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Updated AnswerNuclear energy in the form of uranium primary energy source is transformed into electrical energy as secondary energy source (or energy carrier) through the following steps:
  • uranium mining
  • uranium milling (concentration and purification)
  • uranium conversion (into metal uranium, uranium dioxide, uranium hexaflouride, etc...)
  • uranium enrichment (only for nuclear reactors that require uranium enriched in U-235)
  • uranium fabrication into what is called fresh nuclear fuel assemblies (or elements or bundles or rods)
  • loading the nuclear fuel in the nuclear reactor of the nuclear power plant
  • the nuclear fuel, through its irradiation in the nuclear reactor, undergoes nuclear fission and produces thermal energy (heat)
  • the heat (or thermal energy) is extracted in the reactor coolant system and used in a turbo-electric generator system to produce electricity.
The used (or called spent) fuel is then replaced by new fuel to continue the electricity generation process.

The discharged nuclear fuel (called spent or used fuel) after being irradiated in the nuclear reactor) and taken out from the reactor is temporarily stored to get rid of its major part of its decay heat and level of radioactivity. Then either:
  • reprocessed for reuse of the remaining uranium and the produced plutonium in the fuel during fuel irradiation in the reactor, or
  • disposed of in a final disposal/storage installation.


Answer

Nuclear presents in the form of heat. The heat is used to make steam. The steam motivates a steam turbine which works a generator.

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