From Uranium Mining to Nuclear Electricity
01
Mining
Ore Extraction
Open-pit or underground mining extracts uranium ore (0.1–0.5% U₃O₈) using excavators & haul trucks.
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02
Milling
Yellowcake
Ore crushed, leached with acid. Uranium dissolved, purified, dried into yellowcake powder (U₃O₈).
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03
Conversion
UF₆ Gas
Yellowcake reacted with hydrofluoric acid → UF₆ gas, ready for enrichment centrifuges.
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04
Enrichment
3–5% U-235
Gas centrifuges spin UF₆, separating U-235 from U-238. Natural 0.7% → enriched 3–5%.
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08
Grid
~1000 MW
Steam turbine drives generator → ~1,000 MW AC electricity sent to national grid via transformers.
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07
Reactor
Fission
Controlled U-235 fission heats pressurised water to ~315 °C, producing steam to drive turbines.
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06
Fuel Fab.
Pellets → Rods
UO₂ powder pressed into pellets, sintered, loaded into zirconium alloy fuel rods & assemblies.
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05
Reconversion
UO₂ Powder
Enriched UF₆ converted back to UO₂ powder — the ceramic fuel form for reactor pellets.