NUCLEAR POWER
Nuclear Power Overview
The fundamental processes used in electricity generation from nuclear power is relatively simple. Heat generated from nuclear reactions is used to heat water which vaporizes into steam. This steam becomes pressurized and is used to turn large turbines. These turbines spin which in turn spins a large generator to produce electricity.
This is the same principle used in other types of generating stations (Oil, Gas, Coal), in that heat is produced in order to turn a large turbine. The only difference is the type of fuel used. Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission of uranium atoms to produce heat, while other plants use fossil fuel combustion in furnaces to produce heat. Nuclear power stations typically use Uranium, with different models using different grades or types of the element.
Nuclear fission takes place in the reactor core. Nuclear fission is the break down of atoms into lesser elements. An atom is principally made up of three subatomic particles: protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons are positively charged and are found in the nucleus along with neutrons which have no charge. Electrons orbit the nucleus in the empty space surrounding it and are negatively charged. When nuclear fission takes places, neutrons from one atom break away from the nucleus and collide with other nuclei of other atoms. This collision results in neutrons from that nucleus to be release and also causes the nucleus to break up into smaller nuclei possessing a lower number of protons. These collisions release a huge amount of energy and results in a large release of heat. This is a huge chain reaction, with one collision resulting in multiple other collisions.
In order to control this release of neutrons, a moderator is used to slow down and moderate the number of neutrons being expelled. The moderator is typically water or heavy water. Heavy water occurs naturally and is simply water with two deuterium atoms bonded with an oxygen atom instead of two hydrogen atoms. This moderator thus absorbs a huge amount of heat. This is then pumped into a boiler where it transfers it's heat to regular water to produce steam. This steam is then compressed and used to turn large turbines. The steam can then be cooled and condensed to be recycled, or expelled from the plant. These turbines spin large electrical generators which use magnets to produce electricity.
After producing heat in the reactor core for three to five years, the fuel rods are removed from the reactor core and placed in storage. However, they are still highly radioactive and require careful waste management practices.
Nuclear fission takes place in the reactor core. Nuclear fission is the break down of atoms into lesser elements. An atom is principally made up of three subatomic particles: protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons are positively charged and are found in the nucleus along with neutrons which have no charge. Electrons orbit the nucleus in the empty space surrounding it and are negatively charged. When nuclear fission takes places, neutrons from one atom break away from the nucleus and collide with other nuclei of other atoms. This collision results in neutrons from that nucleus to be release and also causes the nucleus to break up into smaller nuclei possessing a lower number of protons. These collisions release a huge amount of energy and results in a large release of heat. This is a huge chain reaction, with one collision resulting in multiple other collisions.
In order to control this release of neutrons, a moderator is used to slow down and moderate the number of neutrons being expelled. The moderator is typically water or heavy water. Heavy water occurs naturally and is simply water with two deuterium atoms bonded with an oxygen atom instead of two hydrogen atoms. This moderator thus absorbs a huge amount of heat. This is then pumped into a boiler where it transfers it's heat to regular water to produce steam. This steam is then compressed and used to turn large turbines. The steam can then be cooled and condensed to be recycled, or expelled from the plant. These turbines spin large electrical generators which use magnets to produce electricity.
After producing heat in the reactor core for three to five years, the fuel rods are removed from the reactor core and placed in storage. However, they are still highly radioactive and require careful waste management practices.
This is the same principle used in other types of generating stations (Oil, Gas, Coal), in that heat is produced in order to turn a large turbine. The only difference is the type of fuel used. Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission of uranium atoms to produce heat, while other plants use fossil fuel combustion in furnaces to produce heat. Nuclear power stations typically use Uranium, with different models using different grades or types of the element.
Nuclear fission takes place in the reactor core. Nuclear fission is the break down of atoms into lesser elements. An atom is principally made up of three subatomic particles: protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons are positively charged and are found in the nucleus along with neutrons which have no charge. Electrons orbit the nucleus in the empty space surrounding it and are negatively charged. When nuclear fission takes places, neutrons from one atom break away from the nucleus and collide with other nuclei of other atoms. This collision results in neutrons from that nucleus to be release and also causes the nucleus to break up into smaller nuclei possessing a lower number of protons. These collisions release a huge amount of energy and results in a large release of heat. This is a huge chain reaction, with one collision resulting in multiple other collisions.
In order to control this release of neutrons, a moderator is used to slow down and moderate the number of neutrons being expelled. The moderator is typically water or heavy water. Heavy water occurs naturally and is simply water with two deuterium atoms bonded with an oxygen atom instead of two hydrogen atoms. This moderator thus absorbs a huge amount of heat. This is then pumped into a boiler where it transfers it's heat to regular water to produce steam. This steam is then compressed and used to turn large turbines. The steam can then be cooled and condensed to be recycled, or expelled from the plant. These turbines spin large electrical generators which use magnets to produce electricity.
After producing heat in the reactor core for three to five years, the fuel rods are removed from the reactor core and placed in storage. However, they are still highly radioactive and require careful waste management practices.
Nuclear fission takes place in the reactor core. Nuclear fission is the break down of atoms into lesser elements. An atom is principally made up of three subatomic particles: protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons are positively charged and are found in the nucleus along with neutrons which have no charge. Electrons orbit the nucleus in the empty space surrounding it and are negatively charged. When nuclear fission takes places, neutrons from one atom break away from the nucleus and collide with other nuclei of other atoms. This collision results in neutrons from that nucleus to be release and also causes the nucleus to break up into smaller nuclei possessing a lower number of protons. These collisions release a huge amount of energy and results in a large release of heat. This is a huge chain reaction, with one collision resulting in multiple other collisions.
In order to control this release of neutrons, a moderator is used to slow down and moderate the number of neutrons being expelled. The moderator is typically water or heavy water. Heavy water occurs naturally and is simply water with two deuterium atoms bonded with an oxygen atom instead of two hydrogen atoms. This moderator thus absorbs a huge amount of heat. This is then pumped into a boiler where it transfers it's heat to regular water to produce steam. This steam is then compressed and used to turn large turbines. The steam can then be cooled and condensed to be recycled, or expelled from the plant. These turbines spin large electrical generators which use magnets to produce electricity.
After producing heat in the reactor core for three to five years, the fuel rods are removed from the reactor core and placed in storage. However, they are still highly radioactive and require careful waste management practices.
For more information, please consult OPG's comprehensive brochure to How Nuclear Power Plants Work and the New Nuclear Darlington Environmental Impact Assessment.