The provided diagram illustrates the systematic process of how to convert uranium into nuclear power.
Overall, this process comprises six steps, which can be categorized into three main phases: collection, generating electricity, and finally, recycling to continue producing energy.
Initially, the process commences with raw materials being unearthed from the ground in a designated lot. Upon completion of the collection stage, the accumulated uranium ore is enriched and transformed into small U-235 fuel pellets, which are then transported to a specialized power plant. Here, the fuel is subjected to a series of treatments in order to produce nuclear power, which can serve as a source of electricity for human demand within a timeline of 4 years.
After being spent, the fuel is classified by whether it can be reprocessed and reutilized. Should it be able to be recycled, it will restart at step 3 where it goes through the generating electricity procedure by the generators. Otherwise, the fuel that is incapable of being reused would create radioactive waste that is typically sent to land-based disposal immediately following its packaging.
Generally, we can see that there is no limit to how many times nuclear fuel can be reprocessed and reused.