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Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy. Using Nuclear Energy. There are currently 65 commercially operating nuclear power plants with 104 nuclear reactors in 31 states around the country. These plants have generated about 20% of U.S. electricity each year since 1990. Source: www.eia.gov. Nuclear Reactors.

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Nuclear Energy

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  1. Nuclear Energy

  2. Using Nuclear Energy • There are currently 65 commercially operating nuclear power plants with 104 nuclear reactors in 31 states around the country. These plants have generated about 20% of U.S. electricity each year since 1990. Source: www.eia.gov

  3. Nuclear Reactors • All reactors have: • Fuel that can undergo fission • Control rods to control the reactions • A cooling system to keep the reactor from being damaged • A core where the actual fission takes place

  4. Nuclear Fuel • Only certain elements can undergo nuclear fission. • Uranium-235 is most commonly used • Enriched uranium for nuclear power is 3% - 5% Uranium

  5. The Reactor Core • Nuclear fuel pellets are stacked together to form fuel rods. • Control rods absorb nuclei to slow the chain reactions • Water is pumped through the core to remove the heat • 1g of matter is converted into energy for every 1kg uranium that undergoes fission Energy from 1 kg uranium = energy from 3 million kg coal

  6. Nuclear Fission • When uranium-235 nucleus absorbs a neutron, it splits into 2 smaller nuclei and 2 or 3 extra neutrons • The extra neutrons are absorbed into the nuclei of other atoms in a chain reaction

  7. Nuclear Power Plants

  8. Nuclear Power Plants • Fission is very, very hot • The heat from fission reactions is used to heat water and produce steam • The steam is used to rotate a turbine • The turbine drives an electric generator • The overall efficiency is about 35%, about the same as coal or gas power plants

  9. Advantages • Nuclear power plants do not release air pollutants or carbon dioxide • Can reduce the effects of global climate change

  10. Risks • Accidents could release radioactive chemicals into the environment • Radioactive waste materials must be safely disposed of • Low level waste remains radioactive for a short time • High level waste remains radioactive for tens of thousands of years

  11. Chernobyl Disaster 1986

  12. Fusion • Hydrogen nuclei join together at high temperatures converting a small amount of mass to energy • Hydrogen would be a cheap abundant fuel source • Has to happen at temperatures of millions of degrees

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