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The Return of Nuclear Power

Explore the benefits of nuclear power production, the features of Generation III reactors, and the various options for nuclear waste disposal. Discover how nuclear power is economically sound, environmentally friendly, and becoming safer and more efficient with new designs.

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The Return of Nuclear Power

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  1. The Return of Nuclear Power By Mark Treat

  2. Outline • Benefits of Nuclear Power Production • Features Of Generation III Reactors • What to do with nuclear waste

  3. Benefits of Nuclear Power • The energy provided by one Uranium Fuel pellet (about the size of your little finger) is equivalent to 1780 lbs of coal, or 17000cf of natural gas • Air pollution associated with coal fired and natural gas plants is non-existent • Nuclear Plant operation cost is roughly 50-80% less than other sources • Through the use of “Breeder Reactors” electricity could be generated at current levels for 1000 years • There have been no fatalities as a result of operating nuclear reactors in the U.S. in the last 40 years

  4. Generation III Reactors • Pebble Bed Modular Reactors • Westinghouse AP1000

  5. Pebble Bed Modular Reactor • Fueled with Uranium contained in “pebbles” composed of graphite, pyrolitic carbon and silicon carbide • Uses Helium to drive the gas turbine. Helium is incombustible and can not become radioactive • The PBMR is incapable of going into meltdown • Each PBMR produces 168MWe and has start up costs of $1000/kW in clusters of 8

  6. Pebble Bed Reactor

  7. Westinghouse AP1000 • The AP600 is a simplified, more robust version of a generation II steam turbine nuclear plant • Safety systems are designed to reduce reliance on point failure sources such as pumps, fans, diesel motors and chillers by using natural forces • The AP600 will produce 600MWe and has start up costs of $1200/kW

  8. Simplification In The AP600

  9. Westinghouse AP1000

  10. The Big ProblemRadioactive Waste There are many options for disposal and reduction of nuclear waste • The proposed Yucca Mountain facility • Disposal in the ocean at a subduction fault • Disposal in the arctic ice cap • Reprocessing to recover fissionable material and reduce waste which must be disposed.

  11. Yucca Mountain • Stainless steel and Nickel alloy 22 will be used to insure long life • Waste containers and tunnels are designed to handle punishment • Yucca Mountain’s dry climate and natural geological makeup slow the travel of radioactive particles

  12. Summary Nuclear Power is a viable source of electricity • It is economically more sound than other forms of energy production • It is environmentally friendly • New designs are making Nuclear Power safer and more efficient • There are multiple options for nuclear waste disposal

  13. Works Cited • http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8208/8208coal.html • http://www.uic.com.au/nip16.htm • http://www.pbmr.com/ • http://www.westinghousenuclear.com/D6c.asp • http://library.thinkquest.org/17940/texts/nuclear_waste_future/nuclear_waste_future.html • http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/r/a/ram332/nwdo.htm

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