Nuclear Engineering ANS Outreach

What is Nuclear Engineering?

American Nuclear SocietyPurdue Student Chapter

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This is it, right?

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What is Nuclear Engineering?

Nuclear engineering is harnessing the power of the atom to do work

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Early History

450 BC: Democritus termed atomos as the “smallest indivisible particle of matter”Early models of the atom:John Dalton, 1803: ‘Cannonball’ like atomsJJ Thomson, 1904: Plum pudding model

After his 1897 discovery of the electron

Discovering the Nucleus

Bad news for ThomsonPlum pudding was disproved by Rutherford with his classic backscattering experimentThis proved the existence of the nucleus in 1911

Discovering Electrons

Enter Niels BohrElectrons must have energy levelsProposes planetary model of the atom based on Rutherford’sMath checks out for light elements

Discovering Radiation

1896: Henri Becquerel discovers that uranium emits gamma rays

In the following years, Marie Curie finds more radioactive elements, like radium

Discovering Fission

Hahn and Meitner discover fission in 1938

Fermi conducts first successful chain reaction at the University of Chicago in December, 1942

First Nuclear Weapons

Manhattan Project (1945)

“Little Boy” – uranium device dropped on Hiroshima

“Fat Man” – plutonium device dropped on Nagasaki

First Nuclear Power

1951: EBR-1 in Idaho is first reactor to generate electricity

1957: Shippingport Reactor in Pennsylvania is the first commercial nuclear power plant in U.S.

RadiationNuclear Engineering is…

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The Atom

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electronsprotonsneutronsnucleus

γ

Gamma Radiation

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Alpha Radiation

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α

Beta Radiation

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β

Neutron Radiation

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n

Radiation Damage

How does radiation damage happen?

4 kinds of radiation: Alpha, Beta, Neutron Gamma

¾ are PARTICLES Primary mode of

damage: COLLISIONAL ~ Billiard Balls

Damage is a function of: KINETIC ENERGY TRANSFER [1

]

Biological Radiation Damage

The damage process Incident particles

interact with the material

Cause ionizations Change/Destroy

Molecules Biological materials

do not have a crystal lattice to add strength Much more readily

damaged

[3]

Biological effects, continued [4] With incident radiation cells can be:

Unchanged Damaged▪ Damage can be repaired, can return to normal

functioning▪ Damage can be repaired, cell functions are off-normal▪ Can damage other cells, can reproduce unhealthy cells,

can be unable to reproduce

Killed The number and type of cells damaged or

killed determines the impact of a radiation does to biological materials

How do you protect yourself from radiation?

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ShieldingDistanceTimeAmount

Radiation Shielding

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n

β

α

γ

paper aluminum lead atom

How do you detect radiation?

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Answer: Detectors

There are many types of detectors

Today we will use a Geiger-Müller Counter

Basic concept: Radiation enters chamber Ionizes the gas Creates ions that are

attracted to the wire

Geiger Counter

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click!

Radiation is everywhere

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earth

concrete

x-rays

cosmicrays

food

Quantum mechanics

Want to split an atom? Look at your Television!

CRT (giant TV’s) take electrons and speeds them up.

They’re smashed into phosphor molecules on the screen

Collision releases energy and lights the TV screen

http://science.howstuffworks.com/atom-smasher2.htm

How a high- energy accelerator works

Differences from the TV? Particles are bigger Particles move faster

(near speed of light!) Move in a circular

track Collision results in

more subatomic particles

How it works? Particles are

accelerated using EM waves like a surfer riding a swell

The more energetic the particle, the easier it is to see the structures.

Example? If you hit a cue ball in pool and make it go faster the rack of balls will scatter faster and further.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/atom-smasher2.htm

What is detected?

There are many types of detectors

Things that can be detected: Number of particles Energy Mass

http://science.howstuffworks.com/atom-smasher9.htm

Nuclear energy

Nuclear Engineering is…

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U-235U-236

neutrons

Tc-99

I-135

Fission

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Fission Chain Reaction

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H-3

H-2αn

Fusion

BWR: Boiling Water Reactor

Nuclear Power Plants in the U.S.

Nuclear Power Facts

Even though no new plants have been built, the percentage of US electricity generated has increased!

