In a nuc lear power station the chain reaction is controlled by absorbing some of the neutrons produced. In a nuclear bomb, the chain reaction causes an explosion How does a nuclear reactor generate power? Nuclear fission in the reactor core generates heat. a coolant that circulates around the core takes in that heat which is then used to boil water. The resulting steam turns turbines, which drive electric generators. There are several different types of reactors in use. Most use water as a coolant like the one in Fukushima. Other reactor types use liquid metal, gas or molten salt. What does the reactor core do? This is the central part of the nuclear reactor. Reactors consist of several structures that sit inside one another. In the middle is the core it is enclosed by a reactor vessel which is, in turn, enclosed by a containment vessel, which sits inside the building that is visible from the outside The core contains the fuel of the nuclear reaction and also any 'moderator such as ater or graphite that helps control nuclear fission by slow ing down the neutrons produced The boiling Water Reactor(BWR) at the Fukus hima power plant uses water as both a moderator and a coolant the water boils inside the reactor core itself to create How does the cooling system work? It depends on the design of the reactor. Reactors like the ones at Fukush ima were designed in the 1960s and rely on pumps, valves and motors to get cooling water around the system. These pum ps failed after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami knocked out power to the plant. More modern designs have fewer pumps valves and motors and tend to rely on passive safety features that use natural forces such as gravity, circulation or evaporation rather than relying on active systems that need electrical power to workIn a nuclear power station the chain reaction is controlled by absorbing some of the neutrons produced. In a nuclear bomb, the chain reaction causes an explosion. How does a nuclear reactor generate power? Nuclear fission in the reactor core generates heat. A coolant that circulates around the core takes in that heat which is then used to boil water. The resulting steam turns turbines, which drive electric generators. There are several different types of reactors in use. Most use water as a coolant, like the one in Fukushima. Other reactor types use liquid metal, gas or molten salt. What does the reactor core do? This is the central part of the nuclear reactor. Reactors consist of several structures that sit inside one another. In the middle is the core, it is enclosed by a reactor vessel which is, in turn, enclosed by a containment vessel, which sits inside the building that is visible f rom the outside. The core contains the fuel of the nuclear reaction and also any ‘moderator’ such as water or graphite that helps control nuclear fission by slowing down the neutrons produced. The Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) at the Fukushima power plant uses water as both a moderator and a coolant. The water boils inside the reactor core itself to create steam. How does the cooling system work? It depends on the design of the reactor. Reactors like the ones at Fukushima were designed in the 1960s and rely on pumps, valves and motors to get cooling water around the system. These pumps failed af ter the March 11 earthquake and tsunami knocked out power to the plant. More modern designs have fewer pumps, valves and motors and tend to rely on passive safety features that use natural forces such as gravity, circulation or evaporation rather than relying on active systems that need electrical power to work