Nuclear power plant

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Nuclear power plant

A nuclear power plant (or nuclear power station) is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As is typical of thermal power stations, heat is used to generate steam that drives a steam turbine connected to a generator that produces electricity. As of 2018, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported there were 450 nuclear power reactors in operation in 30 countries.

Overview[edit | edit source]

Nuclear plants are usually considered to be base load stations since fuel is a small part of the cost of production. Their operations and maintenance costs are about the same as a fossil fuel plant, but the cost of fuel is a minor proportion of the total cost, so their costs are more predictable and stable.

Components[edit | edit source]

A nuclear power plant includes many components such as:

  • Nuclear reactor - The heart of a nuclear power plant, where the nuclear fission process takes place.
  • Steam generator - A device that uses the heat produced in the reactor to convert water into steam.
  • Turbine - A machine that converts the energy in steam into mechanical energy.
  • Electric generator - A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Safety and accidents[edit | edit source]

Safety is a key concern in the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of nuclear power plants. Accidents can release dangerous radioactivity into the environment. The most serious of these are core melt accidents.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


External links[edit | edit source]


Nuclear power plant Resources

Find a healthcare provider anywhere in the world quickly and easily!

Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Admin, Prab R. Tumpati, MD