Nuclear Energy

Shane Malenfant and Evan Kimelhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Gundremmingen_Nuclear_Power_Plant.jpg

Content

What is Nuclear Energy?

Nuclear fission vs. Nuclear fusion

A Brief History of Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy in the United States

Today

How Nuclear Power Plants

Work

Types of Nuclear Reactors

Major Issues of Nuclear

Energy

Future of Nuclear Energy

Conclusions

What is Nuclear Energy?

E=MC^2

The First Law of Thermodynamics

Mass to Energy

There are two types

Fission and Fusion

Isotopes

Uranium

Plutonium

http://nuclearpowertraining.tpub.com/h1019v1/css/h1019v1_38.htm

Nuclear Fusion

http://www.pakalertpress.com/2010/09/24/nuclear-fusion-in-the-quran/

Nuclear Fission

http://ofnuclearenergy.com/history-energy-nuclear.html

Nuclear Chain Reaction

http://physics.tutorvista.com/modern-physics/fission.html

The History of Nuclear Energy

The Sun• The Original

Energy Source

• Nuclear fusion

WWII Discoveries• Nuclear

Fission• Applications

of fission

The Manhattan Project• Major Gains• The first

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2004/11/22/obituaries/22BACH.jpg.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Sun_by_the_Atmospheric_Imaging_Assembly_of_NASA%27s_Solar_Dynamics_Observatory_-_20100819.jpg

http://wwiifrecker11i.wikispaces.com/Atomic+Bomb

“

”

“The more important responsibility of this atomic energy agency would be to devise methods whereby this fissionable material would be allocated to serve the peaceful pursuits of mankind. Experts would be mobilized to apply atomic energy to the needs of agriculture, medicine and other peaceful activities. A special purpose would be to provide abundant electrical energy in the power-starved areas of the world. Thus the contributing powers would be dedicating some of their strength to serve the needs rather than the fears of mankind”

– Dwight D. Eisenhower, Atoms For Peace Address to the UN, 1953

Nuclear Energy After 1945

Nuclear Energy in the US TodayNuclear Energy:

• Is the third largest source of electricity in the US

• Has 62 commercially owned power plants, with over 100 nuclear reactors

• Produced from US power plants is the most in the world (Over 100,000 MW)

“In 2008, U.S. uranium ore reserves were estimated at one billion, 227 million pounds. These reserves are located primarily in Wyoming and New Mexico” (Environmental Protection Agency).

Nuclear Power Plants

Coal fired Power Plant Nuclear Power Plant

http://www.stork-gears.com/news_inspection_ihi_gearbox_powerstation_malaysia.php http://nerdtrek.com/how-nuclear-power-works/

Types of Nuclear Reactors

Light WaterHigh-

Temperature Gas

Graphite-Water

Heavy Water

Fast Breeder

Major Issues of Nuclear Energy

Unanswered

Questions

Nuclear Waste

Disposal

Nuclear Proliferatio

n and terrorism

Nuclear Meltdowns

Nuclear Energy’s Problems are both environmentally and socially linked

Nuclear WeaponizationHow do elements become radioactive?• Enrichment• Gas Centrifuges

Nuclear Reactor Nuclear Bomb• 5% vs. 95%

Nuclear Meltdowns

Three Mile Island

Chernobyl Fukushima

http://nucleaire11.wordpress.com/2011/11/24/famous-nuclear-disasters/

http://nucleaire11.wordpress.com/2011/11/24/famous-nuclear-disasters/

http://wunelle.blogspot.com/2012/04/meltdown.html

Nuclear Waste Disposal

• Different ideas on how to eliminate waste

• Direct Disposal• Postponed Storage• Reprocessing

• Failed Solutions• Yucca Mountain

• No Perfect Scenario

http://nfrcoalition.blogspot.com/2011/04/house-investigates-yucca-mountain.html

http://www.wdcb.ru/mining/yucca/s-24.gif

The Future of Nuclear Energy

Advantages

No Greenhouse Gasses, a “clean energy”

Same efficiency as coal fired power plant

Low Production Costs over the long term

Large Uranium Deposits in the US

Disadvantages

Waste Disposal

Reactor Meltdowns

Radiation

Weaponization

High Barriers to entry, expensive investment

Conclusions

References/Works CitedWorks Cited

"Crews Enter Troubled Nuclear Waste Dump." ABC News. ABC News Network, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

Eisenhower, Dwight. "Atoms for Piece." United Nations. 1953. Speech.

"The National Academies." Our Energy Sources, Nuclear —. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

"Outline History of Nuclear Energy." History of Nuclear Energy. World Nuclear Association, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.

Eser, Semih “Nuclear Energy.” Class Lecture. April 1, 2014. Lecture.

"U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis." How Many Nuclear Power Plants Are in the U.S. and Where Are They Located? N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

Zelman, Joanna. "Nuclear Power History: Timeline From Inception To Fukushima." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 13 June 2012. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.

Chandler, Nathan. "How does nuclear waste disposal work?." How Stuff Works. N.p.. Web. 7 Apr 2014. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-waste-disposal.htm>.

"Nuclear Power in the USA." World Nuclear Association. N.p., 04 Apr 2014. Web. 6 Apr 2014. <http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-T-Z/USA--Nuclear-Power/>.

"FACTS AND FIGURES." Chernobyl Children Institute . N.p.. Web. 8 Apr 2014. <http://www.chernobyl-international.com/about-chernobyl/facts-and-figures>.

Barzashka, Ivanka. "Converting a civilian enrichment plant into a nuclear weapons material facility." The Bulletin. N.p., 31 Oct 2013. Web. 8 Apr 2014. <http://thebulletin.org/converting-civilian-enrichment-plant-nuclear-weapons-material-facility>.

"What Went Wrong?." Three Mile Island Emergency . N.p.. Web. 8 Apr 2014. <http://www.threemileisland.org/science/what_went_wrong/>.

"Energetics of Nuclear Reactions." Chem Wiki. N.p.. Web. 6 Apr 2014. <http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Nuclear_Chemistry/Nuclear_Stability_and_Magic_Numbers/Energetics_of_Nuclear_Reactions>.

"Different Types of Nuclear Reactors." Different Types of Nuclear Reactors. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.

 

"Nuclear Energy." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.

 

Watts, Jonathan. "Fukushima Disaster: It's Not over Yet." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 10 Sept. 2011. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.

 

"Yucca Mountain." Nuclear Energy Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.

 

"Nuclear Chain Reactions." Atomic Archive . N.p.. Web. 6 Apr 2014. <http://www.atomicarchive.com/Fission/Fission2.shtml>.

Rogner, Holger. The Economics of Nuclear Power. Rep. N.p.: International Atomic Energy Association, n.d. Print

Spent Fuel Reprocessing Options. Rep. N.p.: International Atomic Energy Association, n.d. Print

"How Do Nuclear Plants Work?." Duke Energy. N.p.. Web. 8 Apr 2014. <http://www.duke-energy.com/about-energy/generating-electricity/nuclear-how.asp>.