A nuclear power plant works by using the energy released from nuclear fission (splitting heavy atomic nuclei like uranium-235 or plutonium-239) to produce electricity.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
- Fission in the reactor core
- Fuel rods filled with uranium or plutonium undergo fission.
- When a nucleus splits, it releases heat and neutrons, which trigger more fissions (a chain reaction).
- Heat generation
- The heat from fission warms up a coolant (usually water, but sometimes gas or liquid metal).
- Steam production
- In most reactors, the heated water turns into steam, or it heats a separate water loop to generate steam indirectly.
- Turbine and generator
- The steam drives a turbine, which spins a generator to produce electricity.
- Cooling system
- After passing through the turbine, the steam is cooled (often by a cooling tower or nearby river/sea) and condensed back into water to be reused.
- Control & safety systems
- Control rods (made of boron or cadmium) absorb excess neutrons to regulate the chain reaction.
- Thick shielding and containment structures prevent radiation from escaping.
Summary: A nuclear power plant is basically a very advanced steam engine — the nuclear reaction provides the heat, and the rest of the process is similar to a coal or gas power plant (steam → turbine → electricity).