Nuclear reactors are designed in such a way that they utilize the controlled release of energy
Nuclear reactors are designed in such a way that they utilize the controlled release of energy from nuclear fuel rods in the form of heat energy to convert water into steam which is then expelled via high pressure valves through turbines which convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy (Nuclear fission, 2013). While it is possible for nuclear reactors to malfunction and produce excessive amounts of heat due to unstable reactions within the core, the resulting explosion is usually the result of heated steam escaping from the reactor. Energy is also released during such a process, however, it is not explosive nuclear energy instead it is merely the ambient heat energy released from the continuing nuclear fission process in the fuel rods. Background radiation is also released as a direct result of exposure of the fuel rods to the outside atmosphere
