The diagram illustrates the process of nuclear power generation utilizing uranium.
Overall, harvesting electricity via uranium is a complex and perilous procedure, which includes six major steps. In the process, mined uranium is transformed into pellets before they undergo nuclear fission to produce electricity. Thereafter, spent fuel is either disposed or repurposed.
The process begins with extracting uranium from the earth mines. Following this, uranium ore is reformed and enriched to produce U-235 fuel pellets, which then generate heat by a phenomenon known as nuclear fission. Next, the generators, powered by previously yielded heat, generate electricity.
The U-235 fuel has an extended fuel cycle of approximately four years, and thereafter spent fuel is removed from the power plant. Afterward, some amount of exhausted fuel can be recovered by reprocessing, which is sent back to the power plant to be repurposed. However, the unrecoverable nuclear waste is stored in sealed consignments and deeply buried, as the radioactive waste remains hazardous for thousands of years.
