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Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy. Nuclear Energy. most striking development in sources of power in recent years. Release of the atom. How long…. Have we known about atomic power?. Ancient Greeks. included atomic theory as one of their philosophical studies

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Nuclear Energy

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  1. Nuclear Energy

  2. Nuclear Energy • most striking development in sources of power in recent years. • Release of the atom

  3. How long….. • Have we known about atomic power?

  4. Ancient Greeks • included atomic theory as one of their philosophical studies • Knowledge about atoms was developed in the 17th century

  5. Early 1900’s • theory became clarified

  6. 1940”s • atom was split • resulting power was put to work

  7. Nuclear fission • the nuclei of heavy atoms are split under bombardment by neutrons

  8. Nuclear fission • when a sufficient amount of fissionable material is brought together • chain reaction occurs

  9. Nuclear fission • splitting atoms and releasing a tremendous amount of heat

  10. Nuclear fission • approximately 20,000 times as much heat and energy is released from uranium fuels as from an equivalent amount of coal

  11. Use of fission power • 1945 • first large scale use • atomic bombs were used by the US to knock Japan out of WWII

  12. WWII • since then attention has been given to the peaceful uses of atomic energy

  13. 1980 • the amount of electrical power generated by nuclear power plants was about 11% of the total electrical supplies in the US

  14. Energy from fission • atomic energy in the US today is produced by the process known as nuclear fission

  15. Fuel supplies • adequate supplies for nuclear power • major mineral sources for nuclear power • Uranium 238 • Thorium 232

  16. Fuel • from those - U 235 and Plutonium 239 can be produced • in the early stages of development US relied heavily upon imports of uranium

  17. Fuel • from South Africa and Canada

  18. 1950’s and 60’s • western US deposits were developed • Bureau of Mines reported that -

  19. . • “Domestic production is adequate to supply present and near-future domestic requirements.”

  20. In 1981 • US was still the world leading miner of uranium

  21. Nuclear Fusion • Fusion is combining together • the atoms are fused together rather than split apart • possibilities for nuclear fusion are much greater than those for nuclear fission

  22. Fusion • problems • process is so difficult to control that it is questionable whether commercial adaptation will ever be economically feasible

  23. Problems • fusion requires extreme pressure and temperatures • as high as 100 million degrees

  24. Problems • such heat was achieved by the Hydrogen bomb • by first setting off a fission explosion

  25. Fuel for fusion • fusion reactors would be fueled by deuterium • an isotope of hydrogen • available in almost unlimited supply in sea water

  26. US Government • demonstration fusion reactor • hopes to have in operation by 2015

  27. LWR • Light Water Reactor • use ordinary water • have been in commercial use since 1957

  28. LWR • free from environmental problems of coal fired electric power plants

  29. LWR disadvantages • potential of a reactor explosion • contamination form atomic wastes • construction costs and technical problems

  30. Safety? • 1974 report stated of Nuclear Power

  31. Safety? • “its use poses serious environmental issues, including reactor safety, radioactive waste management and nuclear theft……..

  32. Safety? • A very hazardous enterprise.”

  33. Three Mile Island • March 28, 1979 • Human and mechanical failure led to the release of a considerable amount of radioactivity

  34. Three Mile Island • evacuation of preschool children and pregnant women within five miles of the plant

  35. Three Mile Island • Nevertheless • 67 nuclear facilities are expected to continued operating • 90 were planned for construction by 1990

  36. Safety Institutions • two • Nuclear Safety Analysis Center • monitors performance of safety

  37. Safety Institutions • Institute of Nuclear Power • inspects existing reactors and evaluates them

  38. Industrial Significance • peaceful use • development of under-seas and space nuclear power • medical use of radioisotopes

  39. Industrial Significance • research in nuclear physics • ensnarled by many problems technological, economic and social

  40. Breeder Reactors • fast breeder reactors • more efficient to operate than LWR’s are undergoing experiment

  41. Breeder Reactors • two types • LMFBR • Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor

  42. Breeder Reactors • GCFBR • Gas cooled fast breeder reactor

  43. Breeder Reactors • they produce more fuel than they consume • more efficient than LWR’s

  44. Breeder Reactors • can use 50-70% of the uranium mined in contrast to only 2% by the LWR

  45. Breeder Reactors • safety problems for the LMFBR may prove to be more sever than those of the LWR

  46. 1950’s • Atomic Energy Commission stated: • all new power plants under construction would be atomic powered

  47. 1950’s • nuclear energy would account for one half of all the electricity generated

  48. 1950’s forecast • does not seem likely to happen • it takes 10-12 years to get a nuclear plant in operation from the first time it is planned

  49. 1950’s forecast • no new plant orders were signed in the early 1980’s due to the Three Mile Island accident.

  50. 1974 • American Scientists and Engineers completed a study • assessed the possibilities of accident risks in nuclear reactors…...

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