Nuclear power is produced through nuclear fission and fusion reactions. Fission splits heavy atoms like uranium to release energy, while fusion combines lighter atoms like hydrogen. Nuclear power plants use controlled fission reactions to heat water and generate electricity. Issues include nuclear waste disposal and safety concerns over potential meltdowns.
Nuclear power is produced through nuclear fission and fusion reactions. Fission splits heavy atoms like uranium to release energy, while fusion combines lighter atoms like hydrogen. Nuclear power plants use controlled fission reactions to heat water and generate electricity. Issues include nuclear waste disposal and safety concerns over potential meltdowns.
Original Description:
Nuclear energy report involving the process, plant, advantages and disadvantage
Nuclear power is produced through nuclear fission and fusion reactions. Fission splits heavy atoms like uranium to release energy, while fusion combines lighter atoms like hydrogen. Nuclear power plants use controlled fission reactions to heat water and generate electricity. Issues include nuclear waste disposal and safety concerns over potential meltdowns.
Nuclear power is produced through nuclear fission and fusion reactions. Fission splits heavy atoms like uranium to release energy, while fusion combines lighter atoms like hydrogen. Nuclear power plants use controlled fission reactions to heat water and generate electricity. Issues include nuclear waste disposal and safety concerns over potential meltdowns.
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c
Energy
Nuclear
power
is another important alternative energy source. This is already commonly used in many countries today. This is the energy produced by the nuclear reaction through fusion and fission. The energy released through the reaction is transferred into electrical energy, which is used in local power grids.
Fission Is
the splitting of heavy atoms,
uranium, into lighter atoms.
At
present, nuclear power plants use
reaction to generate electricity.
such
as
fission
Fusion Is
the combining of lighter atoms, such as
hydrogen, deuterium, and tritium, into heavier ones, such as helium.
Fusion is still currently being
electric power generation.
explored
for
The Process of Nuclear
Fission Heavy metal elements such as uranium
or plutonium are used in the process of nuclear fission. The fuel for this reaction is a large radioactive and unstable atom such as Uranium - 235, or U-235. A neutron is shot at the U235 atom at a high speed, and splits apart the U-235 atom. Tons of nuclear energy is released as well as three more neutrons. Nuclear fission is when a free nucleus collides with a heavy metal, destabilizing it. The nucleus releases a tremendous amount of energy, which, in a power plant, is converted to electrical energy.
Nuclear Fission
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE 3
RELEASED NEUTRONS RAN INTO 3 MORE U-235 ATOMS? A nuclear chain reaction occurs. Nuclear power plants keep this chain reaction under control, however an explosion can occur if this reaction is out of control. The atomic bomb is an example of this.
Process of Nuclear Fusion Nuclear fusion uses, on the other hand, extremely light elements such as hydrogen, for power. In fusion, two hydrogen atoms collide together at high temperatures and fuse (melt) together to form a larger helium atom. A free neutron is still collided, but instead of the atom breaking and releasing energy, the neutron bonds with the nucleus, which also destabilizes the atom, and releases energy.
Nuclear Fusion
Neutron and energy H-2 nucleus
H-3 nucleus
Helium nucleus
Fission vs. Fusion
1. Fuel (Uranium) is in limited supply. 2. Reaction can be controlled.
1. Fuel (Hydrogen) can be taken from water, which we have great supply of.
3. High-level radioactive waste products are made.
2. Reaction needs high temperatures, cannot be easily controlled.
4.
3. Produces low-level safe waste products.
Waste products are large and take years to decay to safe levels.
4.
It takes more energy to get fusion started than what you get
Comparing Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion Types of Reaction
Process
Products
Fission
One nucleus splits
Two nuclei, neutrons, energy
Fusion
Two nuclei fuse
One nucleus, neutrons, energy
The Creation of Nuclear
Energy Nuclear energy is produced in nuclear generators, by the process of nuclear fission. Successful ignition of nuclear fusion has only been achieved in the test of a hydrogen bomb, and has never been used in power generation.
Nuclear Power Plant
Parts 1. Fuel - Uranium-235 provides the nuclear energy needed to heat the reactor vessel or core. Made in pellets the size of your fingernail. 2. Reactor vessel (core) - The section of a nuclear power plant where the fission reaction occurs. 3. Fuel rods - The uranium-235 pellets are placed in these. Many rods are bundled together in the reactor vessel (core). 4. Control rods - These are placed within the fuel rods. They are usually made of the element Cadmium. They control the speed of the fission reaction. 5. Cooling water (coolant) - Surrounds the control and fuel rods inside the core. This water is
6. Heat exchanger - Hot radioactive water inside
the pipe makes contact with normal water in the tank. The normal water is heated up, and turns to steam. 7. Steam turbine - Contains sets of fan blades that turn when steam is shot through them. 8. Generator - A magnet connected to the turbine spins inside giant coils of wire producing electricity. 9. Cooling Tower - A holding tank where the heated water collects to cool down. When the water is cooled, it is pumped back into the plant to be used again. Steam rises from the tower - not smoke!!!!
Nuclear Power Plant
Why Does It Work?
The entire concept of nuclear reaction can be simplified down to Einstein's famous mass-energy equivalence equation
E=mc2
E=mc
This famous equation is the basis for all
nuclear physics. The equation means that mass is equivalent to energy times the speed of light in a vacuum, squared. Therefore, when mass is added or subtracted to an atom, there is a strong output of nuclear energy.
E(energy)=m(mass) x c(speed of light)2
The Benefits of Nuclear
Power
Nuclear power has an enormous benefit over oil. First off, it produces no pollution. Secondly, it can provide as much power as oil or coal. Next, operating the plant is fairly cheap, compared to oil.
The Disadvantages of Nuclear Power Nuclear power isnt without is downsides, however. First and foremost, there is always the possibility of a nuclear meltdown, but this is extremely rare and has only occurred twice in history. Second is nuclear waste, and a cheap method to dispose of it is still in the works.
Waste Disposal Long term solution financed by nuclear utilities in cooperation with U.S. government Yucca Mountain: one site for high-level radioactive waste makes it easy to monitor, regulate, and secure DOE: Required to design, construct, operate EPA: Required to set standards to protect public and environment NRC: Required to approve/license DOE proposal
Why dont we all use it?
Mainly, people are afraid of the possibility of a
nuclear meltdown. However, there is a slim to none chance that a meltdown will occur in America.
Meltdown - When temperatures inside the reactor core
get too hot, the fuel rods melt together causing a possible explosion/release of radiation.
Next, is the problem of nuclear waste. This
problem however, can be solved with enough research. Lastly, nuclear plants are costly to produce. The government has been largely ineffective in operating these and private corporations are the only entities able to maintain these facilities,
Yucca Mountain
Current Status 439 nuclear power plants 35 under construction USA 104 (1**), 787.2 TWh France 59, 418.6 TWh Japan 55 (1), 266.4*** TWh Russia 31 (7), 147.8 TWh China 11**** (6), 62.6 TWh India 17 (6), 15.6 TWh (Parenthesis) = (# of unit under construction)
o c o n a R . T i r a M u Annalo Josefe L. Madanlo jr. Robert C. Mandaguio d a r a h A . U y f a R
