![]() ![]() The first nuclear reactors were constructed during the Manhattan Project, and used to produce the uranium and plutonium that would eventually go into the Fat Man and Little Boy bombs. Nuclear reactors are used to produce power, for medical science, and to create materials for nuclear weapons. They usually consist of a number of components – a fuel source, control rods, a moderator, coolant, and an encasement. Once through the condenser system, the water is recycled back into the reactor to begin the process again.A nuclear reactor is a device that initiates, moderates, and controls the output of a nuclear chain reaction. The water within the two systems does not mix. Heat from the steam is absorbed by the cool water through heat transference. Once the turbines are turned, the remaining steam is cooled in the condenser coolant system. The turbine begins to turn within the generator and electricity is produced. Water droplets are then removed and steam is allowed to enter the steam line. This steam and water mixture rises to the top of the reactor and passes through two stages of moisture separation. In contrast to the PWR, the BWR uses only two separate water systems as it doesn't have a separate steam generator system. ![]() Unlike the PWR, inside the boiling water reactor the primary water system absorbs enough heat from the fission process to boil its water. As the steam is cooled, it condenses back into water and is returned to the steam generator to be used again and again. The turbine is connected to an electrical generator.Īfter turning the turbines, the steam is cooled by passing it over tubes carrying a third water system called the condenser coolant. The steam is pumped from the containment building into the turbine building to push the giant blades of the turbine. This means the water flowing through the reactor remains separate and does not mix with water from the other systems. The primary and secondary systems are closed systems. The heat, but not the water, from the primary coolant is transferred to the secondary, system which then turns into steam. These tubes are surrounded by another water system called the secondary or steam generating system. The hot, pressurized water passes through a series of tubes inside the steam generator. It is contained in a pressurized piping loop. Water within the primary system passes over the reactor core to act as a moderator and coolant but does not flow to the turbine. That heat is transferred to water circulating around the uranium fuel in the first of three separate water systems where water is heated to extremely high temperatures, but doesn’t boil because the water is under pressure. Nuclear fission produces heat inside the reactor. LWRs have historically been the most economical and common type of reactors. Light water reactors use ordinary water to cool and heat the nuclear fuel. ![]() Two of the most common reactors are pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs), both of which are light water reactors (LWR). There are many different reactor types used in nuclear power plants world-wide to create nuclear energy. A nuclear power plant uses uranium fuel to produce nuclear fission which heats water into steam to drive the turbines that ultimately produces electricity. With the exception of solar, wind and hydroelectric plants, most power plants are steam generating plants using different systems to create steam. Let's take a look at the basics of pressurized and boiling water reactors: Nuclear energy accounts for almost 50% of the Carolinas electricity with zero carbon emissions.Through the fission process, our highly trained workers generate the clean energy needed to power your daily life. ![]() It has been revised, updated and republished. Editor's note: This article was originally published on March 27, 2012. ![]()
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