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Nuclear Energy
Chapter 12
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Introduction to the Nuclear Process
• Fission –
nuclear energy released when atom split,
conventional technology
• Fusion –
nuclear energy released when atoms fused, solar & futuristic
• Enrichment – Concentration of uranium ore to 3% to enable it to react
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Introduction to the Nuclear ProcessAtoms and Radioactivity
Proton (+)
Neutron (0)
Electron (-)
Nucleus
Normally: # protons = # neutrons = # electrons
Atomic mass = # protons + # neutrons
Atomic number = # protons
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Introduction to the Nuclear Process
8 P
8 N
Oxygen
6 P
6 N
Carbon
Differing # proton = different atom
Normally, # proton = # electrons = # neutrons
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Introduction to the Nuclear Process
6 P
8 N
Carbon
If # neutrons > # protons = Isotope
Chemical behavior identical to normal atom.
Many are radioactive
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Common Radioactive Isotopes
Introduction to the Nuclear Process
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Nuclear FissionNuclear Fuel Cycle
Uranium mines and mills
U-235 enrichment
Fabrication of fuel assemblies
Nuclear power plant
Uranium tailings
Depleted uranium tails
Factory wastes
Low-level wastes
Spent fuel stored on-site
Deep geological disposal
Spent fuel reprocessing
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Nuclear Fission
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Nuclear Fission
How Electricity is Produced from Conventional Nuclear Fission
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Nuclear Fission
Breeder Nuclear Fission
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Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy
Impact Coal Nuclear
Land use 17,000 ac 1,900 ac
Daily fuel requirement
9,000 tons/day 3 kg/day
Air pollutionModerate to severe
Low
Radioactive emissions
1 curie 28,000 curies
Risk from catastrophic accidents
Short-term local risk
Long-term risk over large area
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Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy
Is Electricity Produced by Nuclear Energy Cheap?
• Role of government subsidies (hidden costs)
• The cost of building a nuclear power plant
• Fixing technical and safety problems in existing plants
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Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy
Can Nuclear Energy Decrease Our Reliance on Foreign Oil?
• Only 3% of electricity in US generated by oil
• Oil primarily used for:– heating buildings
– vehicles
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Safety Issues in Nuclear Power Plants
• Probability of major accident low,
but if it occurs, consequences are wide-spread and long-lasting
• Major accidents have included:
Three Mile Island - 1979
Chornobyl - 1986
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Safety Issues in Nuclear Power Plants
Radioactive fallout from Chornobyl:
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Safety Issues in Nuclear Power Plants
The Link Between Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Weapons
Spent fuel from conventional nuclear plant
Fuel for breeder reactor
Can be reprocessed for . . .
OR Nuclear weapons
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Radioactive WastesTwo general types:
• Low-level radioactive wastes - contaminated
• High-level radioactive wastes - reactor
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Radioactive Wastes
Temporary storage includes above-ground storage casks
Insert Fig 12.10 a, b
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Radioactive Wastes
Case-in-Point: Yucca Mountain – by 2010
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Radioactive Wastes
Other considerations:
• High-Level Radioactive Liquid Waste
• Radioactive Wastes with Relatively Short Half-Lives
• Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants
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Fusion: Nuclear Energy for the Future?
Fusion
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The Future of Nuclear Power
Issues:
• Making nuclear power safer - NRC
• Standardizing power plant designs internationally