By: Sig Sahli and Briana Davenport

Nuclear Energy

By: Sig Sahli and Briana Davenport

History of Nuclear Energy• The science of atomic radiation, atomic change and nuclear

fission was developed from 1895 to 1945, much of it in the last six of those years.

• Over 1939-45, most development was focused on the atomic bomb.

• From 1945 attention was given to harnessing this energy in a controlled fashion for naval propulsion and for making electricity.

• Since 1956 the prime focus has been on the technological evolution of reliable nuclear power plants.

Where it is found? and How it is recovered?

• The process of nuclear fission releases heat which is then used to raise steam for a turbine.

• Which then the turbine runs a generator of energy.

Current storage• Right now the nuclear wastes are being

stored in specially designed in water filled basins or dry casks. At commercial power reactor sites.

Disposing of nuclear wastes in the future.

• Well there have been 3 different Ideas of disposing of nuclear wastes. Those three methods are the mixed oxide fuel burning method, the vitrification method, and the subductive waste disposal method.

• The mixed oxide method is mixing plutonium with uranium which is slightly different then before and you then use it for civilian reactors. What the object of this method is for is the burning up of the plutonium by nuclear fusion. ( splitting of atomic nuclei releasing large amounts of energy.) This also means that more energy can be made from plutonium and quick type of fashion. One bad thing is that the burning of plutonium fuel causes excess plutonium, but on the bright side it is much more better for the environment then normal plutonium. Also this does not leave as much plutonium to be used in weapons also easier to dispose of. However it would have to happen quickly so that no excess plutonium can go into the air.

• The next method is the vitrification method. This method of disposing of nuclear wastes occurs like this, first they would mixing weapons- grade plutonium with the radioactive wastes from the civilian reactors. Then they would place this mixture into glass logs. Next they would take the glass logs and bury them in a deep borehole. ( 4 kilometers deep) What they are hoping that will come out of this is that the decaying process will not release the nuclear wastes back into the air.

Continued• The last process is called subductive waste disposal method.

The idea or purpose of this method is to get rid of the wastes faster then it can return. So what they will do is the word subduction refers to a process in which two tectonic plates slide underneath each other. This then lets the plate absorb into the earths mantle. So if the wastes are put into the plate and then absorb into the earths mantle the wastes will go with the plate.

• It would take a million or more years for the waste to circulate through.

Environmental impacts of nuclear energy

• Although a Nuclear energy power plant may not cause that much pollution when an accident happens it can cause many problems in the environment and in people. And it can be much more deadlier then pollution, due to fossil fuels. It can hurt the environment and people because of the radiation poisoning. It can kill you instantly or kill you later because it gave you cancer problems.

Environmental impacts of nuclear

energy

• Nuclear power is cost competitive with other forms of electricity generation

• Fuel costs for nuclear plants are a minor proportion of total generating costs

• When reviewing the cost competitiveness of nuclear energy, decommissioning and waste costs are put into place

• Except where there is direct access to low-cost fossil fuels.

Economic impacts• Nuclear energy has cost the U.S

over $492,000,000,000. • It also can’t reduce foreign oil prices

Future of the Energy Source

• Plants cost a lot to build because of the technology needed.

• To pay off the expensive plants the energy is usually higher priced then other electric energy plants but is easy to produce

• It uses lots of water so if there is water shortage in the region nuclear power isn't great

• The waste can be disposed but is hard and expensive to get rid of

How Nuclear is used today• nuclear energy is America's second largest source of

electric power after coal• Over 110 nuclear power plants used in America today• Saved America 44billion dollars because nuclear energy

is cheaper to produce then coal.

Interesting Facts

• After coal Nuclear energy is the second largest source of energy in the United States. Saving Americans over $44 billion dollars since the year 1973.

• There are 442 nuclear energy plants all around the world. All of those nuclear energy plants contributed more than 19% of the worlds energy.

• Nuclear power plants don’t need to use as much energy as other plants. • In France nuclear energy powers over 80% of the countries electricity.

Advantages Nuclear Energy

• Advantages: nuclear energy has overcome 3 of the largest problems that us people have come across in a struggle to get energy.

• If you were to build a nuclear energy power plant, they do not take up a lot of room.

• It is the most concentrated form of energy, by far.• Nuclear energy power plants do not cause that much

pollution to the air.

The Disadvantages • One of the major disadvantages of nuclear energy is nuclear explosions.

They cause radiation. Which radiation harms the cells and tissues of the body.

• And close to it a meltdown. In a meltdown this is what happens the fission reaction of the atom goes out of control and what is able to manage. And then a nuclear explosion occurs. And great amounts of radiation are released into the air.

• Examples: It was the year 1979 in Pennsylvania at the 3 mile Island near Harrisburg. Inside of the plant the nuclear reactor cooling system failed. Resulting with radiation releasing into the air. This forced 10,000 people or more to run away from the area. And thankfully the problem was solved seconds before there was an actual melt down.

• For more examples visit this website: www.gvttemp18.virtualclassroom.org/Nenergy/adva.htm

Chernobyl• The Chernobyl Disaster was a nuclear reactor accident in

the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the former USSR.• Chernobyl Disaster killed 56 people and effected over

600,00 0 others• On April 26, 1986 one of the reactors suffered a major

power excursion which then caused a steam explosion• It tore the top off of the building holding the reactor• They then evacuated the city of Pripyat when learning that

the surrounding area had suffered major nuclear exposure

• The term heavy water is almost like light water ( just water) but the two hydrogen atoms are replaced with two deuterium atoms. ( a deuterium atom is an isotope of one extra neutron.)

• Heavy water is definitely essential at CANDU. Which is Canada’s nuclear power reactor; used as both a heat transfer agent and a moderator. The moderator’s job is to slow down the emitted neutrons. And in return this this increases the fission reaction rate. And then enabling a sustained chain reaction.

• In a nuclear power reactor they use heavy water and not light water because light water absorbs neutrons. This is why light water reactors, must use some enriched fuels. So CANDU’s using D2O makes it possible to use non enriched fuels. The one that they use is Uranium.

• The heavy water that is used in a heavy water nuclear power reactor is non radioactive. And it is not harmful to humans. Unless ingested in large amounts

Heavy Water Nuclear Power plants

The EndIn all Nuclear power is a clean

power source which has its downfalls buts its ups also. It has had a bad reputation but what people don’t know is that nuclear power is the energy of the future.