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One type of nuclear
power plant is the pressurized water reactor. In the containment
structure, water under pressure to prevent boiling flows through the
reactor where the nuclear chain reaction in the fuel rods heats it to
approximately 600 degrees Fahrenheit. This hot water is pumped to the
steam generator, or heat exchanger, where the cooler water flowing in from
the condenser becomes steam. The steam drives a conventional steam
turbine. The condenser converts used steam back into water after it
passes over the blades of the turbine, and the water recirculates on the
outside of the steam generator tubes. The steam turbine turns the
electric generator to produce electricity, which reaches the customer
through substations and power lines |
