What is Nuclear Energy?
- Nuclear energy comes from the splitting of uranium atoms. (nuclear reactions)
- Nuclear energy is produced through two different ways which are nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
- The element uranium is the main fuel used to undergo nuclear fission to produce energy.
- Provides for around 15% of the worlds electricity.
- Provides for 6% of the world’s energy.
- There are roughly 440 operational nuclear power plants in more than 30 different countries.
- Emission-free and efficient energy (clean energy source)
- A nuclear power plant uses steam to create electricity just like a fossil fuel power plant.
- The main difference between nuclear power plants and fossil fuel power plants is the method that they use to heat the water to create steam.
Elements Involved in Nuclear Reaction
- Most common element used to produce nuclear fuel is uranium
- The nuclear fuel cycle (mining, milling, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, burn-up, reprocessing or disposal)
- Uranium is very abundant in the earth’s crust
- Used to produce uranium oxide
- Has a very dense nucleus
- Specific isotope U-235 yields a lot of energy when split under the correct condition
What is Nuclear Fission/Fusion?
- Nuclear fission involves the process of splitting the nuclei of atoms
- Nuclear fusion involves the process of putting the nuclei of two atoms together (used often by the sun)
- Both energy releasing reactions, where the energy is released from high-powered atomic bonds, but are opposite processes
- Nuclear fission requires a critical mass of the substance, meaning the smallest amount of mass needed for the fission to work on its own
- Nuclear fission also requires a relatively slow neutron to begin the process
- Nuclear fusion requires that two nuclei be close to one another
- This allows nuclear forces to become active and glue the nuclei together
Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy
Advantages:
- Zero emissions are given out and for this reason a very low or close to no amount of green house gases are released.
- Can be used as an alternative for coal an other fossil fuels which will decrease the amount of Carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere.
- A small amount of uranium will give out a large amount of usable energy.
- If nuclear power is manufactured the correct way it is one of the safest ways to harness energy.
Disadvantages:
- Unfortunately, after generating nuclear energy a radioactive material called nuclear waste is produced.
- After Uranium-235 and Uranium-238 are mixed together, Plutonium-239 comes out as waste after the fission process.
- If nuclear waste is exposed to underground water supplies or fresh water, the radiation would get absorbed into the water and the toxins would transfer to everything in the food chain.