How does a nuclear power plant generate electricity? Where does the radiation come from when there are failures?

Question

How does a nuclear power plant generate electricity? Where does the radiation come from when there are failures?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Nuclear power plants create a controlled nuclear reaction to generate heat. The reactor is cooled by water which creates steam. The steam powers a turbine which generates electricity. Basically nuclear power plants are just steam powered generators where the heat source is a nuclear reactor as opposed to fossil fuels such as coal, oil, etc. The radiation is associated the materials used to create the reaction. (Perhaps someone else can better explain the radiation).