What is the purpose of a nuclear power plant?

A nuclear reactor produces and controls the release of energy from splitting the atoms of certain elements. In a nuclear power reactor, the energy released is used as heat to make steam to generate electricity. (In a research reactor the main purpose is to utilise the actual neutrons produced in the core.

Do nuclear power plants make money?

The typical nuclear power plant creates $40 million in labor income each year. For every 100 nuclear power plant jobs, 66 more jobs are created in the local community. Nearly one in four nuclear workers are veterans.

Is it bad to live near a nuclear power plant?

All Answers (7) Yes, is safe to live near Nuclear Power Plant.. The fact is, cancer rates and risks in general are lower around NPP. That has nothing to do with the plant itself, but instead with the higher standard of living of the people who live and work there.

What happens if a nuclear power plant explodes?

What happens when there is a nuclear power plant accident? A nuclear power plant uses uranium fuel to produce steam for generating electricity. If a nuclear power plant accident occurs, heat and pressure build up, and the steam, along with the radioactive materials, may be released.

What are the risks of a nuclear power plant?

There are many dangers in the use of nuclear power plants. The most prominent of these dangers include nuclear meltdowns; however, a variety of other problems can arise. There have been a number of situations in which these dangers have become real disasters, giving birth to safety and regulatory agencies.

What are the disadvantages of a nuclear power plant?

The disadvantages of nuclear power station are as follows: The capital cost of a nuclear power station is very high as compared to other types of power station. Maintenance cost of plant is high. The fuel used in nuclear power station is expensive and is difficult to recover.

What are the steps to a nuclear power plant?

The basic operation of a nuclear power plant with a pressurized water reactor can be simplified in 4 steps: Obtaining thermal energy by nuclear fission of the nucleus of the atoms ( atomic nucleus) of the nuclear fuel. Generate water vapor using the thermal energy previously obtained from the heat generator. Actuate a set of turbines using the water vapor obtained. Take advantage of the mechanical energy of the turbines to drive an electric generator.

A nuclear power plant is a facility for obtaining electrical energy using nuclear energy. Its operation is similar to that of a thermal power plant or that of a solar thermal plant: from a source of energy thermodynamics is used to obtain heat, with the heat to get steam and with the steam to drive a turbine that will generate electricity.