Why is a nuclear power plant shaped the way it is?

Answer 1

If you mean the giant towers that have come to symbolise Nuclear plants then those are cooling towers and actually disperse the extra heat from the superheated water into the atmosphere. These towers are also found in huge thermal power plants which burn coal or oil to make electricity.

Answer 2

It is the dome that makes the nuclear plant look similar specially in the United States due to the regulation to contain the reactor.

The cooling system can be any type of design. Some or most nuclear plants does not have the hourglass type building because they are using a nearby river or lake to dissipate heat.

The dome shape building is used because of the ideal shape to withstand pressure in case of nuclear accident. The accident will cause high amount of steam that could be radioactive and it must not be released to the atmosphere. The normal operation also maintain a slight negative pressure inside the dome to prevent any leakage going outside.

Answer 3

The dome shaped structure houses the heart of the nuclear plant. The shape is designed as the dome(which is part of a sphere) gives the maximum surface area to the pressures generated inside in case of a maximum credible accident, an accident which is highly improbable but for which the reactor building is designed. This also gives the maximum cubic capacity to hold air/gas/steam volumes that could be generated during an accident. The integrity of the building is maintained so that no radiation activity is allowed to be released in the public domain. This part of the building is generally built in Prestressed reinforced concrete such that excessive thicknesses need not be used for the construction.
Some Nuclear plants are also designed with flat roofs but I believe the question refers to the plants with dome shapes, which is typical of a nuclear plant.
N.K.Agarwal

Answer 4

I've seen many different shapes for nuke plants, but there are often commonalities in the shape of the reactor building and the cooling towers that support the dome and hourglass stereotype.

The dome shape is most often used to house the reactor since it is the best shape to contain a possible pressure build-up. (in case the reactor vents or starts to overheat) The domes usually have so much reinforcing steel in them that they would be solid without the concrete.

The cooling towers are often hourglass shaped to better catch and recycle the condensed steam, which is exhausted from the turbine generators.

Answer 5

I assume you are talking about the cooling towers, being an hourglass shape (sort of). This system relies on natural air flow and the shape of the tower takes advantage of the venturi effect to increase the speed of the air passing thru the tower, thus drawing more air and removing more heat.

Of course, I'm just taking off the top of my head here - I could be completely off base, but I'm sure this answer will at least make it sound like you know what you are talking about.

If only we knew what the venturi effect was...

Cheers!

Answer 6

They only want you to think that it is a nuclear power plant, while, in actuallity, it is a massive government cover-up for the creation of killer Furby dolls. You have been warned, good luck.

Answer 7

Because you are using a slow-motion atomic bomb to boil water to make steam to generate electricity, and you have to dissipate that heat somehow.