Nuclear Power Plant Safety System Research Paper

Nuclear Power Plant Safety System - Research Paper Example It is for this reason that extreme safety measures are normally adopted in nuclear power plants. The safety measures are normally taken to prevent any leak of the radioactive materials into the environment as a result of accident, breakdown and/or waste (INSAG). This paper therefore, aims at discussing the safety systems present in nuclear power plants’ reactors. The heart of a nuclear power plant is a nuclear reactor. It is in the reactor that those nuclear reactions (nuclear fusion or fission reaction) that produce heat energy (heat energy used to heat steam) take place. Therefore, all nuclear radiations are produced in the reactors as either leaks or wastes. It is for this reason that extreme systems are incorporated in these nuclear reactors. The objectives of nuclear reactor safety systems include: The above objectives of nuclear reactor safety systems are usually accomplished by use of a variety of equipment and machinery. These different equipment and machinery usually perform different specific roles in relation to nuclear power plant (reactor) safety (Nuclear Energy Agency). The safety systems and equipment that are usually available in all nuclear power plants include but not limited to following. In case nuclear reaction in the reactors is needed to be stopped urgently (as in the case of an accident) safety injection system can be used to bring the reaction to a halt. This is usually done by injecting a fluid (liquid) directly into the core of the reactor that usually absorbs the neutrons (INSAG). Basically, for boiling water nuclear reactors, the injecting liquid is usually a boron based solution, for instance boric acid. The boric acid (or any other boron associated liquid) is injected so as to displace water that is in the reactor core.