How Nuclear Power Plants Utilise Water to Generate Electricity

May 27
01:50

2020

Nancy Whitman

Nancy Whitman

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Nuclear power is something that is getting considered more in different countries. Some countries are already making use of nuclear power, while other is in the process of making power plants that are working with nuclear.

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The interesting part is how water is being used to generate nuclear power. Something that not many people understand. This is why we thought that it might be a great idea to explain how it works in simple terms. To make it easier for everyone to understand how water can be used to turn into nuclear power. This is everything you need to know about how water can produce electricity.

Nuclear power plants. Making use of water and fuel

Nuclear power plants are something that is relatively new. Some countries are only dreaming about these power plants. There are a lot of benefits of making use of nuclear power plants instead of having normal power plants that are causing a lot of pollution and health problems in the long run.

The main reason why nuclear power plants aren’t causing pollution is that it is making use of water. Water that is getting heated up with a special fuel. And,How Nuclear Power Plants Utilise Water to Generate Electricity Articles with the reactors producing the electricity that we need. The larger and more reactors the power plant has, the more power it can produce. However, it also depends on the amount of water the power plant has access to. In the dry seasons, some countries might have more problems with getting water to nuclear plants than other countries.

Making use of two electricity reactors

Two different electricity reactors are being used in nuclear power plants. The reactors that are being heated up and producing the electricity by using the water. The two electricity reactors are known as the boiling water reactor and the pressurized water reactor.

Both these reactors are making use of a heating system to heat the water and to get it to the boiling point. And, both these reactors must run through the turbine to produce the electricity before the water is getting cooled again. A process that is going on and on. Getting boiled, running through the turbine, and letting it cool again.

Fuel used for heating and extraction

What is being used to heat the electricity reactors? Are they making use of boilers, or are they making use of other methods that are safer and cleaner?

In most cases, nuclear power plants are making use of uranium to heat the water. It is a much safer and faster way of heating water. There is a whole process that the uranium needs to go through before it can be used to heat the water so that electricity can be produced.

Water related risks with nuclear power

Just like with any other power plant, the nuclear power plant also has some health as safety risks. This is all water related risks with producing nuclear power. Radioactively contaminated water is dangerous and can cause serious problems for the nuclear plant if the water is leaked. This is why they have a system in place to make sure that there isn’t any water leakage from possible radioactively contaminated water.

Something as simple as water and heat can produce electricity. And, this is what a nuclear power plant is all about. The water is getting heated by uranium. Then it is going through a turbine that is producing the electricity and then the water is cooled down again. The power plant needs to have electricity reactors to be able to do this process successfully. And, with this cycle, you will have electricity without polluting the air and causing people to get sick.

CR Asia is a leading industrial maintenance services provider and shutdowns and turnarounds expert, providing a comprehensive range of services to the oil, gas, chemical, refining and power industries, including catalyst handling services, reactor services, mechanical and plant maintenance services, mechanical engineering services, heat exchanger maintenance and cleaning services and more.