A turbine is an array of blades pushed by steam to turn a shaft connected to the generator. The generator shaft rotates a magnetic field to produce electricity in the generator's stator windings. Steam turbines and electrical generators at nuclear plants are similar to equipment at power plants using other fuel. The generators in FPL's nuclear plants are comparable to the largest generators found at other FPL power plants.
Electricity is produced when a magnetic field moves past a coiled wire.
The table below describes how energy from the turbine is transferred to the generator. Stage Description 1 High pressure steam pushes against turbine blades. 2 Stationary blades inside the turbine concentrate the force against moveable blades. 3 Movable blades mounted on the turbine shaft turn in reaction to the rushing steam. The turbine shaft spins the connected generator shaft creating the magnetic field for the generator.