How is energy released from nuclear fuel?

A nuclear reactor produces electricity in much the same way other power plants do. The chain reaction produces the energy, which turns water into steam. The pressure of the steam turns a generator, which produces electricity. Power plants that run on fossil fuels burn coal, oil or natural gas to generate heat.

How is useful energy extracted from a nuclear reactor?

Nuclear reactors are, fundamentally, large kettles, which are used to heat water to produce enormous amounts of low-carbon electricity. The generated heat is removed from the reactor by a circulating fluid, typically water. This heat can then be used to generate steam, which drives turbines for electricity production.

How is nuclear energy collected?

The two main ways that nuclear energy can be harvested is through nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. During the process of nuclear fission, the nuclei of atoms are split. In both these processes this energy can be harvested for supplying electricity or for the creation of nuclear weapons, such as the hydrogen bomb.

What is a nuclear rod?

A rod, plate, or tube containing a material such as hafnium, boron, etc., used to control the power of a nuclear reactor. By absorbing neutrons, a control rod prevents the neutrons from causing further fissions.

How much energy can a nuclear reactor produce?

A typical nuclear reactor produces 1 gigawatt (GW) of electricity. That doesn’t mean you can simply replace it with a 1 gigawatt coal or renewable plant.

What is fuel rod in nuclear reactor?

The uranium is processed into small ceramic pellets and stacked together into sealed metal tubes called fuel rods. Inside the reactor vessel, the fuel rods are immersed in water which acts as both a coolant and moderator. The moderator helps slow down the neutrons produced by fission to sustain the chain reaction.

How is uranium used in a reactor?

Reactors use uranium for nuclear fuel. The uranium is processed into small ceramic pellets and stacked together into sealed metal tubes called fuel rods. Typically more than 200 of these rods are bundled together to form a fuel assembly.

How are fuel rods used in nuclear reactors?

The pellets are subsequently inserted into thin tubes known as fuel rods, which are then grouped together to form fuel assemblies. The number of fuel rods used to make each fuel assembly ranges from around 90 to well over 200, depending on the type of reactor. Once loaded, the fuel normally stays in the reactor core for several years.

What fuel is used in a nuclear power plant?

A nuclear power plant uses nuclear fuel to power the reactor. When used in a reactor, the fuels used can have various forms: a metal, an alloy, or some sort of oxide. Most nuclear reactors use a compound made up of uranium dioxide. Atoms in nuclear fuel are bit by bit separated by the process of nuclear fission.

How is nuclear energy produced in a nuclear reactor?

The heat created by fission turns the water into steam, which spins a turbine to produce carbon-free electricity. All commercial nuclear reactors in the United States are light-water reactors.