These reactors pump water into the reactor core under high pressure to prevent the water from boiling. The water in the core is heated by nuclear fission and then pumped into tubes inside a heat exchanger.
Those tubes heat a separate water source to create steam. The steam then turns an electric generator to produce electricity. BWRs heat water and produce steam directly inside the reactor vessel. Water is pumped up through the reactor core and heated by fission.
Pipes then feed the steam directly to a turbine to produce electricity. Nuclear reactors are the heart of a nuclear power plant.
Nuclear Fission Creates Heat The main job of a reactor is to house and control nuclear fission —a process where atoms split and release energy. Fission and Fusion: What is the Difference?
The generated heat is removed from the reactor by a circulating fluid, typically water. This heat can then be used to generate steam, which drives turbines for electricity production. In order to ensure the nuclear reaction takes place at the right speed, reactors have systems that accelerate, slow or shut down the nuclear reaction, and the heat it produces.
This is normally done with control rods, which typically are made out of neutron-absorbing materials such as silver and boron. Two examples of nuclear fissioning of uranium, the most commonly used fuel in nuclear reactors. Nuclear reactors come in many different shapes and sizes — some use water to cool their cores, whilst others use gas or liquid metal. Further information on the many different types of reactor around the world can be found in the Nuclear Power Reactors section of the Information Library.
Nuclear reactors are very reliable at generating electricity, capable of running for 24 hours a day for many months, if not years, without interruption, whatever the weather or season.
Additionally, most nuclear reactors can operate for very long periods of time — over 60 years in many cases. A number of different materials can be used to fuel a reactor, but most commonly uranium is used. At the start of , Russia had four reactors under construction, with a combined capacity of 4. The strength of Russia's nuclear industry is reflected in its dominance of export markets for new reactors. The country's national nuclear industry is currently involved in new reactor projects in Belarus, China, Hungary, India, Iran and Turkey, and to varying degrees as an investor in Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, South Africa, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan among others.
Slovakia has four operable nuclear reactors, with a combined net capacity of 1. A further two units are under construction. Slovenia has a single operable nuclear reactor with a net capacity of 0. In , Slovenia generated Ukraine has 15 operable nuclear reactors, with a combined net capacity of Turkey commenced construction of its first nuclear power plant in April , with start of operation expected in Construction on the second started in It plans to have the first unit in operation by The country currently produces virtually all of its electricity from fossil fuels.
China has 51 operable nuclear reactors, with a combined net capacity of The country continues to dominate the market for new nuclear build. At the start of , 16 of the 54 reactors under construction globally were in China. China is commencing export marketing of the Hualong One, a largely indigenous reactor design. The strong impetus for developing new nuclear power in China comes from the need to improve urban air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The government's stated long-term target, as outlined in its Energy Development Strategy Action Plan is for 58 GWe capacity by , with 30 GWe more under construction.
India has 23 operable nuclear reactors, with a combined net capacity of 6. The Indian government is committed to growing its nuclear power capacity as part of its massive infrastructure development programme. The government in set an ambitious target to have At the start of seven reactors were under construction in India, with a combined capacity of 5.
Japan has 33 operable nuclear reactors, with a combined net capacity of As of June , 10 reactors had been brought back online, with a further 15 in the process of restart approval, following the Fukushima accident in South Korea has 24 operable nuclear reactors, with a combined net capacity of South Korea has four new reactors under construction domestically as well as four in the United Arab Emirates.
It plans for two more, after which energy policy is uncertain. It is also involved in intense research on future reactor designs. Pakistan has five operable nuclear reactors, with a combined net capacity of 2. In , nuclear generated 7. Pakistan has one Chinese Hualong One unit under construction. South Africa has two operable nuclear reactors, with a combined net capacity of 1. In , nuclear generated 5. South Africa remains committed to plans for further capacity, but financing constraints are significant.
Iran has a single operable nuclear reactor with a net capacity of 0. In , nuclear generated 1. The United Arab Emirates has two operable nuclear reactors with a capacity of 2. A further two units are under construction at the same plant Barakah. As outlined above, Bangladesh, Belarus, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are all constructing their first nuclear power plants. A number of other countries are moving towards use of nuclear energy for power production.
For more information, see page on Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. The performance of nuclear reactors has improved substantially over time.
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