We use electricity generated from nuclear fission of uranium 235. The thermal plant burns fossil fuels, boil water and generate steam. The high pressure steam is used to turn the turbine to generate electricity. Principle of nuclear power generation is as below.
1, Nuclear fission of uranium in nuclear reactors
2, Boil water using heat generated from nuclear fission
3, Change boiling water into steam to obtain high pressure and turn turbine
4, Turbine is connected to the generator and produces electricity
It is not the temperature of steam to use for power generation, but the pressure when water becomes steam. Since the heat generated by nuclear fission reaches 2,400 degrees (1700 degrees according to TEPCO), coolant flows around the fuel rod with a great momentum. The reason that Japan has the coast around the nuclear power plants is because the steam after turning the turbine is cooled by the water from the sea and discarded as warm wastewater into the sea. In Europe and the United States, water from the river is used and lower the temperature with cooling tower before drainage into the river. The energy conversion efficiency of nuclear power generation is about 30%. Also, thermal power generation can utilize more than 80% heat by using the cogeneration system.
