Nuclear Reactor Cooling SystemsIntroductionNuclear power plants represent 15% of global electricity production. The United States is the country that produces the most nuclear energy, followed by France and Japan in second and third place. Nuclear reactors are used in nuclear power plants to produce heat that will create steam to produce energy. Nuclear power plants convert the thermal energy released by nuclear fission. The core of a nuclear reactor accumulates heat and this heat must be controlled and filtered somewhere. The reactor must remain cooled, usually by water, but is sometimes cooled by a gas or liquid metal. Cooling Systems The basic fuel of a nuclear power plant is uranium. The reactor core is what contains the radioactive materials in a nuclear power plant. This radioactive material will continue to release heat for a long period of time and, unless this heat is removed, it will build up and eventually damage the radioactive fuel or reactor. Nuclear reactor coolant, as described above, consists of water, gas, or a liquid metal. This coolant circulates in the reactor core and absorbs the heat generated and transforms it into steam. This steam becomes pressurized and turns the turbines as well as the generator, which produces electricity. Figure 1 shows the flow rate of the coolant (in this case water) indicated by the arrows and the color of the water represents the shape of the water. The water is cold when pumped from the condenser into the containment structure. As the water circulates through the containment, it is heated in the reactor core and cooled again in the steam generator. The heat from the water is released as steam and the steam is pressurized to move the turbines. The movement of t...... middle of paper ......g radioactive material out of the reactor. In the next five to 15 years, researchers seek to develop a new type of power plant by replacing helium with water, which would produce a smaller carbon footprint on the climate. (849 words without the quote)Bibliography1. http://www.nationalstrategy.com/Portals/0/documents/Winter%202013/Faulx-Nuclear.pdf Winter 2013 Volume 22, Number 12. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nuclear-energy-primer /3. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-cool-a-nuclear-reactor/4. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle/Power-Reactors/Nuclear-Power-Reactors/5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressurized_water_reactor#DisadvantagesP.S: The plagiarism checker said the IP address had reached its daily limit of free uses. So I couldn't submit my report to check for plagiarism..