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Principles of nuclear energy Fission reactions Nuclear reactor Nuclear power plants
Nuclear reaction
Chain reaction occurs when a Uranium
atom splits
Different reactions
Atomic Bomb in a split second Nuclear Power Reactor more controlled, cannot explode like a bomb
Program to justify nuclear technology Proposals for power, canal-building, exports First commercial power plant, Illinois
Economic advantages
The energy in one pound of highly
enriched Uranium is comparable to that of one million gallons of gasoline.
Emissions Free
Nuclear energy annually prevents
5.1 million tons of sulfur 2.4 million tons of nitrogen oxide 164 metric tons of carbon
Uranium enrichment
U-235
Fissionable at 3% Weapons grade at 90%
U-238
More stable
Plutonium-239
Created from U-238; highly radioactive
Radioactivity of plutonium
Life span of least 240,000 years
Last Ice Age glaciation was 10,000 years ago Neanderthal Man died out 30,000 years ago
Breeder reactor
Reprocessing
Separates reusable fuel from waste
Large amounts of radioactivity released
Low-level wastes in commercial facilities Spent fuel in pools or dry casks by plants
Summary
Nuclear energy has no typical pollutants or
greenhouse gasses