NUCLEAR ENERGYNUCLEAR ENERGY

By: Sami PowerBy: Sami Power

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Andrea HuntAndrea Hunt

History History

December 20, 1951, in Arco, Idaho, USA, for the first time electricity was produced December 20, 1951, in Arco, Idaho, USA, for the first time electricity was produced by nuclear energy. by nuclear energy.

On June 26, 1954, at Obninsk, Russia, the nuclear power plant APS-1 with a net On June 26, 1954, at Obninsk, Russia, the nuclear power plant APS-1 with a net electrical output of 5 MW was connected to the power grid, the world's first nuclear electrical output of 5 MW was connected to the power grid, the world's first nuclear power plant that generated electricity for commercial use. On August 27, 1956 the power plant that generated electricity for commercial use. On August 27, 1956 the first commercial nuclear power plant, Calder Hall 1, Eng-land, with a net electrical first commercial nuclear power plant, Calder Hall 1, Eng-land, with a net electrical output of 50 MW was connected to the national grid.output of 50 MW was connected to the national grid.

As of February 2, 2012 in 31 countries 435 nuclear power plant units with an As of February 2, 2012 in 31 countries 435 nuclear power plant units with an installed electric net capacity of about 368 GW are in operation and 63 plants with installed electric net capacity of about 368 GW are in operation and 63 plants with an installed capacity of 61 GW are in 15 countries under construction.an installed capacity of 61 GW are in 15 countries under construction.

As of end 2010 the total electricity production since 1951 amounts to 67,240 billion As of end 2010 the total electricity production since 1951 amounts to 67,240 billion kWh. kWh.

How the System WorksHow the System Works

What is required to make What is required to make it workit work

There are two ways that nuclear energy is There are two ways that nuclear energy is producedproduced

Nuclear fission is when nuclei are split and Nuclear fission is when nuclei are split and releases energy and the main fuel used to start releases energy and the main fuel used to start the reaction is uranium the reaction is uranium

The other way is nuclear fusion which is when The other way is nuclear fusion which is when nuclei atoms and joined together that only nuclei atoms and joined together that only happens when there is a tremendous amount happens when there is a tremendous amount of heat.of heat.

Costs and Building Costs and Building MaintanceMaintance

The first few plants in the U.S. are The first few plants in the U.S. are expected to cost $3500 per KW of expected to cost $3500 per KW of capapcity. capapcity.

Pros:Pros:--Lowers the effect of green Lowers the effect of green

house gases that are house gases that are released into the released into the atmosphere in power atmosphere in power generation.generation.

-low operating cost-low operating cost

-Well-operated plants don’t -Well-operated plants don’t release harmful gases into release harmful gases into the enviromentthe enviroment

Cons:Cons:

-if explosion happens then the -if explosion happens then the release of all that radiation release of all that radiation could make the residents could make the residents around the plant either sick or around the plant either sick or even die!!!!even die!!!!

--Nuclear reactors only last for Nuclear reactors only last for about forty to fifty years.about forty to fifty years.

-lots of waste disposal problems, -lots of waste disposal problems, people could die if the touch people could die if the touch the reactors, so they are the reactors, so they are stored in cooling poolsstored in cooling pools..

Environmental ImpactEnvironmental Impact

Operating nuclear power plants have Operating nuclear power plants have almost no carbon emissions because almost no carbon emissions because they only let out heat and radioactive they only let out heat and radioactive waste. waste.

They have to be constructed, and uranium They have to be constructed, and uranium has to be mined processed and has to be mined processed and transported, waste has to be stored, and transported, waste has to be stored, and then the plant would have to be then the plant would have to be decommissioned.decommissioned.

Pollutants and Geo. Pollutants and Geo. distributiondistribution

Thermal PollutionThermal Pollution Air Pollution Air Pollution Nuclear wasteNuclear waste Radioactive Radioactive

PollutantsPollutants

Geo. Dis. Geo. Dis. Nuclear power plants Nuclear power plants

are most popular in are most popular in the USAthe USA

Research Point 1Research Point 1

Vermont has 38 percent nuclear energy Vermont has 38 percent nuclear energy supplysupply

Research Point 2Research Point 2

Wyoming has very little amounts of Wyoming has very little amounts of nuclear energy.nuclear energy.

Work CitedWork Cited

http://www.euronuclear.org/info/encyclopedia/n/nuclear-power-plahttp://www.euronuclear.org/info/encyclopedia/n/nuclear-power-plant-world-wide.htmnt-world-wide.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/3471/nuclear_energy_body.htmlhttp://library.thinkquest.org/3471/nuclear_energy_body.html

http://nuclearinfo.net/Nuclearpower/WebHomeCostOfNuclearPowhttp://nuclearinfo.net/Nuclearpower/WebHomeCostOfNuclearPowerer

Livestrong.com/article/217899-environment-impacts-of-nuclar-Livestrong.com/article/217899-environment-impacts-of-nuclar-energey/energey/