Three water loops

Here's a schematic drawing of how the water loops within the power plant. The reactor heats water to about 550 degrees and is kept under high pressure, at 2,200 pounds per inch. That pressurized water is circulated to a heat exchanger, which creates steam from a second water loop. The steam is sent to the turbine to turn the generator and make electricity. That steam is cooled with ocean water and turned back into water and recirculated back through.