Nuclear power plant - Revision history

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energy>Luisa at 15:29, 16 October 2021

2021-10-16T15:29:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:29, 16 October 2021
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	[[Category:Done 2018-12-10]]		[[Category:Done 2018-12-10]]
			[[Category:Translated to Spanish]]
			[[es:Central eléctrica nuclear]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Nuclear power plants''' are a type of [[power plant]] that use the process of [[nuclear fission]] in order to [[generate electricity]]. They do this by using [[nuclear reactor]]s in combination with the [[Rankine cycle]], where the [[heat]] generated by the reactor converts water into [[steam]], which spins a [[turbine]] and a [[generator]].</onlyinclude> [[Nuclear power]] provides the world with around 11% of its total [[electricity]], with the largest producers being the United States and France.<ref>IEA (2014), "World energy balances", ''IEA World Energy Statistics and Balances'' (database). DOI: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/10.1787/data-00512-en		<onlyinclude>'''Nuclear power plants''' are a type of [[power plant]] that use the process of [[nuclear fission]] in order to [[generate electricity]]. They do this by using [[nuclear reactor]]s in combination with the [[Rankine cycle]], where the [[heat]] generated by the reactor converts water into [[steam]], which spins a [[turbine]] and a [[generator]].</onlyinclude> [[Nuclear power]] provides the world with around 11% of its total [[electricity]], with the largest producers being the United States and France.<ref>IEA (2014), "World energy balances", ''IEA World Energy Statistics and Balances'' (database). DOI: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/10.1787/data-00512-en
	(Accessed February 2015)</ref>		(Accessed February 2015)</ref>

Jmdonev at 21:46, 16 July 2020

2020-07-16T21:46:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:46, 16 July 2020
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	[[File:coolingtowar.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 4. Two cooling towers of a nuclear power plant.<ref>Michael Kappel on Flickr [Online], Available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/m-i-k-e/6541544889</ref>]]		[[File:coolingtowar.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 4. Two cooling towers of a nuclear power plant.<ref>Michael Kappel on Flickr [Online], Available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/m-i-k-e/6541544889</ref>]]

	Once steam has been produced, it travels at high [[pressure]]s and [[speed]]s through one or more [[turbine]]s. These get up to extremely high speeds, causing the steam to ~~loose~~ [[energy]], therefore, condensing back to a cooler [[liquid]] [[water]]. The rotation of the turbines is used to spin an electric [[generator]], which produces electricity that is sent out the the [[electrical grid]].<ref name=ine2>J.R. Lamarsh and A.J. Baratta, "Power Reactors and Nuclear Steam Supply Systems" in ''Introduction to Nuclear Engineering'', 3rd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001, ch.4, sec.5, pp. 136-185</ref>		Once steam has been produced, it travels at high [[pressure]]s and [[speed]]s through one or more [[turbine]]s. These get up to extremely high speeds, causing the steam to lose [[energy]], therefore, condensing back to a cooler [[liquid]] [[water]]. The rotation of the turbines is used to spin an electric [[generator]], which produces electricity that is sent out the the [[electrical grid]].<ref name=ine2>J.R. Lamarsh and A.J. Baratta, "Power Reactors and Nuclear Steam Supply Systems" in ''Introduction to Nuclear Engineering'', 3rd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001, ch.4, sec.5, pp. 136-185</ref>

	===Cooling Towers===		===Cooling Towers===

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2019-01-04T18:14:55Z

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2dev>Jmdonev at 06:12, 20 October 2018

