Electricity from Nuclear energy
A nuclear power station is not very different from a gas or oil fossil fuel power station. The one difference is that the nuclear reactor produces the steam to operate the turbines that generate the electricity.
This difference is one that causes a lot of public concern and action groups campaigning against the presence of the nuclear reactor.
The perceived risks of nuclear power are genuine. However a nuclear explosion is not likely to happen. It is the accidental (or deliberate in the case of terrorism) release of radioactive material over the surrounding area that is a major concern.
The public also fear accidents or terrorist activities when transferring nuclear material, including waste, from one site to another.
A nuclear reactor heats water by bringing a sufficient amount of uranium together which results in a reaction in which neutrons and heat are released. Nuclear reactors are usually submerged in a fluid such as water. The reaction boils the fluid which becomes high pressure steam and this steam drives the turbine which generates electricity.
April 2009 - The UK Government has announced that four nuclear power stations will be built in the UK, the first to be commissioned by 2017.
Nuclear Power - How it Works
Nuclear fuel cycle notes:
1 - uranium is mined, enriched and manufactured into nuclear fuel which is delivered to a nuclear power plant.
2 - After usage in the power plant the spent fuel is delivered to a reprocessing plant, if it can be recycled.
3 - If fuel is not recycled then spent fuel is sent to a final repository for geological disposition.
4 - In reprocessing 95% of spent fuel can be recycled to be returned to usage in a nuclear power plant.
Nuclear Fuel cycle