Question

How is the energy of a nuclear reactor converted to electricity? The nuclear reactions produce electrical energy directly. Heat powers an electrical generator directly. Steam converts mechanical energy to electricity. Reactor products charge huge batteries.

Answer 1

Nuclear power plants use the nuclear fission reaction to release energy and generate electricity through energy conversion. Take the pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant as an example to illustrate its working principle.

In the pressurized water reactor, a large amount of heat is generated by the self-sustaining chain fission reaction of the nuclear fuel nucleus. The coolant (also called the heat carrier) brings the heat in the reactor to the steam generator and transfers the heat to the working medium, water. The main circulation pump then delivers the coolant back to the reactor for recycling, thereby forming a circuit called the first circuit. This process is also the energy conversion process of nuclear fission energy converted into thermal energy.

The working medium on the secondary side of the U-tube outside the steam generator is vaporized by heat to form steam. The steam enters the steam turbine to expand work, and converts the heat energy released by the steam enthalpy into the mechanical energy of the rotor of the steam turbine. This process is called thermal energy conversion to mechanical energy. The energy conversion process. The steam that has done work is condensed into condensed water in the condenser and returned to the steam generator to form another circulation loop called the second loop. This process is called the energy conversion process of converting thermal energy into mechanical energy. The rotating rotor of the steam turbine directly drives the rotor of the generator to rotate, so that the generator emits electric energy, which is an energy conversion process that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.