2018-10-20T06:12:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:12, 20 October 2018
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	[[Category:Done ~~2015~~-09-06]]		[[Category:Done 2018-12-10]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Nuclear power plants''' are a type of [[power plant]] that use the process of [[nuclear fission]] in order to [[generate electricity]]. They do this by using [[nuclear reactor]]s in combination with the [[Rankine cycle]], where the [[heat]] generated by the reactor converts water into [[steam]], which spins a [[turbine]] and a [[generator]].</onlyinclude> [[Nuclear power]] provides the world with around 11% of its total [[electricity]], with the largest producers being the United States and France.<ref>IEA (2014), "World energy balances", ''IEA World Energy Statistics and Balances'' (database). DOI: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/10.1787/data-00512-en		<onlyinclude>'''Nuclear power plants''' are a type of [[power plant]] that use the process of [[nuclear fission]] in order to [[generate electricity]]. They do this by using [[nuclear reactor]]s in combination with the [[Rankine cycle]], where the [[heat]] generated by the reactor converts water into [[steam]], which spins a [[turbine]] and a [[generator]].</onlyinclude> [[Nuclear power]] provides the world with around 11% of its total [[electricity]], with the largest producers being the United States and France.<ref>IEA (2014), "World energy balances", ''IEA World Energy Statistics and Balances'' (database). DOI: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/10.1787/data-00512-en
	(Accessed February 2015)</ref>		(Accessed February 2015)</ref>
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	[[File:darlington.jpg\|800px\|thumb\|center\|Figure 1. The Darlington nuclear power plant in Ontario produces power from four 878 [[megawatts electric\|MW]] [[CANDU reactor]]s.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Darlington_Nuclear_Generating_Station_panorama2.jpg</ref>]]		[[File:darlington.jpg\|800px\|thumb\|center\|Figure 1. The Darlington nuclear power plant in Ontario produces power from four 878 [[megawatts electric\|MW]] [[CANDU reactor]]s.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Darlington_Nuclear_Generating_Station_panorama2.jpg</ref>]]

	Aside from the source of [[heat]], nuclear power plants ~~run~~ very similar to [[coal-fired power plant]]s. ~~They~~ require different safety measures ~~however,~~ since the use of [[nuclear fuel]] has vastly different properties from [[coal]] or other [[fossil fuel]]s. They get their [[thermal power]] from splitting the [[nuclei]] of [[atom]]s in their reactor core, with [[uranium]] being the dominant choice of [[fuel]] in the world today. [[Thorium]] also has potential use in nuclear power production, however it is not currently in use. Below is the basic operation of a [[boiling water reactor\|boiling water power plant]], which shows the many components of a power plant, along with the [[electricity generation\|generation of electricity]].		Aside from the source of [[heat]], nuclear power plants are very similar to [[coal-fired power plant]]s. However, they require different safety measures since the use of [[nuclear fuel]] has vastly different properties from [[coal]] or other [[fossil fuel]]s. They get their [[thermal power]] from splitting the [[nuclei]] of [[atom]]s in their reactor core, with [[uranium]] being the dominant choice of [[fuel]] in the world today. [[Thorium]] also has potential use in nuclear power production, however it is not currently in use. Below is the basic operation of a [[boiling water reactor\|boiling water power plant]], which shows the many components of a power plant, along with the [[electricity generation\|generation of electricity]].

	[[File:BoilingWaterReactor.gif\|800px\|center\|thumb\|Figure 2. A boiling water nuclear reactor in combination with the Rankine cycle forms the basis of a nuclear power plant.<ref>NRC. (June 25 2015). ''Boiling Water Reactor'' [Online], Available: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/students/animated-bwr.html</ref>]]		[[File:BoilingWaterReactor.gif\|800px\|center\|thumb\|Figure 2. A boiling water nuclear reactor in combination with the Rankine cycle forms the basis of a nuclear power plant.<ref>NRC. (June 25 2015). ''Boiling Water Reactor'' [Online], Available: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/students/animated-bwr.html</ref>]]
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	The reactor is a key component of a power plant, as it contains the fuel and its [[nuclear chain reaction]], along with all of the [[nuclear waste]] products. The reactor is the heat source for the power plant, just like the [[boiler]] is for a [[coal]] plant. Uranium is the dominant [[nuclear fuel]] used in nuclear reactors, and its fission reactions are what produce the heat within a reactor. This heat is then [[heat transfer\|transferred]] to the reactor's coolant, which provides heat to other parts of the nuclear power plant.		The reactor is a key component of a power plant, as it contains the fuel and its [[nuclear chain reaction]], along with all of the [[nuclear waste]] products. The reactor is the heat source for the power plant, just like the [[boiler]] is for a [[coal]] plant. Uranium is the dominant [[nuclear fuel]] used in nuclear reactors, and its fission reactions are what produce the heat within a reactor. This heat is then [[heat transfer\|transferred]] to the reactor's coolant, which provides heat to other parts of the nuclear power plant.

