P3aw E

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Nuclear Energy By Andrew Waller

Transcript of P3aw E

Page 1: P3aw E

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy

By Andrew WallerBy Andrew Waller

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How it works How it works

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Uranium Uranium

• Upon bombardment with slow neutrons, its uranium-235 isotope will most of the time divide into two smaller nuclei, releasing nuclear binding energy

• Upon bombardment with slow neutrons, its uranium-235 isotope will most of the time divide into two smaller nuclei, releasing nuclear binding energy

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Nuclear Energy Nuclear Energy

• Nuclear fission achieved in 1934.• In 1954 the world's first nuclear.

power plant was put on-line.• In 1979 the accident at Three Mile

Island and in 1986 the Chernobyl disaster happened.

• Nuclear fission achieved in 1934.• In 1954 the world's first nuclear.

power plant was put on-line.• In 1979 the accident at Three Mile

Island and in 1986 the Chernobyl disaster happened.

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Life-cycleLife-cycle

• Uranium mining• Enriched• Delivered• Reprocessing after use. 95% of

spent fuel can be recycled

• Uranium mining• Enriched• Delivered• Reprocessing after use. 95% of

spent fuel can be recycled

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Water use Water use

• Over 4 million gallons a day. • Two-thirds of the energy produced

goes into waste heat.• Droughts can pose a problem by

causing the source of cooling water to run out.

• Over 4 million gallons a day. • Two-thirds of the energy produced

goes into waste heat.• Droughts can pose a problem by

causing the source of cooling water to run out.

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Waste Waste

• 25–30 tonnes of spent fuel each year.

• Most U.S. waste is currently stored in temporary storage sites requiring oversight

• Underground storage at Yucca Mountain in U.S.

• 25–30 tonnes of spent fuel each year.

• Most U.S. waste is currently stored in temporary storage sites requiring oversight

• Underground storage at Yucca Mountain in U.S.

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AdvantagesAdvantages

• Nuclear power generation does emit relatively low amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2).

• This technology is readily available.

• It is possible to generate a high amount of electrical energy in one single plant.

• Nuclear power generation does emit relatively low amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2).

• This technology is readily available.

• It is possible to generate a high amount of electrical energy in one single plant.

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DisadvantagesDisadvantages

• The problem of radioactive waste is still an unsolved one.

• High risks: Despite a generally high security standard, accidents can still happen.

• The problem of radioactive waste is still an unsolved one.

• High risks: Despite a generally high security standard, accidents can still happen.

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Three Mile Island/ChernobylThree Mile Island/Chernobyl

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Yucca MountainYucca Mountain

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Transport Transport

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Nuclear power in shipsNuclear power in ships

• The first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus put to sea in 1955

• Development of nuclear merchant ships began in the 1950s, but has not generally been commercially successful.

• The first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus put to sea in 1955

• Development of nuclear merchant ships began in the 1950s, but has not generally been commercially successful.

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Naval nuclear accidentsNaval nuclear accidents

• USS Thresher (sank, 129 killed) USS Scorpion (sank, 99 killed)

• 19 Russian or Soviet accidents

• USS Thresher (sank, 129 killed) USS Scorpion (sank, 99 killed)

• 19 Russian or Soviet accidents

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The EndThe End

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