1. Uranium atoms in the fuel rods split, releasing energy and heating the water around them
2. Water in the reactor vessel is kept under pressure so that it heats, but does not boil
3. Heat carried to the steam generator vapourises water there, producing steam
Containment
building
Turbine
Pressuriser
Steam
Generator
Nuclear
fuel rods
Pump
Reactor
vessel
Steam
generator
Condenser
4. The steam drives a turbine and generator to produce electricity
5. Cold water, carried through pipes in the condenser, turns the steam to water to resupply the steam generator
1. Uranium atoms in the fuel rods split, releasing energy and heating the water around them
2. Water in the reactor vessel is kept under pressure so that it heats, but does not boil
3. Heat carried to the steam generator vapourises water there, producing steam
4. The steam drives a turbine and generator to produce electricity
Turbine
Containment
building
Generator
Pressuriser
Steam
5. Cold water, carried through pipes in the condenser, turns the steam to water to resupply the steam generator
Nuclear
fuel rods
Pump
Reactor
vessel
Steam
generator
Condenser