	Besides their use in power generation, there are other types of nuclear reactors that are used for propulsion of ships, aircraft and satellites~~, [[plutonium]] manufacturing~~, along with research and medical purposes.<ref name=ine>J.R. Lamarsh and A.J. Baratta, "Non-Nuclear Components of Nuclear Power Plants" in ''Introduction to Nuclear Engineering'', 3rd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001, ch.4, sec.3, pp. 129-133</ref> The power plant encompasses not just the reactor, but also cooling towers, turbines, generators, and various safety systems. The reactor is~~, however, the biggest difference~~ from other [[external heat engine]]s.		Besides their use in power generation, there are other types of nuclear reactors that are used for [[plutonium]] manufacturing, the propulsion of ships, aircraft and satellites, along with research and medical purposes.<ref name=ine>J.R. Lamarsh and A.J. Baratta, "Non-Nuclear Components of Nuclear Power Plants" in ''Introduction to Nuclear Engineering'', 3rd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001, ch.4, sec.3, pp. 129-133</ref> The power plant encompasses not just the reactor, but also cooling towers, turbines, generators, and various safety systems. The reactor is what makes it differ from other [[external heat engine]]s.

	===Steam Generation===		===Steam Generation===
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	[[File:coolingtowar.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 4. Two cooling towers of a nuclear power plant.<ref>Michael Kappel on Flickr [Online], Available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/m-i-k-e/6541544889</ref>]]		[[File:coolingtowar.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 4. Two cooling towers of a nuclear power plant.<ref>Michael Kappel on Flickr [Online], Available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/m-i-k-e/6541544889</ref>]]

	Once steam has been produced, it travels at high [[pressure]]s and [[speed]]s through one or more [[turbine]]s. These get up to extremely high speeds, ~~and~~ the steam ~~loses~~ [[energy]] therefore condensing back to a cooler [[liquid]] [[water]]. The rotation of the turbines is used to spin an electric [[generator]], which produces electricity that is sent out the the [[electrical grid]].<ref name=ine2>J.R. Lamarsh and A.J. Baratta, "Power Reactors and Nuclear Steam Supply Systems" in ''Introduction to Nuclear Engineering'', 3rd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001, ch.4, sec.5, pp. 136-185</ref>		Once steam has been produced, it travels at high [[pressure]]s and [[speed]]s through one or more [[turbine]]s. These get up to extremely high speeds, causing the steam to loose [[energy]], therefore, condensing back to a cooler [[liquid]] [[water]]. The rotation of the turbines is used to spin an electric [[generator]], which produces electricity that is sent out the the [[electrical grid]].<ref name=ine2>J.R. Lamarsh and A.J. Baratta, "Power Reactors and Nuclear Steam Supply Systems" in ''Introduction to Nuclear Engineering'', 3rd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001, ch.4, sec.5, pp. 136-185</ref>

