| Most nuclear reactor power stations used today | | | | core of the reactor and are used to control the rate |
| were designed and developed in the 1950s. New | | | | at which the reaction occurs. |
| designs are being introduced as older reactors reach | | | | Coolant - A liquid or gas coolant is used to transfer |
| the end of their working life. Perhaps surprisingly, | | | | heat away from the core. |
| most nuclear electricity is generated from just two | | | | Pressure Vessels or pressure tubes - These are |
| types of nuclear reactors. | | | | usually steel vessels that contain the reactor core |
| A nuclear reactor works by creating energy from | | | | and the moderator and coolant. But, the pressure |
| splitting the atoms of certain elements and controlling | | | | vessels can also be a series of tubes that hold the |
| the release of this energy. The energy produced is | | | | fuel and transport the coolant through the moderator. |
| then captured as heat, either gas or water and is | | | | Steam Generator - The steam generator is part of |
| used to make steam. The steam is then used to | | | | the cooling system, and is where the heat from the |
| drive a turbine, like in a fossil fuel power station. On a | | | | reactor is used to make steam to drive the turbine. |
| nuclear submarine the steam is used to drive a | | | | Containment - This is the structure designed to |
| turbine which propels the submarine. In a research | | | | protect the reactor core, and also to protect those |
| reactor, the neutrons are used. | | | | in the outside world from the effects of radiation |
| Although there are different sorts of reactors, such | | | | should there be a incident or an accident. The |
| as Pressurised Water Reactor, Boiling Water Reactor, | | | | containment is usually a metre thick concrete and |
| Gas Cooled Reactor and Fast Neutron Reactor, there | | | | steel structure. |
| are some components that are found in all reactors: | | | | Nuclear waste can be treated so that it can be |
| Fuel - The fuel used to power a reactor is Uranium | | | | recycled, and disused nuclear plants can be |
| Oxide (U02) which is arranged in tubes to form fuel | | | | decommissioned and decontaminated so that they |
| rods which are then placed into fuel assemblies in the | | | | are safe. |
| reactor core. | | | | Nuclear power looks set to become a viable |
| Moderator - A moderator is used to slow down the | | | | alternative to fossil fuels, and there are plans to |
| neutrons released from fission, so that they cause | | | | create several new nuclear power stations in the UK. |
| more fission. The moderator is usually water, but can | | | | Whilst nuclear energy may not be everyone's idea of |
| also be heavy water or even graphite. | | | | the fuel of the future, it is already popular in France |
| Control Rods - These are made from | | | | and the USA. If you're interested in nuclear power, |
| neutron-absorbing material such as cadmium, hafnium | | | | why not find out what else nuclear reactors are and |
| or boron. They are inserted or withdrawn from the | | | | nuclear technology are used for? |