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Unit 3
Unit 3
Unit 3
Principles of nuclear energy Fission reactions Nuclear reactor Nuclear power plants
Nuclear reaction
Chain reaction occurs when a Uranium atom splits Different reactions
Atomic Bomb in a split second Nuclear Power Reactor more controlled, cannot explode like a bomb
Program to justify nuclear technology Proposals for power, canal-building, canalexports First commercial power plant, Illinois 1960
Economic advantages
The energy in one pound of highly enriched Uranium is comparable to that of one million gallons of gasoline. One million times as much energy in one pound of Uranium as in one pound of coal.
Emissions Free
Nuclear energy annually prevents
5.1 million tons of sulfur 2.4 million tons of nitrogen oxide 164 metric tons of carbon
Uranium enrichment
U-235
Fissionable at 3% Weapons grade at 90%
U-238
More stable
PlutoniumPlutonium-239
Created from U-238; highly radioactive U-
Radioactivity of plutonium
Life span of least 240,000 years Last Ice Age glaciation was 10,000 years ago Neanderthal Man died out 30,000 years ago
Breeder reactor
Breeds plutonium as it operates
Uses liquid sodium metal instead of water for coolant
Could explode if in contact with air or water
Reprocessing
Separates reusable fuel from waste
Large amounts of radioactivity released
Summary
Nuclear energy has no typical pollutants or greenhouse gasses Nuclear waste contains high levels of radioactive waste, which are active for hundreds of thousands of years. The controversy around nuclear energy stems from all parts of the nuclear chain.