Nuclear Power Plant

A nuclear power plant operates in a manner similar to a standard thermal power plant, with one key difference: the heat source is a nuclear reactor. In both types of plants, heat is used to generate steam, which drives a steam turbine connected to a generator that produces electricity. In a nuclear plant, however, the heat is generated by nuclear fission occurring within the reactor. This heat is transferred to the primary cooling water, which then circulates to generate steam. A typical nuclear power plant consists of two main structures: the containment building, which houses the nuclear reactor, pressurizer, pumps, steam generators and other critical equipment, and the turbine building, where thermal energy is converted into mechanical work to drive the generator. Some nuclear power plants may also include a cooling tower to dissipate excess heat. The USA leads the world in nuclear reactor operations, with nearly 100 reactors providing a total net electricity capacity of 98,708 megawatts. France ranks second with 58 reactors, followed by Japan in third place. Globally, there are currently 438 operational nuclear reactors, with an additional 67 reactors under construction.