The amount of energy available is enormous. In a fusion reactor this energy must be captured and used to generate steam for power production. It is this reaction that forms the basis for fusion research.Īs with fission, this fusion reaction releases its energy primarily as kinetic energy that is carried away by a neutron that is generated during the reaction. However, there is another fusion reaction, between deuterium and a third isotope of hydrogen called tritium, that requires less extreme conditions and these can be recreated, albeit with extreme difficulty, on our planet. The conditions required to allow this reaction to take place are considered almost impossible to recreate on the necessary scale on Earth. Under these conditions, the hydrogen atoms disintegrate to form a sea of electrons and nuclei, which are held close together by the massive gravitational force within the Sun (gravitational confinement). This reaction takes place in the center of the Sun at a temperature of 10 million to 15 million degrees celsius and under extreme pressure. The fusion reaction that powers the Sun and stars is a reaction in which hydrogen atoms combine to produce deuterium and then deuterium and hydrogen atoms fuse to make helium with the release of energy. Nevertheless, it is generally judged much more benign, environmentally than fusion. One of the key hydrogen isotopes involved in fusion is radioactive too. The reaction is not entirely clean because very high-energy particles are generated and these will cause nuclear reactions in plant components, leaving some radioactive remnants. Moreover the fusion reaction, while producing a large amount of energy, generates less toxic waste than nuclear fission. Since the primary precursor is hydrogen, one of the most abundant elements on the earth, fusion-in principle at least-offers a limitless supply of energy. In the case of fusion, this energy is released when very light atoms are turned into slightly heavier, but more stable atoms. Nuclear fusion, like nuclear fission, can provide energy from mass. France, with the second-largest nuclear electricity generation capacity and second-highest nuclear electricity generation, had the largest share-about 69%-of total annual electricity generation from nuclear energy.Paul Breeze, in Nuclear Power, 2017 Fusion Basics The United States had the largest nuclear electricity generation capacity and generated more nuclear electricity than any other country.

In 2020, 33 countries had commercial nuclear power plants, and in 17 of the countries, nuclear energy supplied at least 20% of their total annual electricity generation. The United States generates more nuclear power than any other country Nuclear power plants have supplied about 20% of total annual U.S. Thirty-two of the plants have two reactors, and three plants have three reactors. electricity since 1990Īs of July 1, 2022, 92 nuclear reactors were operating at 54 nuclear power plants in 28 states. Source: Stock photography (copyrighted) Nuclear power plants have generated about 20% of U.S. The cooled water is then reused to produce steam. Nuclear plants cool the steam back into water in a separate structure at the power plant called a cooling tower, or they use water from ponds, rivers, or the ocean. As the turbine blades turn, they drive generators that make electricity. The heat produced during nuclear fission in the reactor core is used to boil water into steam, which turns the blades of a steam turbine. A reactor core contains many fuel assemblies. A bundle of fuel rods, some with hundreds of rods, is called a fuel assembly. These energy-rich pellets are stacked end-to-end in 12-foot metal fuel rods. Each ceramic pellet produces about the same amount of energy as 150 gallons of oil. The uranium fuel is formed into ceramic pellets.

At the center of the reactor is the core, which contains uranium fuel. Fission takes place inside the reactor of a nuclear power plant. In nuclear fission, atoms are split apart to form smaller atoms, releasing energy. Nuclear power plants use heat produced during nuclear fission to heat water. The steam is used to spin large turbines that generate electricity. Nuclear power plants heat water to produce steam.

Nuclear fission power plant