Educational Topic Coverage in Nuclear Power Generation from Safety and Security Issues Professor O. A. Mohammed

Energy Systems Research Laboratory, FIU

Educational Topic Coverage in Nuclear Power Generation from

Safety and Security IssuesProfessor O. A. Mohammed

Professor O. A. Mohammed, Nuclear Teach-In Panel, October 20, 2011


Nuclear Power Generation

• Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and do useful things for power generation.

• Nuclear fission fuel: use an extremely high quality,

highly-enriched fuel exceeding the critical size

and geometry


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fission


Nuclear Power Today• Provides almost 20% of world’s electricity (8% in U.S.)• 69% of U.S. non-carbon electricity generation• More than 100 plants in U.S.• 200+ plants in the Europe

– Leader is France• About 80% of its power from nuclear.



Power Plants Use Different types of Sources



Facts sheet...

• Nuclear power plants prevent air pollution and climate change because they don't burn

anything—so they don't emit any air pollutants or greenhouse gases

• All of the used nuclear fuel generated in every nuclear plant in the past 50 years

would fill a football field to a depth of less than 10 yards, and 96 % of this "waste"

can be recycled.



• The typical high-integrity fuel shipping container can withstand a direct hit by a high-speed

locomotive with an 80-mile-an-hour crash into an immovable concrete barrier,

• immersion in a 1,475-degree Fahrenheit fire, • a direct hit by a projectile 30 times more powerful

than an anti-tank weapon, • immersion in 600 feet of water and more

• A nuclear reactor cannot explode at any time due to its highly protected layers and also the configuration is not at all supportive for explosion.


Energy Systems Research Laboratory, FIUProfessor O. A. Mohammed, Nuclear Teach-In Panel, October 20, 2011


Some More facts• According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, "Since

commercial nuclear power plants began operating in the United States, there have been no physical injuries or fatalities from exposure to radiation from the plants among members of the U.S. public.“

• The plan of storing used nuclear fuel in Yucca mountain was not backed up by President Obama and also an alternative plan is being proposed.

• Production of all the electricity consumed in a four-bedroom house for 70 years leaves about one teacup of high-level waste, and new nuclear build will not make any significant contribution to existing radioactive waste levels for 20-40 years.



Advantages of nuclear power• Reliable• Low fuel and electricity cost• No green house gas emissions/air pollution• High load factor• High potential



Plant Security Measures• Approximately 8,000 well-trained and well-equipped armed security officers at

65 sites who are on duty shifts all day, every day.• Bullet-resisting barriers to critical areas

• Computer systems that help operate the reactors and safety equipment are isolated from the Internet to protect against outside intrusion-cyber security.

• Areas of the plant that house used nuclear fuel would withstand the impact of a wide-body commercial aircraft.

• These plants are among the strongest and most difficult structures to break in in the country. They are designed to withstand extreme events, such as

hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes. But.. What happened in Fukushima



Nuclear Plant Security ZonesOwner

Controlled Area

Protected Area

Vital Area

Access Control Points

Protected Area Double Fence



• NRC requires each power plant to have an Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) with an approximately 10-mile radius.

• Within the emergency EPZ, the plant operator must maintain warning sirens or other systems and regularly conduct emergency response exercises evaluated by NRC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA).

Measures by Nuclear Power Utility Companies in emergency



• The potential release of radioactive iodine during a nuclear incident is a particular concern, because iodine tends to concentrate in the thyroid

gland of persons exposed to it.

• Emergency plans in many states include distribution of iodine pills to the population within the EPZ.

• Taking non-radioactive iodine before exposure would prevent absorption of radioactive iodine but would afford no protection against

other radioactive elements.



• Those living within 10 miles of a nuclear power plant should know

their designated evacuation zones and routes. Power companies

publish this information in telephone books and calendars.

• Keep a working radio with spare batteries available. Know which

radio station to listen to when the sirens sound.

• Get the Iodine pills from evacuation assembly centers beforehand and

store them.

Need to be prepared



Important Things to know during Emergency

• Continue normal activities and monitor the radio or TV until the emergency is over.

• Shelter in place: Stay inside, close all windows and turn off the air conditioner. Monitor the radio or TV until the emergency is over.

• Before you leave home, take prescription medicines and personal toiletry items with you. Take the designated emergency routes for your area.



Future with nuclear power

• As the world is becoming more environmentally unstable, and we cannot further depend on fossil fuels as the primary source of energy. Nuclear power is totally environment friendly.

• A threefold expansion of nuclear power could contribute significantly to staving off climate change by avoiding one billion to two billion tons of carbon emissions annually.

• Designs of new Generation reactors would have greater improvements in safety.

• As of May 15, 2011, a total of 438 nuclear reactors were operating in 30 countries, six fewer than the historical maximum of 444 in 2002.

• The current world reactor fleet has a total nominal capacity of about 372 GW (or thousand megawatts). Despite six fewer units operating in 2011 than in 2002, the capacity is still about 9GW higher.


Energy Systems Research Laboratory, FIUProfessor O. A. Mohammed, Nuclear Teach-In Panel, October 20, 2011

Thank You– Any Questions?

Educational Topic Coverage in Nuclear Power Generation from Safety and Security Issues Professor O. A. Mohammed

Documents

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