International Atomic Energy Agency. World Association of Nuclear Operators. Radiation is energy in motion. There are many natural sources of radiation that we live with safely every day such as cosmic radiation from the sun. It is not possible for a nuclear energy plant to explode like a bomb, these plants are designed to produce electricity safely and reliably.
If you stood at the site boundary for a whole year, you would receive less than a quarter of the radiation from a chest x-ray. Who Operates the Plant? What is nuclear energy? How does it work? Nuclear reactor creates heat that is used to make steam The steam turns a turbine connected to an electromagnet, called a generator The generator produces electricity In a Pressurized Water Reactor PWR — the type of reactor being built in the UAE — high pressure prevents water in the reactor vessel from boiling.
Uranium Enriched uranium is the fuel for nuclear reactors. Typically more than of these rods are bundled together to form a fuel assembly. A reactor core is typically made up of a couple hundred assemblies, depending on power level.
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.
Control rods can then be inserted into the reactor core to reduce the reaction rate or withdrawn to increase it. 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. This means they use normal water as both a coolant and neutron moderator.
Each ceramic pellet produces about the same amount of energy as gallons of oil. These energy-rich pellets are stacked end-to-end in foot metal fuel rods.
A bundle of fuel rods, some with hundreds of rods, is called a fuel assembly. A reactor core contains many fuel assemblies. The heat produced during nuclear fission in the reactor core is used to boil water into steam, which turns the blades of a steam turbine. As the turbine blades turn, they drive generators that make electricity. Nuclear plants cool the steam back into water in a separate structure at the power plant called a cooling tower, or they use water from ponds, rivers, or the ocean.
The cooled water is then reused to produce steam. Nuclear reactors in the United States may have large concrete domes covering the reactors, which are required to contain accidental releases of radiation. Not all nuclear power plants have cooling towers. Some nuclear power plants use water from lakes, rivers, or the ocean for cooling. As of December 31, , 94 nuclear reactors were operating at 56 nuclear power plants in 28 states. Thirty-two of the plants have two reactors, and three plants have three reactors.
Learn more about the U. The United States had the largest nuclear electricity generation capacity and generated more nuclear electricity than any other country. Nuclear explained Nuclear power plants.
Animals This frog mysteriously re-evolved a full set of teeth. Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Animals Wild Cities Morocco has 3 million stray dogs. Meet the people trying to help. Environment COP26 nears conclusion with mixed signals and frustration.
Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big. Environment As the EU targets emissions cuts, this country has a coal problem. Paid Content How Hong Kong protects its sea sanctuaries. History Magazine These 3,year-old giants watched over the cemeteries of Sardinia. Science Coronavirus Coverage What families can do now that kids are getting the vaccine. Magazine How one image captures 21 hours of a volcanic eruption. Science Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants.
Science The controversial sale of 'Big John,' the world's largest Triceratops. Science Coronavirus Coverage How antivirals may change the course of the pandemic. Travel A road trip in Burgundy reveals far more than fine wine.
Travel My Hometown In L. Subscriber Exclusive Content. Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?
0コメント