Nuclear Energy Jovan Lee, Daryl Wong, Davin Chua, Li Ying Ming, Weng Pei He

How does nuclear energy work?  

How does nuclear energy work?  Nuclear plants produce energy through nuclear fission  Process of splitting an atom into two  Generating an intense amount of energy in the process,  Older power plants burn coal.  Uranium undergoes nuclear fission daily at an extremely slow pace  Thus emitting radiation  Nuclear plants produce energy through nuclear fission  Process of splitting an atom into two  Generating an intense amount of energy in the process,  Older power plants burn coal.  Uranium undergoes nuclear fission daily at an extremely slow pace  Thus emitting radiation

How does nuclear energy work?  Suitable for nuclear power plants  Which require induced fission.  Uranium of the variety U-235  Crucial for nuclear power plant energy production  U-235 undergoes natural alpha radiation  The throwing off a alpha particle  Suitable for nuclear power plants  Which require induced fission.  Uranium of the variety U-235  Crucial for nuclear power plant energy production  U-235 undergoes natural alpha radiation  The throwing off a alpha particle

How does nuclear energy work?  Using free neutron,  U-235 nucleus absorb the neutron and split immediately (induced nuclear fusion)  Splitting an atom releases intense heat and gamma radiation,  However, scientists have to first enrich uranium  So it contains approximately 3% of U-235 uranium,  Sufficient for a nuclear power plant.  Using free neutron,  U-235 nucleus absorb the neutron and split immediately (induced nuclear fusion)  Splitting an atom releases intense heat and gamma radiation,  However, scientists have to first enrich uranium  So it contains approximately 3% of U-235 uranium,  Sufficient for a nuclear power plant.

Advantages of nuclear energy Lowest Impact on the Environment  Nuclear energy produced no controlled air pollutants because it does not require burning  Highest energy production relative to environmental impact Lowest Impact on the Environment  Nuclear energy produced no controlled air pollutants because it does not require burning  Highest energy production relative to environmental impact

Advantages of Nuclear Energy Operation  Nuclear Reactors designed to run for a long time before needing to be shut down for quality checks and maintenance.  Operate continuously for an average of 540 days. Operation  Nuclear Reactors designed to run for a long time before needing to be shut down for quality checks and maintenance.  Operate continuously for an average of 540 days.

Advantages of Nuclear Energy Cost  Generally low-cost and produce predictable levels of energy  Comparison with other generators Cost  Generally low-cost and produce predictable levels of energy  Comparison with other generators NameCents/kilowatt-hour Nuclear1.83 Coal2.07 Oil3.24 Gas3.52

Advantages of Nuclear Energy Safety  Working in Nuclear Power Plants actually very safe  Number of fatalities per 200,000 worker hours for nuclear industry is 0.26 while the fatalities for the private industry is 3.1 per 200k worker hours. Safety  Working in Nuclear Power Plants actually very safe  Number of fatalities per 200,000 worker hours for nuclear industry is 0.26 while the fatalities for the private industry is 3.1 per 200k worker hours.

Advantages of Nuclear Energy Radiation  Living next-door to a nuclear power plant for a year would result in less radiation exposure than a than a flight from NYC to LA.  It would take 2000 years living next to a reactor to be exposed to the same amount of radiation in an x-ray. Radiation  Living next-door to a nuclear power plant for a year would result in less radiation exposure than a than a flight from NYC to LA.  It would take 2000 years living next to a reactor to be exposed to the same amount of radiation in an x-ray.

Contribution to world’s fuel consumption  About 11-12% of the world’s energy source is nuclear.  About 30 countries are operating over 430 nuclear reactors.  About 11-12% of the world’s energy source is nuclear.  About 30 countries are operating over 430 nuclear reactors.

Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy Disposal  Disposing waste PERMANENTLY is very difficult  Waste remains radioactive for thousands of years Disposal  Disposing waste PERMANENTLY is very difficult  Waste remains radioactive for thousands of years

Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy Leakages  Common occurance  Higher than normal lvl of radioactivity recorded in Irish Sea  Due to leakages from Nuclear Waste Disposal Plant at Sellafield in England Leakages  Common occurance  Higher than normal lvl of radioactivity recorded in Irish Sea  Due to leakages from Nuclear Waste Disposal Plant at Sellafield in England

Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy  Major Accidents or Explosion at Nuclear Power Plant  Nuclear can be used for destructive purposes  Major Accidents or Explosion at Nuclear Power Plant  Nuclear can be used for destructive purposes

Case Study- India  Growth rate 1.7%/year  Rising Demand for Energy  India to expand Nuclear Energy Programme  Growth rate 1.7%/year  Rising Demand for Energy  India to expand Nuclear Energy Programme

Case Study- India Why Nuclear?  High Cost of Coal  High Emission of CO2 & Greenhouse gases from Fossil Fuels Power Stations  Has large reserves of Thorium, fuel similar to Uranium  Necessary Raw Materials Why Nuclear?  High Cost of Coal  High Emission of CO2 & Greenhouse gases from Fossil Fuels Power Stations  Has large reserves of Thorium, fuel similar to Uranium  Necessary Raw Materials

Case Study- India  14 Operating Reactions in 5 different locations  Operated by State Run Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)  3% India Energy from Nuclear  Plans 7-10% supply by 2020  14 Operating Reactions in 5 different locations  Operated by State Run Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)  3% India Energy from Nuclear  Plans 7-10% supply by 2020

Case Study- India  Radioactive Leak from Tarapur Nuclear Plant in 1992  Released 12 Curies of Radioactivity  2009, 55 employers consumer radioactive materials from waters  Untreated waters found its way to a water cooler in a Nuclear Plant  Radioactive Leak from Tarapur Nuclear Plant in 1992  Released 12 Curies of Radioactivity  2009, 55 employers consumer radioactive materials from waters  Untreated waters found its way to a water cooler in a Nuclear Plant