How a Nuclear Reactor Works

It's just a large kettle

Engineers have a tendency of overcomplicating their explanations and then in return wonder why the public does not understand it. The principle of how a Pressure Water Nuclear Reactor operates is no different really than a coal powered one.

There are obviously differences if one goes into the detail, such as the chain reaction, the super critical state of water, and the geographic locations that makes one type of solution favorable to another (see explanations below).

But the general principal holds that a nuclear powered station uses the same type of principle as any large traditional coal reactor. Water is converted to steam through a Rankine cycle. The steam turns a turbine and it’s ultimately the steam turbine that generates electricity that’s fed into the Grid.

The plant performance is measured as the output energy divided by the input energy.

It’s just one large kettle. There is no need to be scared of it.

Below are a few examples of different reactors and applications.

• Modern SMRs work on a different principal that they do not use water for cooling,

• Super critical reactors can probably achieve the superior thermal efficiency of HELE Coal reactors.

• Molten Salt Reactors can reduce the need for containment as there is no significant internal pressure.

• Pebble Bed Modular Reactors (Helium Cooled) can reduce the need for water in geographically difficult locations like South Africa’s highveld and mines (where our coal reactors are air - and not water cooled).