Pressurized Water Reactor

A Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) is a common type of nuclear power plant that generates electricity. It uses nuclear fission—splitting uranium atoms—to produce heat. This heat turns water into steam, but the water in the reactor is kept under high pressure to prevent it from boiling. The hot, pressurized water flows through a separate loop to a steam generator, where it transfers heat to a secondary water loop, creating steam that drives turbines to generate electricity. The reactor’s pressurized system ensures safe, continuous operation without the water inside the core boiling, maintaining stable and controlled energy production.