Electric Power Generation and the Environment

1. Electric Power Generation and the Environment Health Physics Society Power Reactor Section

2. History Of Electricity • Static Electricity – Ancient Greeks • Franklin Invents Lightning Rods - 1752 • Faraday Discovers Electromagnetic Induction – early 1800’s • Edison Invents the Light Bulb and Generating Stations in NYC – 1882 • Tesla Invents Alternating Current Motor for Westinghouse - 1888

3. Faraday’s Law • Moving a magnet through a wire loop produces an electric current. • Called “electromagnetic” induction.

4. Generator • A generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy

5. North America At Night

6. Earth At Night

7. U.S. Sources Today (2002) Source: EIA - Updated 11/03

8. Future Energy Need

9. Sources Tomorrow ? (2025)

10. Energy Policy Goals • Increase energy supply • Optimize available resources • Develop new technology • Limiting environmental impact

11. A Question Of Balance

12. COAL HYDRO NATURAL GAS SOLAR & WIND cheap and abundant but source of greenhouse gases clean but seasonal and no new sources cleaner than coal but limited supply renewable but expensive, low energy density, and intermittent Pros & Cons

13. NUCLEAR high energy density no air pollution reliable fuel supply but what about safety, security, and waste? Pros & Cons

14. High Energy Density Each person in the United States uses either: 4 tons of coal or a few ounces of uranium • 1 pellet = 150 gallons gasoline • 1780 pounds coal • 16,000 ft3 natural gas • 2.5 tons wood

15. No Air Pollution

16. Global Nuclear Power • 442 Nuclear Plants Worldwide • 25% in the United States • Strong growth internationally, China is the fastest growing maket • Source: International Atomic Energy Agency

17. 103 Nuclear Power Reactors

18. But What About… Safety, Security, and Waste? Designed, Constructed, and Operated for Safety Robust Security Used Fuel Storage at Yucca Mountain

19. Safety By Design: Low “Enrichment” • Fission “chain reaction”: E = m * c2 • U-235 atoms fission. 5% in fuel, 95% in bombs.

20. Safety By Design: Fuel Rods • The uranium fuel is made of solid ceramic pellets. • The fuel pellets are sealed inside zirconium alloy rods that are about 13’ long. • ~236 rods in each assembly • ~200 assemblies in the reactor core

21. Safety By Design: Reactor Vessel Typical values: • Weight: 400 tons • Thickness: 8 inches Fuel Assemblies (Core)

22. Safety By Design: PWR Containment Initial Construction Completed Concrete Dome

23. Multiple Layers of Protection

24. Nuclear Plant Security Areas Owner Controlled Area Protected Area Vital Area

25. Active Vehicle Barrier System

26. Intrusion Detection • CCTV on poles • Delay Fence • Intrusion Detection • Perimeter checks • Roving Patrols

27. Defensive Fighting Position

28. Fuel Assemblies Cool In Pools

29. Temporary Dry Storage On Site

30. Yucca Mountain Site

31. Careers in Nuclear • Design • Next Generation Power Plants • Equipment Reliability • Transportation Casks • Engineering • Electrical and Mechanical • Instrumentation and Control • Nuclear

32. Careers in Nuclear • Health Physics • Environmental • Operations • Regulations • Chemistry • Corrosion Protection

33. Websites • Nuclear Regulatory Commission • www.nrc.gov • Nuclear Energy Institute • www.nei.org • Health Physics Society • www.hps.org

34. Thanks …for your interest and patience !