Radiation from nuclear power has never caused a death or cancer in the United States

A nuclear power plant cannot undergo a nuclear explosion

Inertial Confinement Fusion

Magnetic Confinement Fusion

Challenges for Nuclear Fusion Power

Materials challenges First wall High-power superconducting magnets High energy neutron fluxes▪ Lithium blankets, neutron absorbers

Control of plasma We can do this if we solve the materials

challenges

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

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Mining & Milling – Uranium Oxide (U3O8)

Conversion to UF6Enrichment to 3-4% U-235Fabrication in to Fuel Assemblies Burned in ReactorStorage in Spent Fuel PoolDry Cask StoragePermanent Underground StorageReprocessing to Make New Fuel

Energy Equivalence

1 Uranium Pellet

3 Barrelsof Oil

1 Ton of Coal17,000 Cubic Feetof Natural Gas

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Energy Equivalence

1000 MWeNuclear Power Plant

1 km2

1000 Windmills

100 km2

Solar Cells

5000 km2

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Nuclear Power vs. Nuclear Bomb

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U-235

U-238

Solving Problems

Nuclear Engineering is…

Radioactive Waste

Low-level waste: items that have become contaminated or radioactive Contaminated protective shoe covers and

clothing Wiping rags, mops, filters, tools Luminous dials Medical tubes, swabs, injection needles,

syringes, and laboratory animal carcasses and tissues

Low-level waste is disposed underground

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Spent Nuclear Fuel

About 1/3 of the core is removed every 12-18 months

Spent fuel is extremely radioactive!

Stored in spent fuel pool at plant for 5 years to cool

Moved to dry storage once pool is full

Currently have 60,000 metric tons of spent fuel (covers a football field, 7 yards deep)

What are we going to do with it?

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Nuclear material from the nuclear fuel cycle

could be diverted to a weapons program Atomic Bomb▪ Need to chemically separate or enrich material▪ Takes a lot of time, money, and technology

Dirty Bomb: disperse radioactive materials International Atomic Energy Agency

(IAEA) Facilitates peaceful use of nuclear technology Protects nuclear material around the world and

verifies that it is not diverted

Homeland Security

CIA works with IAEA to detect nuclear weapons

Seismic monitoring can detect nuclear weapons testing (like in North Korea)

Portal radiation monitors scan incoming cargo

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Nuclear Medicine

What is Nuclear Medicine?

Nuclear Medicine is a branch of medicine that uses radioisotopes to: diagnose, treat, and track diseases in the human body.

Basic Principle: Certain organs and tissue uptake specific

isotopes or chemical compounds Radioisotopes are combined with

pharmaceuticals that will be absorbed in the tissue or organ in question

Diagnose

Imaging based on function and physiology, not solely on anatomy.

Scan types: Planar SPECT: Single Photon Emission

Computed Tomography PET: Positron Emission Tomography

CAT and MRI scans do not use radioactivity

Normal PET/CT

Abnormal PET/CT

Treatment

Radiopharmaceuticals emit ionizing radiation that travels a short distance in the body

Minimizes unwanted side effects and damage to noninvolved organs and tissues

Some Examples: Iodine-131 : hyperthyroidism Yttrium-90: Lymphoma Strontium-89: bone pain treatment

How it Works

IMAGING

Administration IV Inhaled as a gas Swallowed

The tracer accumulates, and then is imaged with gamma cameras

TREATMENT

Administration IV Inhaled as a gas Swallowed

The tracer accumulates, and then decays, delivering localized dose

What happens after invivo treatment?

Treatments are generally outpatient treatments

The treatment will continue to decay while in your body

Isotopes are choose with have short half lives, so they decay quickly

Your body also has a natural “filtration system” that removes the tracers from your system, known as a biological half-life.

Applications of Nuclear Technology

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Space Application: Power Radioisotope Thermoelectric

Generators (RGT) Long life power source

(months-100yr) Alpha decay heats

thermocouples for electricity

New HorizonsMission to Pluto

Apollo 14

RTG

Space Application: Power Fission Surface Power

Source Fission Reactor to be used on

the surface of the moon or mars

Would be used to power a permanent outpost

Liquid metal coolant used instead of water

Space Applications: Propulsion Nuclear Thermal

Rocket Engines Propellant gas

(hydrogen) is heated in a reactor and is pushed through a nozzle

Ion Propulsion Ionized hydrogen gas

(protons) are accelerated by a strong electric field powered by a nuclear reactor or RTG

NERVA rocket

Ion Engine

Consumer Products: Smoke Detectors

Smoke Detectors An alpha emitter

(Am-241) is used in smoke detection circuit

Alphas ionize an electric plate

Smoke stops ionization of the plate which sets off alarm NOTE: To properly dispose of a smoke detector, just send it back to the manufacturer.

