How does nuclear energy become electricity?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

keeping it simple, after arranging the fuel and moderators in the core for maintaining sustained criticality ( a good thing ) the U235 atoms in the fuel are struck by thermal neutrons. The atom fissions, spliting into various fragments of smaller atoms, and additional free neutrons. the neutrons are slowed in the surrounding moderator ( water ) and the fragments which are contained in pellets, contained within a Zirconium tube, transfer their kinetic energy ( heat ) to these materials....which transfer to the water ( also the moderator )..... which becomes steam either directly ( Boiling water Rx ) or indirectly ( Pressurized water Rx using Steam Generators ) which is transfered to the turbines. This whole process simply replaces a fossil fuel combustion whose waste products are spewed all over the planet ( arsenic, CO2, and yes even large amounts of radiation ) with a heat source that concentrates all the waste in a single location....the fuel assemblies, which can be reprocessed over and over again. ( reference the science based decisions of the French government verses the politico based decisions of the USA )

Answer 3

a nuclear reactor creates heat. They use the heat to evaporate water. The steam from the reactor is used to turn turbines. The turbines create the electricity.

Close: the reactor heats the water or other coolant, the heat is transferred to water via a heat exchanger that transfers heat but not radioactivity, the water turns to steam, the steam spins a turbine, the turbine spins a generator that creates electricity buy spinning conductors inside a magnetic field. (turbines don't make electricity, but sometimes the same device includes both a turbine and a generator)

Answer 4

Nuclear reactions are converted to usuable energy via steam. Radioactive material is formed into rods, which are then placed into the reactor housing. The rods are then raised or lowered as needed to control the heat transfer, into a pool of water. The thermal energy emitted by radioactive materials boils the water into steam, which is then piped into turbine generators.

Answer 5

In a nuclear reactor, heat is produced through nuclear fission. This heat is used to generate steam, which drives a turbine connected to a generator. As the turbine spins, electricity is produced by the generator. This electricity is then transmitted through power lines to homes and businesses.

Answer 6

during the nuclear reaction water is heated at high temperature so the water is converted into steam and the steam is used to generate electricity

Answer 7

the nuclear energy is converted (by nuclear fisson) into steam that turns a turbine that is in a generator