How Nuclear Power Works

A nuclear power plant generates electricity the same way most power plants generate electricity, by using steam to turn a turbine. But unlike other power plants, a nuclear power plant creates steam by splitting atoms. The heat energy released through splitting atoms boils the water. This process is called fission.

Nuclear Process

Nuclear reaction is fueled by Uranium pellets. These pellets are ceramic and about the size of the end of your finger. These pellets are inserted into long tubes and placed the the power plant's reactor. When the plant starts up nuetrons are shot at the uranium. When they (the nuetrons) hit the uranium the atoms split, and neutrons from those split atoms split other atoms and so on. Once a chain reaction is started the plant is up and running. This splitting of atoms releases so much heat energy, that it can be trapped and used to boil water. But if the reaction gets to hot, then a meltdown of the steel containment of the reactor core can occur. To control such a problem, though, a control rod is necessary to absorb neutrons as they pass by thus slowing down the reaction to control the heat. Also the cycled water is used to control heat and act as a coolant.

1. Reactor Core -- where the nuclear reaction takes place
2. Carbon Steel Vessel -- the containment vessel for the nuclear reactor, usually many layers thic
3. Heated Water -- the hot water used to create steam.
4. Water pumps -- the pump that moves the heated water in and out of the reactor core.
5. Heat exchanger -- the pool of water that is heated to create steam to turn the turbines, also used to cool the water in the reactor core.
6. Steam Pipe -- takes the steam from the heat exchanger to the turbines.
7. Turbines -- huge wheels that are turned by moving steam to create electromagnetic fields that are turned into electricity.
8. Condenser -- takes steam and puts it back in the heat exchanger as cooled water
9. Generator -- creates DC electricity and sends it to the inductors that turn it into AC
10. Power lines -- these get the electricity to your home

Public Opinion of Nuclear Power

Many people are very skeptical about nuclear power being commonly used as a power source throughout the world because of the events that occured at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island (a melt down and near meltdown respectivly). But, today, the chance of a melt down in a nuclear power plant is so low that during training nuclear operators start practicing things that have a one in 10000 chance of happening, and go to one in one billionth of a chance of happening, because of the many safety systems and computer operated shut-offs. Even at the Three Mile Island Plant less radioactivity was introduced in the area per person than turning on an extra TV. Today even the safety measures have safety measures. Often 15 backup systems have to fail to have one thing in a nuclear power plant fail, and then everything else and their 15 backup systems need to fail for something to go wrong.

The nuclear pelets themselves are encased in ceramic. Then they are placed in steel tubes. These steel tubes are placed in a steel pressure vessel eight inched thick. Which is surrounded by a layer of concrete. There is another steel containment layer around the concrete, which is surrounded by anouther Steel reinforced concrete containment structure with walls about four feet thick. All of that would have to meltdown AFTER all of the other systems failed in order for any great harm would come to the people outside the power plant.

Nuclear Power: A Clean Energy Scoure

Unlike many other energy sources, nuclear power is remarkably clean. It emits no sulfur dioxide, no nitrous oxide, and no carbon dioxide like cola oil and natural gas plants do. In fact, the only by product of nuclear power is radioactive waste which is carefully controlled, and in many countries, recycled into new nuclear fuel.

Nuclear Energy: Key to a Self Sustaining Power Economy

Another benefit to nuclear power is that it can be placed anywhere. It is not restricted to a certain land forms or weather problems. It also does not require large amounts of fuel. A spent fuel pond 30 years old is smaller than one day's used coal. (One nuclear pellet = One ton of coal.) This means countries would not have to rely on coal and oil imports from other contries. This allows a country to be virtually self sustaining when it comes to power.

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