How Nuclear Power Generation Works
Nuclear power generation makes use of the thermal energy produced when a uranium nucleus is split. This energy is used to produce high-temperature, high-pressure steam from water boiled inside the nuclear reactor. The steam then drives a turbine for generating electricity. This is similar to the way a conventional thermal power plant works, except that the boiler is replaced by a nuclear reactor and additional equipment is needed to manage radiation and radioactive materials.
Japan's nuclear reactors are either boiling water reactors (BWR) or pressurized water reactors (PWR), both of which are types of light water reactors. All TEPCO nuclear power plants use BWR reactors.
Generation of Electricity by a BWR Nuclear Power Plant