Consumer Products: Self-Powered Lighting Beta emitters

(such as Tritium) are combined with a phosphorescent material to produce light Can make lights

that run continuously for 20 years

Example products

Watch dials

Emergency signs

Gun scopes

Consumer Products: Irradiated Gemstones Color in gemstones is caused by small

imperfections in the crystal structure Most types of radiation (especially

neutrons) can effectively change the color of a gemstone to something more desirable

Manufacturing: Radiation Hardening

Radiation causes small defects in a material which hardens it

Gamma radiation is most commonly used because it can penetrate deep into materials

Examples: Polymerization of

plastics Protective coatings

for hard wood floors

Food Irradiation

Food irradiation: Does not “kill” or spoil the food (it is already

dead) Does not make the food radioactive Does kill living things in the food (bacteria,

viruses) Irradiation can prevent:

Food borne diseases Food infestation Food contamination and spoilage

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Imaging

Neutron radiography Neutron imaging can be

used to find cracks in thick materials such as bridges or aircraft wings

Neutrons can also provide clearer images than X-rays

• Ground Imaging– Neutrons are used in oil

well logging– Neutrons are also used

to determine the water concentration of soil before building heavy structuresNeutron image X-ray image

Careers Opportunities

More nuclear professionals are needed

The demand exceeds the supply of graduates trained in nuclear science and technology

Many nuclear professionals are retiring and need to transfer their knowledge to the next generation of experts.

Scholarships, awards, and honors exist for student education and research

Nuclear Engineers have the 3rd highest median income among the engineering professions at $102,000/year

Government and National Security

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Department of Energy

Research at national labs Homeland security

Central Intelligence Agency NASA

Military Navy Department of

Defense Naval reactor

research and development

Nuclear Power Plants

Reactor Operator Core Designer Safety Analysis Radiation

Protection

Power Industry

Reactor vendors Engineering firms Designer, core

analysis, engineering support of nuclear power plants

Medical

Hospitals or research Nuclear Pharmacy (radioactive tracers) Radiation Therapy (cancer) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) DNA Sequencing

Purdue Nuclear Engineering

Research Areas Ultraintense Laser Science and Technology Center for Materials Under Extreme

Environment Radiation Materials and Surface Interactions Nuclear Detection and Remote Sensing Radiation Shielding for Space Applications Thermal Hydraulics and Reactor Safety Fuel Cycle and Waste Management Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Nuclear Systems Simulation Applied Intelligent Systems Reactor Fusion Reactor Physics

First Year Engineering

Introduction to Engineering Calculus I and II Chemistry I and II Physics I and II English Communications Computer Science

Nuclear Engineering Curriculum Math (4) Intro to Nuclear

Engr. Mechanical Engr.

(3) Radiation Lab Materials (2-3 &

Lab) Neutron Physics

(2) Thermal-

Hydraulics (2) Fluid Mechanics

Lab

Linear Circuit Analysis

Reactor Lab Nuclear Power

Systems Nuclear Reactor

Theory Colloquium Series Technical Electives

(6) General Electives

(6) Senior Design (2)

PUR-1

• Only nuclear reactor in Indiana• Used for

research and teaching• Get to operate

it senior year!

Questions?Nuclear Engineering is…

?

Sources

American Nuclear Society U.S. Department of Energy U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Nuclear Energy Institute International Atomic Energy Agency American Wind Energy Association World Nuclear Association NASA

Three Mile Island Accident – Pennsylvania 1979 Cooling malfunction

caused part of the core to melt, destroyed reactor

Some radioactive gas was released a couple of days after the accident, but not above background levels to local residents

No injuries or adverse health effects

http://www.teachersparadise.com/ency/en/wikipedia/t/th/three_mile_island.html

Chernobyl Accident – Ukraine 1986 Flawed reactor design, operated by

inadequately trained personnel, unsafe operation

Steam explosion and fire released 5% of the radioactive reactor core into the atmosphere

28 people died within four months from radiation or thermal burns, 19 have subsequently died, and about 9 deaths from thyroid cancer: total 56 fatalities

Damaged reactor currently contained in sarcophagus

New sturdy steel containment to be built soon http://blog.kievukraine.info/uploaded_images/5436-

708397.jpg