HOW TO MAKE:

ELECTRICITY
FROM NUCLEAR
ENERGY

Contents
Introduction
Steps to producing electricity from nuclear energy
Advantages and disadvantages to producing
energy from nuclear fuel
Video
UK and other EU country perspectives on Nuclear
Energy

Introduction
A nuclear power station turns nuclear energy in
atoms into electrical energy. Commonly used
atoms:
Uranium-235
Plutonium-239

Electricity produced used in homes and businesses

Supplies 12% of the worlds electricity
Affordable large scale/low carbon energy source
Used to tackle climate change

Producing Electricity
from Nuclear Energy

Reference: EDF Energy, 2014 http://www.edfenergy.com/energyfuture/generation

1. Reactor Vessel
Steel Capsule
Sealed metal
cylinders
Chain reaction
produced heats
vessel to approx.
300C
Nuclear energy
converted to heat
energy

Inside the Reactor Vessel

Nuclear Fission
1. Neutrons fired into target nucleus
2. Neutrons freed on impact
3. Neutrons hit other nuclei
4. Chain reaction
Rate of reaction controlled by control rods that
absorb some of the neutrons
Replacement every 1-2 years

The Future
Nuclear Fusion
Joining of two hydrogen isotopes
Nuclei join together in the reaction
Results in Helium nucleus

Sun produces energy in this way

No cheap and practical ways to harness this method
Advantages: virtually inexhaustible source of fuel,
no chain reactions, less radioactive

2. Pressurised Water
Reactor

Primary water circuit

Pressuriser applied 155 times

atmospheric pressure
Pressuriser prevents boiling
Purpose is to circulate hot
pressurized water from reactor
vessel to the steam generator
back to reactor vessel

3. Reactor Coolant Pump

Second stream of water flows through generator, around
the outside of the pipes

4. Steam Generator
Water under less pressure causes water to boil
into steam

5. Turbines
Steam passes through turbines
Turbines spin
Conversion of heat energy into mechanical energy
Shaft connects turbines to generator
Turbine spins causing generator to spin
Generator uses electromagnetic field
Converts mechanical energy to electrical energy

6 and 7. Electricity
Transmission
Transformers converts electrical energy from the
generator to high voltage
National grid transmits electricity through power
lines to homes and businesses

8. Cooling
Steam passing

through the turbines

is cooled down
Condenses steam

back to water
Water piped back to

steam generator to
be reused

Advantages
Do not contribute to carbon emissions
No acid rain
No geographical limitations
Reliable independent on weather
Controllable output
Small volume of waste

Disadvantages
Non-renewable energy resource
In an accident large amounts of radioactive
material could be released
Chernobyl Disaster http://youtu.be/-NlP2-Sbl9w
Nuclear waste remains radioactive for thousands
of years
Expensive and time consuming decommissioning

Cost
In comparison to
other fuels, nuclear
production cost is
one of the cheapest
Hydropower is
cheaper renewable
energy

European Perspective
Country

Countries
relying on
Nuclear
Power/Intend
to phase in

No of
Reactors
in
Operatio
n

Nuclear share
of overall
electricity
supply (%)

Future
development

Sweden

10

42.6

Government
reconsidering role
of nuclear power

UK

16

28.8

1 reactor in
planning

73.6

1 reactor in
construction/shar
e reduction to
50%

France

54

Switzerlan
Phase out by
5
36.4
Reference: London
national, regional?
d School of Economics, October 27 2014, S. Strunz, Energy policy: European,2034

Countries
Intending to
phase out

Belgium

52.1

Germany

15.4

Phase out by
2025
Phase out by

Summary
Using nuclear energy in atoms to produce heat
energy through nuclear fission
Heat energy transferred to mechanical energy to
electrical energy
Advantages and disadvantages determined
European Perspectives on Nuclear Energy

Thank you for Listening