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Nuclear Power: “Too cheap to meter” Ready Kilowatt. Uranium production in the U.S. What is “nuclear fission”?. U-235 + 1 neutron = U-236 U-236 splits into: 2 neutrons + byproducts + ENERGY. Light Water Reactors Boiling Water Reactor. Light Water Reactors Pressurized Water Reactor. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Nuclear Power: “Too cheap to meter”
Ready Kilowatt
Uranium production in the U.S.
What is “nuclear fission”?
U-235 + 1 neutron = U-236
U-236 splits into:
2 neutrons + byproducts + ENERGY
Light Water Reactors
Boiling Water Reactor
Light Water Reactors
Pressurized Water Reactor
Heavy Water Reactor
Nuclear fission reactors used in Canada use heavy water as the moderator in their reactors. Since the deuterium in heavy water is slightly more effective in slowing down the neutrons from the fission reactions, the uranium fuel needs no enrichment and can be used as mined. The Canadian style reactors are commonly called CANDU reactors.
Moderator = graphite blocks
Problems:
1. Instability
of graphite
2. Lack of
containment
at Chernobyl
Fast Breeder Reactors
Under appropriate operating conditions, the neutrons given off by fission reactions can "breed" more fuel from otherwise non-fissionable isotopes. The most common breeding reaction is that of plutonium-239 from non-fissionable uranium-238. The term "fast breeder" refers to the types of configurations which can actually produce more fissionable fuel than they use. France has made the largest implementation of breeder reactors with its large Super-Phenix reactor and an intermediate scale reactor (BN-600) on the Caspian Sea for electric power and desalinization.
Gas-Cooled Reactors: Pebble bed
World Nuclear Reactors
NUCLEAR POWER TIMELINE
1946 Atomic Energy Act passed creating AEC
1957 Price Anderson Act passed
1960-80 Many US nuclear plants constructed
1970s: increasing anti-nuclear activism
1978:
• Three Mile Island accident
• China syndrome
1986: Chernobyl
NUCLEAR POWER TIMELINE
Since TMI decline of nuclear power in U.S.; cancellation of plants, etc. Business in rest of the world is mixed, at best.
Politics: Seabrook / MUSE
“prudency reviews” / TMI, Ginna
Evacuation plans and licensing
Decommissioning
new designs
Licensing Process:
• US
• Elsewhere
• Low-Level Waste (LLW) - includes radioactively contaminated protective clothing, tools, filters, rags, medical tubes, and many other items
• High-Level Waste (HLW)- "irradiated" or used nuclear reactor fuel; some fuel processing wastes
• Uranium Mill Tailings - the residues remaining after the processing of natural ore to extract uranium and thorium
Radioactive Wastes
Waste Disposal
1. Low-level wastes: LLRWPA/compacts
2. High level wastes:
a. NWPA: Indiana case
b. Yucca Mountain
High level Nuclear Waste (Dry Cask) Storage
High level Nuclear Waste (Wet) Storage (fuel rods)
Nuclear Waste (Wet) Storage
Conceptual diagram of the Yucca Mountain facility
Opposition to Yucca Mountain Disposal Site
What should be done with American high-level nuclear waste? Why?
Nuclear power comprises roughly 15-20% of US (and worldwide) electric generation.
How much should the U.S. rely on it in the future? Why?