M.E nuclear energy

8/9/2019 M.E nuclear energy

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cN

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Energy


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Nuclear power is anotherimportant alternative energysource. This is already commonlyused in many countries today. Thisis the energy produced by thenuclear reaction through fusion andfission. The energy releasedthrough the reaction is transferred

into electrical energy, which isused in local power grids.


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FissionIs the splitting of heavy atoms, such asuranium, into lighter atoms.

At present, nuclear power plants use fissionreaction to generate electricity.

FusionIs the combining of lighter atoms, such as

hydrogen, deuterium, and tritium, intoheavier ones, such as helium.

Fusion is still currently being explored forelectric power generation.


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The Process of NuclearFission

Heavy metal elements such as uranium orplutoniumare used in the process of nuclearfission.

The fuel for this reaction is a largeradioactive and unstable atom such as Uranium

!"#, or U!"#. A neutron is shot at the U!"# atom at a high speed, and splits apart theU!"# atom. Tons of nuclear energy isreleased as well as three more neutrons.

$uclear fission is when a free nucleuscollides with a heavy metal, destabili%ing it.The nucleus releases a tremendous amount ofenergy, which, in a power plant, is convertedto electrical energy.


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Nuclear Fission


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WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE 3

RELEASED NEUTRONS RAN INTO 3 MORE

U-235 ATOMS?

A nuclear &chain reaction'occurs. $uclear power plants

(eep this chain reaction undercontrol, however an explosioncan occur if this reaction isout of control. The atomicbomb is an example of this.


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Process of NuclearFusion

$uclear fusion uses, on the other hand,extremely light elements such as hydrogen,for power.

In fusion, two hydrogen atoms collidetogether at high temperatures and fuse)melt* together to form a larger heliumatom.

A free neutron is still collided, but

instead of the atom brea(ing and releasingenergy, the neutron bonds with the nucleus,which also destabili%es the atom, andreleases energy.


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Helium

nucleus

Neutron

and energy

H-3 nucleus

H-2 nucleus

Nuclear Fusion


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Fission vs. Fusion

+. Fuel )Uranium*is in limitedsupply.

!. eaction can

be controlled.". Highlevel

radioactivewaste productsare made.

-. asteproducts arelarge and ta(eyears to decayto safelevels.

+. Fuel )Hydrogen*can be ta(en fromwater, which wehave great supplyof.

!. eaction needshigh temperatures,cannot be easilycontrolled.

". /roduces lowlevelsafe wasteproducts.

-. It ta(es moreenergy to getfusion startedthan what you get


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Comparing Nuclear

Fission and NuclearFusionTypes of eaction /rocess Products

Fission0ne nucleus

splitsTwo nuclei,

neutrons, energy

Fusion Two nuclei fuse 0ne nucleus,neutrons, energy


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The Creation of NuclearEnergy

$uclear energy is produced innuclear generators, by the processof nuclear fission. 1uccessful

ignition of nuclear fusion has onlybeen achieved in the test of ahydrogen bomb, and has never beenused in power generation.


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Nuclear Power Plant

Parts1.Fuel Uranium!"# provides the nuclear energyneeded to heat the reactor vessel or core.2ade in pellets the si%e of your fingernail.

2.Reactor vessel core! The section of anuclear power plant where the fission reactionoccurs.

".Fuel rods The uranium!"# pellets are placedin these. 2any rods are bundled together inthe reactor vessel )core*.

#.Control rods These are placed within the fuelrods. They are usually made of the element3admium. They control the speed of the fissionreaction.

$.Cooling water coolant! 1urrounds the control

and fuel rods inside the core. This water is


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%.&eat e'changer Hot radioactive water insidethe pipe ma(es contact with normal water in thetan(. The normal water is heated up, and turnsto steam.

(.)team tur*ine 3ontains sets of fan blades

that turn when steam is shot through them.+.,enerator A magnet connected to the turbine

spins inside giant coils of wire producingelectricity.

-.Cooling Tower A holding tan( where the heatedwater collects to cool down. hen the water iscooled, it is pumped bac( into the plant to beused again. Steam rises from te to!er -"otsmo#e4444


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Nuclear Power Plant


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hy /oes 0t or

The entire concept of nuclear reaction

can be simplified down to 5instein6sfamous massenergy e7uivalence e7uation

E=mc2


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E=mc2

This famous e7uation is the basis for allnuclear physics. The e7uation means thatmass is e7uivalent to energy times thespeed of light in a vacuum, s7uared.

Therefore, when mass is added or subtractedto an atom, there is a strong output ofnuclear energy.

5)energy*8m)mass* x c)speed oflight*!


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$uclear power has an enormousbenefit over oil. First off, itproduces no pollution.

1econdly, it can provide as muchpower as oil or coal.

$ext, operating the plant is fairlycheap, compared to oil.

The 3enefits of Nuclear

Power


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$uclear power isn9t without isdownsides, however.

First and foremost, there is alwaysthe possibility of a nuclearmeltdown, but this is extremely rareand has only occurred twice in

history. 1econd is nuclear waste, and a cheapmethod to dispose of it is still inthe wor(s.

The /isadvantages ofNuclear Power


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aste /isposal

:ong term solution financed by nuclearutilities in cooperation with U.1.government

;ucca 2ountain< one site for highlevelradioactive waste ma(es it easy tomonitor, regulate, and secure

=05< e7uired to design, construct,operate5/A< e7uired to set standards to protect

public and environment$3< e7uired to approve>license =05

proposal


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2ainly, people are afraid of the possibility of anuclear meltdown. However, there is a slim tonone chance that a meltdown will occur inAmerica.

2eltdown hen temperatures inside the reactor coreget too hot, the fuel rods melt together causinga possible explosion>release of radiation.

$ext, is the problem of nuclear waste. This

problem however, can be solved with enoughresearch.

:astly, nuclear plants are costly to produce. Thegovernment has been largely ineffective inoperating these and private corporations are the

only entities able to maintain these facilities,

hy don4t we all use it


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5ucca 6ountain


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-"? nuclear power plants

"# under construction

U1A +@- )+*, BCB.! Th

France #?, -+C.D Th

Eapan ## )+*, !DD.- Th

ussia "+ )B*, +-B.C Th

3hina ++ )D*, D!.D Th

India +B )D*, +#.D Th)/arenthesis* 8 ) of unit under construction*

Current )tatus


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AnnalouMariT.

Ranoco

JosefeL.Madanlojr.

Robert C. Mandaguio

RafyU.Aharad

M.E nuclear energy

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