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Nuclear Power. 1. Nuclear fission nucleus of atom is split into parts, produces free neutrons and energy. What is nuclear energy?.
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1. Nuclear fission nucleus of atom is split into parts, produces free neutrons and energy What is nuclear energy? Power plants use heat to produce electricity. Nuclear energy produces electricity from heat through a process called fission. Nuclear power plants use the heat produced by fission of certain atoms.
2. Uranium-235 Fissionof U-235 splits nucleus in two pieces releases neutrons for chain reaction Nuclear fission chain reaction releases energy in the form ofheat http://www.ecolo.org/photos/uranium/uranium-black.jpg Nuclear Fuel: Uranium 92 U Uranium The fuel used in nuclear power plants is an isotope of the radioactive element uranium
3. Nuclear Reactor device built to sustain a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Crocus-p1020491.jpg www.pbase.com/pbrakke/image/44279993 Nuclear Reactors • Main Components of Nuclear Reactor: • reactor vessel • tubes of uranium • control rods • - containment structure control rods control radioactivity, absorbs neutrons Containment structure contains the reaction in at least 3 feet of concrete!
4. Nuclear power plant consists of all the parts needed to create electricity by using nuclear energy The heat is used to heat water to create steam Fission occurs in the reactor vessel. Heat is produced. The steam is used to turn the turbine in the generator to produce electricity The steam is cooled in the condenser to return to the liquid phase. The Nuclear Power Plant
Video: How a pressurized water nuclear reactor (pwr) works http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0VjHg0juz4
2. Uranium-235 1. nuclear fission 3. nuclear reactor 4. nuclear power plant Key Components of Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Power Production in Wisconsin - U.S. produces about 31% of world’s nuclear power - consumes about 22% WI - 2 nuclear power plants, Kewaunee and Point Beach 20% of WI’s energy is from nuclear power Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant Two Rivers, WI Kewaunee Power Plant Carlton, WI
Three Mile Island Pennsylvania, USA
The American Experience’s Meltdown at Three Mile Island http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBNM3GLzvzo