fr en es pt
Astronomy
Asteroids and Comets Black Holes Children Chemical Elements Constellations Earth Eclipses Environment Equations Evolution Exoplanets Galaxies Light Matter Moons Nebulas Planets and Dwarf Planets Probes and Telescopes Scientists Stars Sun Universe Volcanoes Zodiac New Articles Shorts Archives Glossary
RSS astronoo
Follow me on X
Follow me on Bluesky
Follow me on Pinterest
English
Français
Español
Português
 


Last updated July 29, 2025

From the Nucleus to Electricity: Anatomy of a Nuclear Power Plant

Nuclear reactor

Understanding Nuclear Fission

The basic principle of a nuclear power plant is based on the fission of heavy atoms, particularly uranium-235. When a uranium-235 nucleus absorbs a neutron, it becomes unstable and splits into two lighter nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy (about 200 MeV) as well as several additional neutrons. These neutrons can, in turn, cause further fissions: this is the chain reaction.

Structure of a Nuclear Power Plant

A nuclear power plant mainly consists of:

Managing the Reaction and Safety

Control of the chain reaction is ensured by control rods, made of materials that absorb neutrons (boron, cadmium). By inserting or removing these rods from the reactor core, the number of fissions is modulated. In an emergency, an automatic shutdown (scram) allows these rods to be inserted instantly to stop the reaction. The containment structure, often made of prestressed concrete, prevents radioactive releases in case of an accident.

Comparative Table of Reactor Types

Comparison of Common Nuclear Reactors
Reactor TypeModeratorCoolingFuelExample
PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor)Light WaterPressurized WaterEnriched UO₂ (~3-5% U-235)PWR – France (EDF)
BWR (Boiling Water Reactor)Light WaterBoiling WaterEnriched UO₂BWR – Japan, USA
RBMKGraphiteLight WaterNatural UraniumChernobyl – USSR
PHWR (CANDU)Heavy WaterHeavy WaterNatural UraniumCanada

Sources: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), World Nuclear Association

Advantages and Limitations of Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy has many advantages: continuous production, low CO₂ emissions, high energy density. However, it raises issues of safety, radioactive waste management, and proliferation. The lifespan of waste (up to several hundred thousand years for some isotopes like plutonium-239) implies intergenerational responsibility.

Towards Future Reactors

Fourth-generation reactors are under development (fast breeders, molten salts, high temperature) to improve safety, reduce waste, and optimize resources. At the same time, nuclear fusion – particularly via the ITER project – promises abundant energy, without long-lived waste, but remains at the experimental stage.

Nuclear Electricity Production by Country in 2023
CountryNuclear Production (TWh)Share of Nuclear in the CountryShare of Global Nuclear Production
United States≈ 775 TWh18.5%≈ 30.5%
China≈ 433 TWh4.9%≈ 17.0%
France≈ 324 TWh64.8%≈ 12.6%
Russia≈ 217 TWh18.4%≈ 8.5%
South Korea≈ 180 TWh30.7%≈ 7.1%
Ukraine≈ 86 TWh≈ 55%≈ 3.4%
Canada≈ 85 TWh≈ 13.7%≈ 3.3%
Japan≈ 77 TWh≈ 5.5%≈ 2.2%
Spain≈ 54 TWh≈ 20.3%≈ 2.1%
India≈ 48 TWh≈ 3.1%≈ 1.9%
Sweden≈ 47 TWh≈ 28.6%≈ 1.8%
United Kingdom≈ 37 TWh≈ 12.5%≈ 1.5%
United Arab Emirates≈ 33 TWh≈ 19.7%≈ 1.3%
Finland≈ 33 TWh≈ 42%≈ 1.3%
Belgium≈ 31 TWh≈ 41.2%≈ 1.2%
Czech Republic≈ 30 TWh≈ 40%≈ 1.2%
Pakistan≈ 24 TWh≈ 17.4%≈ 0.9%
Switzerland≈ 23 TWh≈ 32.4%≈ 0.9%
Slovakia≈ 18 TWh≈ 61.3%≈ 0.7%
Taiwan≈ 17.8 TWh≈ 6.3%≈ 0.7%
Brazil≈ 14.5 TWh≈ 2.2%≈ 0.6%
Hungary≈ 15 TWh≈ 48.8%≈ 0.6%

Sources: IAEA PRIS "Operating Experience 2023" and World Nuclear Association "World Nuclear Industry Performance Report 2024"

