Nuclear Energy
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Transcript of Nuclear Energy
Ancient Greeks
included atomic theory as one of their philosophical studies
Knowledge about atoms was developed in the 17th century
Nuclear fission
when a sufficient amount of fissionable material is brought together
chain reaction occurs
Nuclear fission
approximately 20,000 times as much heat and energy is released from uranium fuels as from an equivalent amount of coal
Use of fission power
1945 first large scale use atomic bombs were used by
the US to knock Japan out of WWII
1980
the amount of electrical power generated by nuclear power plants was about 11% of the total electrical supplies in the US
Energy from fission
atomic energy in the US today is produced by the process known as nuclear fission
Fuel supplies
adequate supplies for nuclear power
major mineral sources for nuclear power
Uranium 238 Thorium 232
Fuel
from those - U 235 and Plutonium 239 can be produced
in the early stages of development US relied heavily upon imports of uranium
Nuclear Fusion
Fusion is combining together the atoms are fused together
rather than split apart possibilities for nuclear fusion
are much greater than those for nuclear fission
Fusion
problems process is so difficult to
control that it is questionable whether commercial adaptation will ever be economically feasible
Fuel for fusion
fusion reactors would be fueled by deuterium
an isotope of hydrogen available in almost unlimited
supply in sea water
LWR disadvantages
potential of a reactor explosion
contamination form atomic wastes
construction costs and technical problems
Safety?
“its use poses serious environmental issues, including reactor safety, radioactive waste management and nuclear theft……..
Three Mile Island
March 28, 1979 Human and mechanical
failure led to the release of a considerable amount of radioactivity
Three Mile Island
evacuation of preschool children and pregnant women within five miles of the plant
Three Mile Island
Nevertheless 67 nuclear facilities are
expected to continued operating
90 were planned for construction by 1990
Industrial Significance
peaceful use development of under-seas
and space nuclear power medical use of radioisotopes
Industrial Significance
research in nuclear physics ensnarled by many problems
technological, economic and social
Breeder Reactors
fast breeder reactors more efficient to operate
than LWR’s are undergoing experiment
1950’s
Atomic Energy Commission stated:
all new power plants under construction would be atomic powered
1950’s forecast
does not seem likely to happen
it takes 10-12 years to get a nuclear plant in operation from the first time it is planned
1950’s forecast
no new plant orders were signed in the early 1980’s due to the Three Mile Island accident.
1974
American Scientists and Engineers completed a study
assessed the possibilities of accident risks in nuclear reactors…...