	===Cooling Towers===		===Cooling Towers===

	Perhaps the most iconic symbol of a nuclear power plant is the cooling towers, seen in Figure 4. They work to reject [[waste heat]] to the [[atmosphere]] by the transfer of heat from hot water (from the turbine section) to the cooler outside [[air]].<ref name=ine/> Hot water cools in contact with the air and a small portion, around 2%, evaporates and raises up through the top. Click [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKzenFW0ZIg here] to see how a cooling tower works.		Perhaps the most iconic symbol of a nuclear power plant is the cooling towers, seen in Figure 4. They work to reject [[waste heat]] to the [[atmosphere]] by the transfer of heat from hot water (from the turbine section) to the cooler outside [[air]].<ref name=ine/> Hot water cools in contact with the air and a small portion, around 2%, evaporates and raises up through the top. Moreover, these plants do not release any [[carbon dioxide]]—the primary [[greenhouse gas]] that contributes to [[climate change]]. Click [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKzenFW0ZIg here] to see how a cooling tower works.

	Many nuclear power plants simply put the waste heat into a river, lake or ocean instead of having cooling towers. Many other power plants like [[coal-fired power plant]]s have cooling towers or these large bodies of water as well. ~~The~~ [[thermodynamics]] ~~of getting electricity from the heat~~ is identical.		Many nuclear power plants simply put the waste heat into a river, lake or ocean instead of having cooling towers. Many other power plants like [[coal-fired power plant]]s have cooling towers or these large bodies of water as well. This similarity exists because the [[thermodynamics\|process of turning heat into electricity]] is almost identical between nuclear power plants and coal-fired power plants.

	==Efficiency==		==Efficiency==

	The [[efficiency]] of a nuclear power plant is determined similarly to other [[heat engine]]~~s, since~~ technically the plant is a large heat engine. The amount of [[electric power]] produced for each unit of [[thermal power]] gives the plant its [[thermal efficiency]], and due to the [[second law of thermodynamics]] there is an upper limit to how efficient these plants can be.		The [[efficiency]] of a nuclear power plant is determined similarly to other [[heat engine]]s—since technically the plant is a large heat engine. The amount of [[electric power]] produced for each unit of [[thermal power]] gives the plant its [[thermal efficiency]], and due to the [[second law of thermodynamics]] there is an upper limit to how efficient these plants can be.

	Typical nuclear power plants achieve efficiencies around 33-37%, comparable to fossil fueled power plants. Higher [[temperature]] and more modern designs like the [[Generation IV nuclear reactors]] could potentially reach above 45% efficiency.<ref name=wna/>		Typical nuclear power plants achieve efficiencies around 33-37%, comparable to fossil fueled power plants. Higher [[temperature]] and more modern designs like the [[Generation IV nuclear reactors]] could potentially reach above 45% efficiency.<ref name=wna/>
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	Please visit the following pages for much more information on nuclear science and its role in the energy industry.		Please visit the following pages for much more information on nuclear science and its role in the energy industry.
			*[[Uranium]]
	*[[Nuclear reactor]]		*[[Nuclear reactor]]
	*[[Nuclear power]]		*[[Nuclear power]]
	*[[Nuclear fission]]		*[[Nuclear fission]]
	*[[Nuclear fuel cycle]]		*[[Nuclear fuel cycle]]
	*[[Uranium]]
	*[[Nuclear waste]]		*[[Nuclear waste]]
			*Or explore a [[Special:Random\|random page]]

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}
	[[Category:Uploaded]]		[[Category:Uploaded]]

J.williams: 1 revision imported

2015-09-18T16:52:04Z

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Jhanania at 23:39, 4 September 2015