Articles on the same theme

Heat and Temperature: Two Often Confused Thermal Notions Heat and Temperature: Two Often Confused Thermal Notions
Electroweak Force: The Unification of Electromagnetism and the Weak Interaction Electroweak Force: The Unification of Electromagnetism and the Weak Interaction
Special Relativity: The Beginning of a New Physics Special Relativity: The Beginning of a New Physics
The Higgs Boson: The Unification of Fundamental Forces The Higgs Boson: The Unification of Fundamental Forces
Quantum Entanglement: When Two Particles Become One! Quantum Entanglement: When Two Particles Become One!
The Pentaquark: A New Piece of the Cosmic Puzzle! The Pentaquark: A New Piece of the Cosmic Puzzle!
Why are Rare Gases rare? Why are Rare Gases rare?
Brownian Motion: A Link Between Two Worlds Brownian Motion: A Link Between Two Worlds
The 4 Articles of Albert Einstein from 1905 The 4 Articles of Albert Einstein from 1905
Why does nuclear fusion require so much energy? Why does nuclear fusion require so much energy?
Feynman diagrams and particle physics Feynman diagrams and particle physics
The nuclear instability barrier Stars cannot create elements heavier than iron because of the nuclear instability barrier
Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Radiation: Understanding Their Differences Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Radiation: Understanding Their Differences
Planck wall theory Planck wall theory
Is emptiness really empty? Is emptiness really empty?
The Large Hadron Collider The Large Hadron Collider
The hadron is not a fixed object The hadron is not a fixed object
Radioactivity, natural and artificial Radioactivity, natural and artificial
The World of Nanoparticles: An Invisible Revolution The World of Nanoparticles: An Invisible Revolution
Schrodinger's Cat Schrodinger's Cat
Before the big bang the multiverse Before the big bang the multiverse
Eternal inflation Eternal inflation
Gravitational waves Gravitational waves
What is a wave? What is a wave?
The fields of reality: what is a field? The fields of reality: what is a field?
Space in time Space in time
Quantum computers Quantum computers
Bose-Einstein condensate Bose-Einstein condensate
Equation of Newton's three laws Equation of Newton's three laws
Field concept in physics Field concept in physics
The electron, a kind of electrical point The electron, a kind of electrical point
Entropy and disorder Entropy and disorder
Light, all the light of the spectrum Light, all the light of the spectrum
The infernal journey of the photon The infernal journey of the photon
Mystery of the Big Bang, the problem of the horizon Mystery of the Big Bang, the problem of the horizon
Beta Radioactivity and Neutrino: A Story of Mass and Spin Beta Radioactivity and Neutrino: A Story of Mass and Spin
Einstein's space time Einstein's space time
Time Measurement: Scientific and Technological Challenge Time Measurement: Scientific and Technological Challenge
Physical and Cosmological Constants: Universal Numbers at the Origin of Everything Physical and Cosmological Constants: Universal Numbers at the Origin of Everything
Spectroscopy, an inexhaustible source of information Spectroscopy, an inexhaustible source of information
Abundance of chemical elements in the universe Abundance of chemical elements in the universe
The size of atoms The size of atoms
The magnetic order and magnetization The magnetic order and magnetization
The quark confinement The quark confinement
Superpositions of quantum states Superpositions of quantum states
Alpha decay (α) Alpha decay (α)
Electromagnetic induction equation Electromagnetic induction equation
Nuclear fusion, natural energy source Nuclear fusion, natural energy source
Does dark matter exist? Does dark matter exist?
From the Ancient Atom to the Modern Atom: An Exploration of Atomic Models From the Ancient Atom to the Modern Atom: An Exploration of Atomic Models
The Origins of Mass: Between Inertia and Gravitation The Origins of Mass: Between Inertia and Gravitation
From the Nucleus to Electricity: Anatomy of a Nuclear Power Plant From the Nucleus to Electricity: Anatomy of a Nuclear Power Plant
The Universe of X-rays The Universe of X-rays
How many photons to heat a coffee? How many photons to heat a coffee?
Seeing Atoms: An Exploration of Atomic Structure Seeing Atoms: An Exploration of Atomic Structure
Quantum tunneling of quantum mechanics Quantum tunneling of quantum mechanics
Entropy: What is Time? Entropy: What is Time?
The 12 Particles of Matter: Understanding the Universe at the Subatomic Scale The 12 Particles of Matter: Understanding the Universe at the Subatomic Scale
The Atomic Orbital: Image of the Atom The Atomic Orbital: Image of the Atom
Earth's radioactivity Earth's radioactivity
The vacuum has considerable energy The vacuum has considerable energy
The valley of stability of atomic nuclei The valley of stability of atomic nuclei
Antimatter and antiparticle Antimatter and antiparticle
What is an electric charge? What is an electric charge?
Our matter is not quantum! Our matter is not quantum!
Why use hydrogen in the fuel cell? Why use hydrogen in the fuel cell?
Newton and Einstein: Two Visions for the Same Mystery Newton and Einstein: Two Visions for the Same Mystery
E=mc2 explains the mass of the proton E=mc2 explains the mass of the proton
Einstein's Universe: Physical Foundations of the Theory of Relativistic Gravitation Einstein's Universe: Physical Foundations of the Theory of Relativistic Gravitation
1905, The Silent Revolution: When Einstein Rewrote the Laws of Nature 1905, The Silent Revolution: When Einstein Rewrote the Laws of Nature
What does the equation E=mc2 really mean? What does the equation E=mc2 really mean?
Between Waves and Particles: The Mystery of DualityBetween Waves and Particles: The Mystery of Duality
The Supercritical State of Water: Between Liquid and Gas, a Fourth Phase? The Supercritical State of Water: Between Liquid and Gas, a Fourth Phase?

1997 © Astronoo.com − Astronomy, Astrophysics, Evolution and Ecology.
"The data available on this site may be used provided that the source is duly acknowledged."
How Google uses data
Legal mentions
English Sitemap − Full Sitemap
Contact the author