nuclear power station

core

Central essential portion

• fissionNuclear breakup releasing energy
• coolantTemperature-regulating fluid
• control rodsNeutron-absorbing reactor components
• fuel rodsEncased fissile material tubes

uranium · plutonium · neutron · chain reaction · moderator · criticality · pressurized water · boiling water

turbine

Blade-driven energy converter

• cooling towerStructure for shedding process heat
• steam generatorDevice producing water vapor
• control roomFacility housing operational oversight
• condenserDevice that liquefies gases

backup generators · safety systems · emergency shutdown · water intake · chimney stack · security perimeter · exclusion zone · decommissioning

megawatts

Million-watt units

• gigawattsBillion-watt units
• baseloadMinimum continuous power demand
• gridFramework of intersecting lines
• transmissionSending of information

generator · turbine · output · peak demand · substation · transformer · dispatchable · voltage

containment

Preventing hostile expansion

• meltdownCatastrophic loss of control
• ChernobylSoviet nuclear disaster site
• FukushimaJapanese nuclear accident site
• Three Mile IslandPennsylvania nuclear disaster site

evacuation · shutdown · regulatory · IAEA · inspection · risk assessment · probabilistic · defense in depth

radioactive decay

Unstable atoms releasing energy

• gamma raysHighest-frequency electromagnetic radiation
• alpha particlesEmitted helium nuclei
• beta particlesElectrons from radioactive decay
• ionizingProducing charged particles

half-life · contamination · fallout · dosimeter · sieverts · shielding · exposure · radionuclides

low-carbon

Minimal CO2 output

• baseloadMinimum continuous power demand
• climatePrevailing atmospheric conditions
• decarbonizationEliminating fossil fuel emissions
• energy securityAssured access to fuel

reliability · intermittency · lifecycle · air quality