Nuclear and Conventional Power Plants Difference

 

 

 

Nuclear power plant technology is created by humans, not by some creatures from Mars =P
Most of people think that nuclear power plant is definitely a different thing compare to conventional power plant. They believe that the concept and design of a nuclear power plant is very complex especially on how the power plants generate electricity.

 

Both of the power plant types do have almost similar concept on how they produce electricity. Steam is produced then it will turn the turbine. The energy from the turbine will be converted to electricity by the generator.

Next, the steam is being cooled by the condenser and the whole process will start again. Maybe the diagrams below will help you to imagine about the concepts.

Schematic of a Nuclear Power Plant

These are the similarities:

· Steam Generator: Both generate steam. (Red Circle)
· Turbine: Both plants have turbines. (Yellow Circle)
· Generator: Both plants need generators to produce electricity. (Green Circle)
· Condenser: Both plants need to remove excess heat. (Brown Circle)

The big difference between a conventional power plant and a nuclear power plant is that the nuclear power plant generates heat through the nuclear reactor while the conventional power plant burns fossil fuel (coal/oil/gas) at the boiler in order to get heat to produce steam. (Orange Circle).

From the diagram below, you will understand the difference. It is just the different way of producing heat to generate steam, either from nuclear reactor or fossil-fueled boiler.