Nuclear Reactor Components

Nuclear Power Stations

• Nuclear power stations have proven to be relatively safe in practice, despite some spectacular accidents like the Chernobyl fire in 1986, which resulted in thousands of deaths and illnesses.
• The UK's nuclear stations have been carefully operated, but many are now reaching the end of their lives, raising questions about replacement.

Nuclear Power vs. Natural Gas

• There is a glut of electricity, and prices have fallen, making nuclear power less competitive.
• Most new power stations use natural gas, which can produce electricity more cheaply than nuclear power.

Reprocessing and Waste Management

• Spent fuel is sometimes reprocessed to extract remaining 235U and re-use it, and to separate plutonium for use in reactors or bombs.
• Sellafield in Cumbria is an example of a reprocessing site.
• The most hazardous waste products are concentrated, with the intention of storing them safely, but the problem of long-term storage remains unsolved.

Decommissioning

• At the end of its life, a power station must be decommissioned, involving dismantling and safe storage of radioactive parts.
• The site is eventually levelled and is unlikely to be fit for other uses for several decades.

Nuclear Reactor Operation

• A coolant (water or carbon dioxide) carries heat out of the reactor core and generates high-pressure steam.
• The steam turns turbines, which cause generators to spin and produce electricity.
• In a nuclear reactor, some uranium atoms are transformed to heavier elements like plutonium and americium.