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.
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