The diagram illustrates steam production using a gas cooled nuclear reactor.
Overall, the nuclear reactor consists of two main components: the reactor and the heat exchanger, where the gas is heated in the reactor and is used to produce steam in the heat exchanger.
The most important elements in reactor are uranium fuel elements, on which the entire operation of the reactor is based. The fuel elements are loaded by charge tubes, while boron control rods are used to regulate the nuclear reaction. In addition, the flue elements are inside graphite moderators. The fuel elements and graphite moderators are located inside the pressure vessel, which is surrounded by concrete radiation shielding.
By duct the hot gas is transferred from the reactor to the heat exchanger. In the heat exchanger, the gas passes through pipes and transfers its heat to the water. As a result, the water is heated and turns into steam. This steam is then used to drive a turbo-alternator. Meanwhile, the gas cools down and is circulated back to the reactor by a gas blower.
