Why don't nuclear power plants use superheated steam?

They do use superheated steam. Steam turbines don't like “wet” steam, the little droplets of water in non-superheated steam can damage the turbine blades. So a turbine will always be fed “dry” superheated steam. read more

They do use superheated steam. Steam turbines don't like “wet” steam, the little droplets of water in non-superheated steam can damage the turbine blades. So a turbine will always be fed “dry” superheated steam. A typical power plant uses steam at over 70 atmospheres. read more

Two reasons. Superheated steam has zero moisture content, thus corrosion is reduced. Secondly, superheated steam carries more energy per pound of steam without increasing the steam pressure, thus less heavy materials need to be used for the same power. read more

The superheated steam that turns the turbines to make electricity in nuclear power plants was never in the reaction chamber. There will typically be one or two heat exchangers where pipes carrying high temperature water or some other working fluid from the reaction chamber under high pressure are in contact with pipes carrying water that will be turned into steam. read more