drive the electric generators. In the main condenser below the steam turbine, the steam condenses back into water as the condenser cooling water circulates through the condenser. The water that used to be steam is now feedwater, and it's pumped back into the steam generator to begin the steam cycle again. The condenser cooling water that cooled the exhaust steam to convert it back to water is pumped out into a heat exchanger (evaporative cooling tower). Thus cooled there, the main condenser cooling water is pumped back into the main condenser to remove heat from the exhaust steam to convert it back to water. This completes the main condenser cooling cycle. A link below will lead you to a fairly clear diagram with the three cooling circuits in it. With a bit of jumping between the explanation and the diagram, you should be able to see everything clearly.