23.4 nuclear energy nuclearnuclear powerpower millstone station
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23.4 Nuclear energy
Nuclear fissionNuclear fission Nuclear fission: heavy nuclei split into two heavy nuclei split into two
smaller partssmaller parts in order to become more stable Releases a huge amount of energy
proton
neutron
U-235 nucleus
Kr-90 nucleus
Ba-144 nucleus
energy
23.4 Nuclear energy
Nuclear chain reaction-Nuclear chain reaction-a reaction sustained by its productsa reaction sustained by its products
Neutrons released in fissionNeutrons released in fission act as reactants to split more nuclei
proton
neutron
U-235 nucleus
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Critical Mass- minimum amount of fissionable material needed to maintain a chain reaction
Sub-critical mass Sub-critical mass
Above critical mass, chain reaction!
23.4 Nuclear energy
The chain reaction is not slowed down
a huge amount of energy is released very quickly
the rate of fission increases rapidly
Nuclear bombNuclear bomb
Uncontrolled nuclear reactionUncontrolled nuclear reaction
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Nuclear reactorsNuclear reactors
Nuclear power plant: rate of fission is controlled by artificial means to generate electricity
Only 3% of fuel rod uranium is fissionable Enough for chain reaction; not enough to explode
Millstone Nuclear Power Station located in Waterford, CT
23.4 Nuclear energy
Schematic diagram of a nuclear plant
control rods
fuel rods
reactor pressure vessel
water (cool)
water (hot)
water (high pressure)
water (low pressure)
coolant out
coolant insteam condenser
steam (low pressure)
turbine
electric power
steam generator
steam (high pressure)
pump
primary loop secondary loop
generatorreactor
core
pump
23.4 Nuclear energy
control rods
reactor pressure vessel
water (cool)
water (hot)
water (high pressure)
water (low pressure)
coolant out
coolant insteam condenser
steam (low pressure)
turbine
electric power
steam generator
steam (high pressure)
pump
primary loop secondary loop
fuel rods They contain the nuclear fuel: uranium (U-235)
They are surrounded by a moderator (water or graphite)moderator (water or graphite) to slow down the neutrons slow down the neutrons released.released.
23.4 Nuclear energy
control rods
reactor pressure vessel
water (cool)
water (hot)
water (high pressure)
water (low pressure)
coolant out
coolant insteam condenser
steam (low pressure)
turbine
electric power
steam generator
steam (high pressure)
pump
primary loop secondary loop
fuel rods
They control the rate of reaction by moving in and out of the reactor.
Move in: rate of reaction Move out: rate of reaction All are moved in: the reactor is
shut down
They are made of boron 硼 or cadmium 鎘 that can absorb absorb neutrons.neutrons.
23.4 Nuclear energy
control rods
reactor pressure vessel water
(high pressure)
water (low pressure)
coolant out
coolant insteam condenser
steam (low pressure)
turbine
electric power
pump
primary loop secondary loop
fuel rods
The energy released in fissions heats up the water around the reactor.
The water in the The water in the secondary loop secondary loop is boiled to is boiled to steamsteam.
water (hot)
water (cool)
steam generator
steam (high pressure)
23.4 Nuclear energy
steam generator
control rods
reactor pressure vessel water
(high pressure)
water (low pressure)
coolant out
coolant insteam condenser
steam (high pressure)
pump
primary loop secondary loop
fuel rods
The steam drives a turbine, The steam drives a turbine, which turns the generator.which turns the generator.
Electricity is produced by the generator.
water (hot)
water (cool)
steam (low pressure)turbine
electric power
generator
23.4 Nuclear energy
control rods
fuel rods
reactor pressure vessel
water (cool)
water (hot)
water (high pressure)
water (low pressure)
coolant out
coolant insteam condenser
steam (low pressure)
turbine
electric power
steam generator
steam (high pressure)
pump
primary loop secondary loop
Two separate water systemsTwo separate water systems are used to avoid radioactive substances to reach the turbine.
23.4 Nuclear energy
Nuclear wastesNuclear wastes
highly radioactive have very long half-lives (thousands of years)
Radioactive wasteRadioactive waste must must be stored carefully.be stored carefully.
Radioactive Decay- spontaneous process of an atom changing into another atom by emitting a particle and/or energyHalf Life- time needed for one-half of a sample to decay
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Bismuth has a half-life of 5 days
What % of bismuth is present after 5 days? 20 days?How many grams are present after 5 days? 10 days?
With each half-life,what happens to the amount of radioactivematerial remaining?
Decreases by ½
23.4 Nuclear energy
Low level radioactive wasteLow level radioactive waste
cooling water pipes, radiation suitscooling water pipes, radiation suits, etc., etc. stored in storage facilitiesstored in storage facilities radioactivity will fall to a radioactivity will fall to a safe levelsafe level after after
10 to 50 years10 to 50 years..
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used nuclear fuelused nuclear fuel highly radioactivehighly radioactive embedded in concrete and embedded in concrete and
stored deep underground stored deep underground for several thousand yearsfor several thousand years
Proposed storage sites in Proposed storage sites in Yucca Mountain, NevadaYucca Mountain, Nevada
High level radioactive waste:
23.4 Nuclear energy
Nuclear fusionNuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion: light nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus
proton
neutron
helium nucleus
neutron
energy
deuterium nucleus
tritium nucleus
H-2 + H-3 He-4 + n + energy
23.4 Nuclear energy
They must have They must have enough kinetic energy to enough kinetic energy to overcome the electrical repulsionovercome the electrical repulsion..
Very high temperature Very high temperature (about 10(about 107 7 K)K) isis required required to start a nuclear fusion.to start a nuclear fusion.
Atomic nuclei are Atomic nuclei are positively positively chargedcharged and repelled each other. and repelled each other.
How can two nuclei fuse togetherHow can two nuclei fuse together??
23.4 Nuclear energy
The temperatures The temperatures inside inside the Sunthe Sun and the stars reach and the stars reach such such high temperaturehigh temperature..
Inside the Sun, Inside the Sun, 657 million 657 million tons of hydrogen undergo tons of hydrogen undergo fusion to form helium each fusion to form helium each second.second.
23.4 Nuclear energy
Man-made uncontrolled Man-made uncontrolled fusionfusion was first achieved was first achieved in 1952, during the in 1952, during the explosion of the first explosion of the first hydrogen bomb.hydrogen bomb.
Controlled fusion is still under investigated by scientists.
No one has succeeded in yielding a net surplus of energy from fusion reactors.
23.4 Nuclear energy
Unlimited supply of fuelUnlimited supply of fuel for fusion reactors. for fusion reactors. We can get We can get hydrogen from waterhydrogen from water..
Little problem on disposal of radioactive wasteLittle problem on disposal of radioactive waste.. The The end products of fusion are generally end products of fusion are generally
stable and not radioactive.stable and not radioactive.
What are the advantages of fusion What are the advantages of fusion power?power?