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Explain the working of nuclear reactor?

When a heavy nucleus like uranium-235 is hit with a neutron, it undergoes nuclear fission. The heavy nucleus splits into two or more lighter nuclei, releasing kinetic energy, gamma radiation and free neutrons. The released kinetic energy is converted to thermal energy. This thermal energy is used to boil water to produce pressurized steam, which will drive steam turbines to generate electricity. This is the working of nuclear reactor.

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When an atom undergoes fission it splits into smaller atoms, other particles and releases energy. It turns out that it is possible to harness the energy of this process on a large enough scale for it to be a viable way of producing energy.The fundamental point about nuclear energy is that the energy content of 1 gram of Uranium is equivalent to approximately 3 tonnes of coal. This means that we need to consume about 3 million times less material with Nuclear Power compared to using Coal or any other Fossil Fuel. This substantially reduces the volumes of fuel and waste of nuclear power compared to Fossil Fuels.

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Nuclear reactor is a device to harness nuclear energy (fission energy) in a controlled and economic way. The energy produced is used to generate electricity and to power ships. The basic working process is: the tremendous heat generated from the fission reaction heats the working fluid (water or gas) which drives the turbine to generate electricity or drives the propeller in ships

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