IP1.18.3 How nuclear reactors work © Oxford University Press 2011 How nuclear reactors work.
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IP1.18.3 How nuclear reactors work © Oxford University Press 2011 How nuclear reactors work
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Transcript of IP1.18.3 How nuclear reactors work © Oxford University Press 2011 How nuclear reactors work.
IP1.18.3 How nuclear reactors work
© Oxford University Press 2011
How nuclear reactors work
IP1.18.3 How nuclear reactors work
© Oxford University Press 2011
Nuclear power can be used to generate electricity. Inside a nuclear reactor, atoms of uranium or plutonium undergo nuclear fission.
IP1.18.3 How nuclear reactors work
© Oxford University Press 2011
This releases a huge amount of heat energy. The heat is used to create steam that drives turbines.
IP1.18.3 How nuclear reactors work
© Oxford University Press 2011
Uranium is made into pellets that are inserted into a nuclear reactor.
IP1.18.3 How nuclear reactors work
© Oxford University Press 2011
Currently around 13% of the electricity in the UK comes from nuclear power and there are plans to build several more nuclear reactors.
IP1.18.3 How nuclear reactors work
© Oxford University Press 2011
This diagram shows the energy transfer that takes place in a nuclear reactor.
Uranium or Plutonium
Nuclear energy
Water / Steam
Heat energy
Turbines
Kinetic energy
Generator
Electricity
IP1.18.3 How nuclear reactors work
© Oxford University Press 2011
Advantages of nuclear power
Huge amounts of electricity can be generated for each kilogram of fuel used.
No carbon dioxide is produced so there is no contribution to global warming.
The fuel is readily available and won’t run out for thousands of years.
IP1.18.3 How nuclear reactors work
© Oxford University Press 2011
Disadvantages of nuclear power
Nuclear reactors produce highly radioactive nuclear waste. This remains dangerous for millions of years, and so has to be buried deep underground.
The cost of building the plant and taking it down when it has finished can be quite high. This means the electricity generated can be relativity expensive.
Nuclear reactors have a very slow start up time. It takes a long time to increase or decrease the amount of electricity they are generating.
There is always the risk of an accident that could release radioactive waste into the environment.