2015-09-04T23:39:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:39, 4 September 2015
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	[[Category:Done 2015-07-24]]		[[Category:Done 2015-09-06]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Nuclear power plants''' are a type of [[power plant]] that use the process of [[nuclear fission]] in order to [[generate electricity]]. They do this by using [[nuclear reactor]]s in combination with the [[Rankine cycle]], where the [[heat]] generated by the reactor converts water into [[steam]], which spins a [[turbine]] and a [[generator]].</onlyinclude> [[Nuclear power]] provides the world with around 11% of its total [[electricity]], with the largest producers being the United States and France.<ref>IEA (2014), "World energy balances", ''IEA World Energy Statistics and Balances'' (database). DOI: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/10.1787/data-00512-en		<onlyinclude>'''Nuclear power plants''' are a type of [[power plant]] that use the process of [[nuclear fission]] in order to [[generate electricity]]. They do this by using [[nuclear reactor]]s in combination with the [[Rankine cycle]], where the [[heat]] generated by the reactor converts water into [[steam]], which spins a [[turbine]] and a [[generator]].</onlyinclude> [[Nuclear power]] provides the world with around 11% of its total [[electricity]], with the largest producers being the United States and France.<ref>IEA (2014), "World energy balances", ''IEA World Energy Statistics and Balances'' (database). DOI: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/10.1787/data-00512-en
	(Accessed February 2015)</ref>		(Accessed February 2015)</ref>
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	[[File:coolingtowar.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 4. Two cooling towers of a nuclear power plant.<ref>Michael Kappel on Flickr [Online], Available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/m-i-k-e/6541544889</ref>]]		[[File:coolingtowar.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 4. Two cooling towers of a nuclear power plant.<ref>Michael Kappel on Flickr [Online], Available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/m-i-k-e/6541544889</ref>]]

	Once steam has been produced, it travels at high [[pressure]]s and [[speed]]s through one or more [[turbine]]s. These get up to extremely high speeds, and the steam loses energy therefore condensing back to a cooler [[liquid]] [[water]]. The rotation of the turbines is used to spin an electric [[generator]], which produces electricity that is sent out the the [[electrical grid]].<ref name=ine2>J.R. Lamarsh and A.J. Baratta, "Power Reactors and Nuclear Steam Supply Systems" in ''Introduction to Nuclear Engineering'', 3rd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001, ch.4, sec.5, pp. 136-185</ref>		Once steam has been produced, it travels at high [[pressure]]s and [[speed]]s through one or more [[turbine]]s. These get up to extremely high speeds, and the steam loses [[energy]] therefore condensing back to a cooler [[liquid]] [[water]]. The rotation of the turbines is used to spin an electric [[generator]], which produces electricity that is sent out the the [[electrical grid]].<ref name=ine2>J.R. Lamarsh and A.J. Baratta, "Power Reactors and Nuclear Steam Supply Systems" in ''Introduction to Nuclear Engineering'', 3rd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001, ch.4, sec.5, pp. 136-185</ref>

	===Cooling Towers===		===Cooling Towers===

	Perhaps the most iconic symbol of a nuclear power plant is the cooling towers, seen in Figure 4. They work to reject [[waste heat]] to the [[atmosphere]] by the transfer of heat from hot water (from the turbine section) to the cooler outside air.<ref name=ine/> Hot water cools in contact with the air and a small portion, around 2%, evaporates and raises up through the top. Click [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKzenFW0ZIg here] to see how a cooling tower works.		Perhaps the most iconic symbol of a nuclear power plant is the cooling towers, seen in Figure 4. They work to reject [[waste heat]] to the [[atmosphere]] by the transfer of heat from hot water (from the turbine section) to the cooler outside [[air]].<ref name=ine/> Hot water cools in contact with the air and a small portion, around 2%, evaporates and raises up through the top. Click [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKzenFW0ZIg here] to see how a cooling tower works.

	Many nuclear power plants simply put the waste heat into a river, lake or ocean instead of having cooling towers. Many other power plants like [[coal-fired power plant]]s have cooling towers or these large bodies of water as well. The thermodynamics of getting electricity from the heat is identical.		Many nuclear power plants simply put the waste heat into a river, lake or ocean instead of having cooling towers. Many other power plants like [[coal-fired power plant]]s have cooling towers or these large bodies of water as well. The [[thermodynamics]] of getting electricity from the heat is identical.

