Nuclear Power

Power Plant works?

• Typical power plant makes steam by using coal

Nuclear power works?

• A nuclear reactor makes electricity with steam

• That steam turns a turbine/generator that generates electricity

• Nuclear power plant uses fission to generate initial energy to create steam

• Fission is where you take an unstable element (eg uranium) that has too many neutrons and by putting enough uranium atoms close together the bullets from one atom will eventually strike another atom

• The force of the impact from this strike splits the atom apart releasing a large amount of energy (fission)

• This heat is used so the water can evaporate to steam that can be used to generate electricity

RBMK reactors (another nuclear reactor)

• Type of pressure tube reactor that uses water for cooling and graphite for moderation

• they surround the fuel rods with graphite to moderate and slow down the neutron flux