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Home / Energy / Nuclear Nuclear plants Electronuclear plants A nuclear power plant allows the production of steam without using fossil fuels. A nuclear reactor behaves like any boiler and the steam it generates can be used to operate a turbine connected to an electricity generator. In particular, the “heart” of the reactor of a fission nuclear power plant is called “core” and generally has the shape of a cylinder. The core is made of a liquid, for example water, into which cylindrical uranium bars are dipped, a couple of metres long and with a diameter of a few centimetres. At regular intervals there are control bars capable of absorbing many neutrons. Thus, the chain reaction is kept under control and stopped, if necessary. In the most common type of reactors, the water contained in the core is warmed by the fission of uranium and is circulated by means of a pump until it reaches a heat exchanger, into which it cools down producing steam which, in its turn, rotates the turbine of the plant. A reactor is classified according to the type of fuel, the type of coolant and the core’s inner architecture. For example, a common distinction is made between light water and heavy water reactors. Light water reactors In light water reactors the fuel is made of cylinders of uranium oxide enriched with uranium 235. The water circulates among the cylinders and acts both as a controlling element and as coolant. The core is hosted in a pressurised steel container provided with the coolant intake and outlet holes. Shields to absorb the nuclear radiation are mounted around the container and the active parts of the reactor: the metal heat shield mainly absorbs gamma radiation, the concrete biological shield absorbs neutrons. Of course the safety and emergency systems necessary to face possible nuclear accidents are paramount. Heavy water reactors The fuel of heavy water reactors is made of non-enriched natural uranium. There are more modern reactors called “fast