	==Efficiency==		==Efficiency==
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	The [[efficiency]] of a nuclear power plant is determined similarly to other [[heat engine]]s, since technically the plant is a large heat engine. The amount of [[electric power]] produced for each unit of [[thermal power]] gives the plant its [[thermal efficiency]], and due to the [[second law of thermodynamics]] there is an upper limit to how efficient these plants can be.		The [[efficiency]] of a nuclear power plant is determined similarly to other [[heat engine]]s, since technically the plant is a large heat engine. The amount of [[electric power]] produced for each unit of [[thermal power]] gives the plant its [[thermal efficiency]], and due to the [[second law of thermodynamics]] there is an upper limit to how efficient these plants can be.

	Typical nuclear power plants achieve efficiencies around 33-37%, comparable to fossil fueled power plants. Higher temperature and more modern designs like the [[Generation IV nuclear reactors]] could potentially reach above 45% efficiency.<ref name=wna/>		Typical nuclear power plants achieve efficiencies around 33-37%, comparable to fossil fueled power plants. Higher [[temperature]] and more modern designs like the [[Generation IV nuclear reactors]] could potentially reach above 45% efficiency.<ref name=wna/>

	==Further Reading==		==Further Reading==

J.williams: 1 revision imported

2015-08-26T21:31:26Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 21:31, 26 August 2015
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J.williams at 16:57, 12 August 2015

2015-08-12T16:57:11Z

New page

[[Category:Done 2015-07-24]]
<onlyinclude>'''Nuclear power plants''' are a type of [[power plant]] that use the process of [[nuclear fission]] in order to [[generate electricity]]. They do this by using [[nuclear reactor]]s in combination with the [[Rankine cycle]], where the [[heat]] generated by the reactor converts water into [[steam]], which spins a [[turbine]] and a [[generator]].</onlyinclude> [[Nuclear power]] provides the world with around 11% of its total [[electricity]], with the largest producers being the United States and France.<ref>IEA (2014), "World energy balances", ''IEA World Energy Statistics and Balances'' (database). DOI: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/10.1787/data-00512-en
(Accessed February 2015)</ref>

[[File:darlington.jpg|800px|thumb|center|Figure 1. The Darlington nuclear power plant in Ontario produces power from four 878 [[megawatts electric|MW]] [[CANDU reactor]]s.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Darlington_Nuclear_Generating_Station_panorama2.jpg</ref>]]

Aside from the source of [[heat]], nuclear power plants run very similar to [[coal-fired power plant]]s. They require different safety measures however, since the use of [[nuclear fuel]] has vastly different properties from [[coal]] or other [[fossil fuel]]s. They get their [[thermal power]] from splitting the [[nuclei]] of [[atom]]s in their reactor core, with [[uranium]] being the dominant choice of [[fuel]] in the world today. [[Thorium]] also has potential use in nuclear power production, however it is not currently in use. Below is the basic operation of a [[boiling water reactor|boiling water power plant]], which shows the many components of a power plant, along with the [[electricity generation|generation of electricity]].

[[File:BoilingWaterReactor.gif|800px|center|thumb|Figure 2. A boiling water nuclear reactor in combination with the Rankine cycle forms the basis of a nuclear power plant.<ref>NRC. (June 25 2015). ''Boiling Water Reactor'' [Online], Available: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/students/animated-bwr.html</ref>]]

==Components and Operation==

===Nuclear Reactor===
:''[[nuclear reactor|main article]]''

The reactor is a key component of a power plant, as it contains the fuel and its [[nuclear chain reaction]], along with all of the [[nuclear waste]] products. The reactor is the heat source for the power plant, just like the [[boiler]] is for a [[coal]] plant. Uranium is the dominant [[nuclear fuel]] used in nuclear reactors, and its fission reactions are what produce the heat within a reactor. This heat is then [[heat transfer|transferred]] to the reactor's coolant, which provides heat to other parts of the nuclear power plant.

