Nuclear Energy 17-2

M. Stafford

Review – Parts of the Atom

• Draw a diagram of a Hydrogen atom on the white board.

• Hydrogen is atomic number 1 and has a mass of 2.

Fission – Splitting AtomsUranium is the fuel for Nuclear Fission

When it is hit with a neutron the nucleus splits. Several important substances are produced

Smaller nuclei are released creating new elements

More Neutrons are released that can collide with other Uranium nuclei

Tremendous amounts of energy is released in the form of heat and light

• Using half of the whiteboard – depict fission

• You will use the other half later in the lecture

How is Electricity generated?Use the words magnet field and conductive material

Diablo Canyon

Advantages

• Very concentrated energy source• No greenhouse gases• Less radioactivity released than coal fired

plants• Example – France 77% of it’s electricity

nuclear, one-fifth air pollutants per person compared to US

Why aren’t we using more Nuclear?

• Cost a lot to build and maintain• Currently $3000 per kilowatt compared to

$1000 for wind• Storing waste – must be stored for thousands

of years• Large amounts of water needed for cooling

• Waste is produced during all stages of nuclear energy production– Mining– During production– Used fuel, liquids and reactor core

• Storage must be located in areas that are geologically stable for thousands of years

Safety Concerns

• Meltdown – fission out of control

• Three – mile Island• Chernobyl

• Nuclear weapons proliferation

1986

Fresno 2010• Fresno Bee Opinion Talk• The Fresno Bee editorial opinion blog• Is it time for California to take another look at nuclear energy?• By Jim Boren on March 24, 2010 7:04 AM | 23 Comments • A Fresno group wants to build a nuclear power plant in Fresno County, and

they've enlisted the help of a French company that has developed several nuclear plants around the world. The problem for the local firm is a 1976 California moratorium against building new nuclear plants.

• But that has not stopped the Fresno Nuclear Energy Group from pushing forward with plans to build a nuclear plant. On Tuesday, Anne Lauvergeon, CEO of Areva of France, spoke at a luncheon meeting sponsored by the Fresno Economic Development Corporation.

• "I can see California will be among the first of many states to establish a clean energy park with both renewable [energy] and nuclear," said Lauvergeon.

Nuclear Fusion – Energy of the Sun

• Light weight atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier element

• Hydrogen (deuterium) with Helium (tritium) form Helium-4

• Energy and neutron released

• On the other half of the whiteboard draw a depiction of fusion

Advantages

• Less radioactive waste

• More energy

Disadvantages

• Hard to achieve and control

• 180,000,000 degrees F

Summary comments

• Given that fossil fuels are non-renewable and the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy – should we be considering a Nuclear plant for the San Joaquin valley?