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How it works |
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In super-fancy non-layman's terms, nuclear energy is caused by an exothermic chemical decomposition that heats water to steam. For those of us who aren't destined to be chemists after high school, this is how nuclear power works: |
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| Don't panic, this is simple, really. Not like rocket science.... |
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Nuclear reactors in the US, like VY use Uranium 235 in their reactors. Like most large, unwieldly isotopes, it doesn't take much for the uranium to split into two smaller atoms. The atom gives off gamma radiation, and two new, radioactive, atoms are born. To get this reaction going in a plant, a "neutron source" is used. This means a neutron is fired at one atom, and the reaction starts. Once one Uranium-235 starts duing its little decompostion jig, the flying atomic particles jostle its neighbors. Pretty soon the whole enchilada is full of Uranium 235 decomposing inot less complex atomic structures, kind of like a pinball game, only the ball is actually shattering the bumpers and turning them into balls.. And guess where the energy these atoms had goes- it's released as heat. Below you can see a picture of a reactor. They glow blue, as you can see- not green |
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echelon1.mit.edu |
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Nuclear chemists have harnessed the heat that is released and put it to work, kinetically speaking. If you'll jus peek at this little graphic, you'll see how nuclear fission (or decompisition) goes to work for you. |
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River water (from the Conneticut River in our case) starts its journey in the condensor. It is then pumped through several demineralizers. (River water might have deposits that are good for you and farming, but minerals are quiet detrimental for the reactor.) The pure water is then pumped into the reactor, where Uranium 235 is busy fissioning, and is converted to steam. The steam turns the turbines, which generate energy for the generator. The steam collects in the condensor and begins all over again. |
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http://www.reactor.engr.wisc.edu |
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Now when Uranium has broken down into more stable atoms, what happens? The products are radioactive, and what they are depends on probability. The products also take millions of years to decay, and so they are of no real use any more. They are consequently put in some NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commision)- friendly storage system. |
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Fun fact: One pound of Uranium 235 can actually power a submarine. Wow! That would take roughly a million gallons of gasoline!. |
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