What are the similarities between conventional and nuclear power stations?

Answer 1

The sun uses nuclear fusion to create energy, and nuclear power plants use nuclear fission to create energy. Fusion and fission are different, but they are both nuclear processes. They involve the manipulation of atomic nuclei, and because relatively huge amounts of energy are associated with these structures (the nucleui of atoms), lots of energy can result from the fusion or fission of even a small amount of material.

Answer 2

Both conventional and nuclear power stations produce electricity by converting heat into energy. They both use steam to drive turbines that generate electricity. Both types of power stations require cooling systems to prevent overheating and ensure safe operation.

Answer 3

They both use the conventional Rankine cycle for the steam turbine. In the BWR this is modified somewhat by using a direct reactor/turbine cycle, but still the generation side of the plant is very much the same. Conventional coal fired plants can achieve a higher steam temperature than the PWR or BWR can, so their thermodynamic efficiency is better.

Answer 4

Both are similar in that they use steam to turn the steam turbines that consequently turn the generators to produce electricity.

The heat required in a hydropower plant is used to produce this steam from water is obtained either in:

• conventional power plant where coal, oil, or natural gas is burnt to produce heat

or in

• nuclear power plant where uranium and plutonium contained in the nuclear fuel undergo nuclear fission and thus producing heat.

So, the difference between the two power plants is in source of heat used to produce the steam.