How a Nuclear Reactor Works

How a nuclear reactor produces electricity

Nuclear reactors are sophisticated machines built to exacting engineering standards. Here’s an overview of how they produce electricity.

1. Uranium is mined and converted into a fuel bundle. Operators load these fuel bundles into a nuclear reactor.
2. Slow-moving neutrons split apart the uranium nuclei, initiating a nuclear chain reaction. This reaction continues due to careful engineering and can be stopped at any time by personnel working at the plant.
3. The neutrons released from splitting the uranium nucleus travel very quickly, near the speed of light. Slow neutrons are most effective for splitting uranium atoms. The nuclear reactor contains a special material called a moderator that slows down neutrons. While many materials can act as a moderator, Canadian reactors use special heavy water, which is H₂O with the normal hydrogen replaced by a heavier form of hydrogen called deuterium. Nuclear professionals working at the reactor control the reactions by moving control rods in and out of the reactor core. These rods are made of materials that absorb neutrons to slow or stop fission as needed.
4. To turn that heat into practical work (and then electricity), a coolant (heavy water in Canada) circulates through the reactor core to cool it down.
5. That reaction turns water into high-pressure steam. The pressure pushes the steam to turn turbines.
6. The energy of the spinning turbines is converted into electricity by the movement of magnets within the electrical generator.

CANDU technology

Canadian nuclear power reactors are CANDU reactors, heavy-water reactors developed by Canadian scientists and engineers. CANDU stands for Canada Deuterium Uranium, because it uses deuterium oxide (heavy water) as a moderator and coolant, and utilizes natural (not enriched) uranium as a fuel.

Innovative Canadian engineering allows CANDU reactors to be refuelled while operating at full power! Most nuclear reactors must be shut down for refuelling.

Because Canada has a record of excellence in nuclear technology, other countries have built reactors designed by Canadians. Almost half of CANDU reactors have been built in Argentina, China, India, Pakistan, Romania and South Korea. There are 34 CANDU and CANDU-derived reactors globally, with 30 currently operational.

CANDU reactors in Canada

There are 17 operable CANDU reactors at four nuclear generating stations in Canada.

The Bruce Nuclear Generating Station is the largest operating nuclear power facility in the world, based on its eight reactors, which generate 6,288 MWe. It is located on the shore of Lake Huron, 190 km from downtown Toronto, Ontario, and first delivered power to the grid in 1976. It is operated by Bruce Power, but is owned by Ontario Power Generation (OPG)

The Darlington nuclear generating station is Canada’s second-largest nuclear facility in terms of total energy output. Its CANDU reactors are owned and operated by OPG. Capable of producing up to 31 million MWh annually, the Darlington station powers up to 2.5 million households. All four Darlington units are undergoing mid-life refurbishment to generate continued delivery of reliable baseload electricity for decades to come.

The Pickering Nuclear Generating Station is Ontario’s smallest commercial nuclear facility. Its four CANDU reactors are owned and operated by OPG. Despite its smaller size, the Pickering station powers up to 2.5 million households.

Point Lepreau was the first CANDU 6 reactor to be licensed for operation, the first to achieve criticality and the first to begin commercial operation. It is owned and operated by New Brunswick Power. This one nuclear reactor supplies almost one-third of the entire province’s electricity!

CANDU reactors in the world

Canada has exported CANDU reactors to Argentina, China, India, Pakistan, Romania and South Korea. There are 30 CANDU reactors in operation globally. Additionally, India developed the design and built 16 reactors based on the CANDU design.