Besides their use in power generation, there are other types of nuclear reactors that are used for propulsion of ships, aircraft and satellites, [[plutonium]] manufacturing, along with research and medical purposes.<ref name=ine>J.R. Lamarsh and A.J. Baratta, "Non-Nuclear Components of Nuclear Power Plants" in ''Introduction to Nuclear Engineering'', 3rd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001, ch.4, sec.3, pp. 129-133</ref> The power plant encompasses not just the reactor, but also cooling towers, turbines, generators, and various safety systems. The reactor is, however, the biggest difference from other [[external heat engine]]s.

===Steam Generation===

The production of [[steam]] is common among all nuclear power plants, but the way this is done varies immensely.
[[File:steamyturb.jpg|200px|thumb|Figure 3. Steam turbine in a power plant.<ref>wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Dampfturbine_Montage01.jpg</ref>]]
The most common power plants in the world use [[pressurized water reactor]]s, which use two loops of circling water to produce steam.<ref name=wna>World Nuclear Association. (June 30 2015). ''Nuclear Power Reactors'' [Online], Available: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle/Power-Reactors/Nuclear-Power-Reactors/</ref> The first loop carries extremely hot [[liquid]] water to a [[heat exchanger]], where water at a lower pressure is circulated. It then heats up and [[boiling point|boils]] to steam, and can then be sent to the turbine section.

[[Boiling water reactor]]s, the second most common reactor in power generation, heat the water in the core directly to steam, as seen in Figure 2.<ref name=wna/>

===Turbine and Generator===
[[File:coolingtowar.jpg|200px|thumb|Figure 4. Two cooling towers of a nuclear power plant.<ref>Michael Kappel on Flickr [Online], Available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/m-i-k-e/6541544889</ref>]]

Once steam has been produced, it travels at high [[pressure]]s and [[speed]]s through one or more [[turbine]]s. These get up to extremely high speeds, and the steam loses energy therefore condensing back to a cooler [[liquid]] [[water]]. The rotation of the turbines is used to spin an electric [[generator]], which produces electricity that is sent out the the [[electrical grid]].<ref name=ine2>J.R. Lamarsh and A.J. Baratta, "Power Reactors and Nuclear Steam Supply Systems" in ''Introduction to Nuclear Engineering'', 3rd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001, ch.4, sec.5, pp. 136-185</ref>

===Cooling Towers===

Perhaps the most iconic symbol of a nuclear power plant is the cooling towers, seen in Figure 4. They work to reject [[waste heat]] to the [[atmosphere]] by the transfer of heat from hot water (from the turbine section) to the cooler outside air.<ref name=ine/> Hot water cools in contact with the air and a small portion, around 2%, evaporates and raises up through the top. Click [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKzenFW0ZIg here] to see how a cooling tower works.

Many nuclear power plants simply put the waste heat into a river, lake or ocean instead of having cooling towers. Many other power plants like [[coal-fired power plant]]s have cooling towers or these large bodies of water as well. The thermodynamics of getting electricity from the heat is identical.

==Efficiency==

The [[efficiency]] of a nuclear power plant is determined similarly to other [[heat engine]]s, since technically the plant is a large heat engine. The amount of [[electric power]] produced for each unit of [[thermal power]] gives the plant its [[thermal efficiency]], and due to the [[second law of thermodynamics]] there is an upper limit to how efficient these plants can be.

Typical nuclear power plants achieve efficiencies around 33-37%, comparable to fossil fueled power plants. Higher temperature and more modern designs like the [[Generation IV nuclear reactors]] could potentially reach above 45% efficiency.<ref name=wna/>

==Further Reading==

Please visit the following pages for much more information on nuclear science and its role in the energy industry.

*[[Nuclear reactor]]
*[[Nuclear power]]
*[[Nuclear fission]]
*[[Nuclear fuel cycle]]
*[[Uranium]]
*[[Nuclear waste]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Uploaded]]