A nuclear reactor is a core component of a nuclear power plant that controls and contains nuclear chain reactions to produce heat. The heat is then used to generate electricity.
Here are some of the main components and features of a nuclear reactor:
- Fuel: Uranium is processed into small pellets and stacked into sealed metal tubes called fuel rods.
- Coolant: Water, heavy water, liquid sodium, or helium that passes through the core to transfer heat from the fuel to a turbine.
- Moderator: Water that slows down the neutrons produced by fission to sustain the chain reaction.
- Containment: A dome-shaped structure made of high-density, steel-reinforced concrete that separates the reactor from the environment.
- Pressure vessel: Contains the nuclear fuel, control rods, moderator, and coolant.
- Steam generator: Loops hot radioactive water from the pressure vessel to heat a secondary loop of water to steam that runs turbines.
- Cooling towers: Transfer waste heat from hot water to cooler outside air.
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