Safe and Reliable Nuclear Energy

1
Safe and ReliableNuclear Energy

• Creating the next generation of mathematicians,
  scientists, and engineers for Americas future

2
How We Use Electricity
3
Electricity The Engine That Runs the Country
WWW.eia.doe.gov
4
Introduction

• What has shaped your views about nuclear energy?
• Do you have any fears or hesitations about the
  use of nuclear energy?

5
Introduction

• Radiation
• Nuclear Energy
• Challenges and Benefits
• Opportunities

6
Radiation

• Radiation is energy traveling in the form of
  particles or waves
• Natural phenomenon
• Since beginning of the universe
• Natural and ever-present
• Sun, earth, and all living things emit radiation
• Radiation is all around us

7
Energy Spectrum
8
Ionizing radiation Energy in the form of waves
or particles that has enough force to remove
electrons from atoms.
9
What is Radiation?

• Radioactivity is a natural and spontaneous
  process by which the unstable atoms of an element
  emit or radiate excess energy
• Radiation is the result
• Alpha Decay - Alpha decay occurs when the nucleus
  spontaneously ejects an ? particle. An ? particle
  is really 2 protons and 2 neutrons, or an Helium
  nucleus.

10
Decay Products

• Beta Decay - An excess of neutrons in an atom's
  nucleus will make it unstable, and a neutron is
  converted into a proton to change this ratio.
  During this process, a ß particle is released,
• Gamma ray emission usually occurs with ? and ß
  emission. Gamma rays have no charge or mass, so
  their emission doesn't change the chemical
  composition of the atom. Instead, it results in a
  loss of radiant energy. Gamma ray emission occurs
  because the nucleus is often unstable after ? and
  ß decay.

11
Decay Product Penetration
12
Sources of Radiation

• Man Made Radiation Sources 18
• Medical X Rays
• Nuclear Medicine
• Consumer Products
• Other

• Natural Radiation Sources 82
• Radon
• Internal
• Terrestrial
• Cosmic

Cosmic 8
Terrestrial 8
Consumer Products 3
Internal 11
Medical 14
Radon 55
Other 1
Annual background radiation doses for Americans
National Council on Radiation Protection and
Measurements (NCRP) Report No. 93, Ionizing
Radiation Exposure of the Population of the
United States, 1987
13
How to Detect Radiation

• Geiger counter
• Senses extremely tiny electrical impulses caused
  by radiation

14
We Protect Ourselves from Radiation Exposure by
Reducing Exposure TIME
SHIELDING
Increasing DISTANCE
15
Beneficial Uses of Radiation
Medical Procedures

• Ionizing
• X-Ray
• CT Scan Computed Tomography
• Nuclear Medicine

• Non-Ionizing
• Ultrasound
• MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging

16
Beneficial Uses of Radiation

• Museums and archeologists rely on radiation
  detection to verify the authenticity or age of
  art objects or archeological finds

17
Beneficial Uses of Radiation

• Smoke detectors rely on a tiny radioactive
  source to sound an alarm when smoke is present
• Food sterilization and preservation

18
What is Nuclear Energy?

• Nuclear energy is the energy released by
  reactions within atomic nuclei, such as nuclear
  fission or nuclear fusion
• In 1955, Arco Idaho was the first city to be
  powered by electricity produced from these
  nuclear reactions
• 18 of the worlds electricity comes from nuclear
  energy (World Nuclear Association)
• The U.S. has 104 reactors that provide 20 of
  nations electricity (Energy Information
  Association)

19
Energy Production

• Energy is produced when
• A turbine is turned
• Electricity is generated

20
Nuclear Energy Production

• Nuclear energy is produced when
• Steam turns the turbine generating electricity

21
Producing Electricity has Safety Issues

• Coal
• Petroleum
• Hydroelectric
• Wind
• Nuclear

22
Nuclear Energy Benefits
Nuclear Energy Opportunities

• Waste
• Security
• Education
• Perception of Safety

• Greener Environmental Impact
• Dependable
• Safety

23
Did You Know?

• Three Mile Island Middletown, PA 1979
• Only major commercial nuclear accident in U.S.
  history No deaths or injuries
• No evidence of long term health effects
• Designed safety systems and procedures worked
• Chernobyl Ukraine 1986
• Worst reactor accident in history
• 31 people died from radiation exposure with 9
  additional from residual effects
• No containment Safety process was compromised

24
Security

• Protection of Nuclear Facilities
• Physical Barriers
• Intrusion Detection
• Graded Armed Response

• Protection of Material in Transit
• Rugged Containment Casks
• Escorts when necessary
• Planning and Secrecy

25
Opportunities

• High-Level Waste Spent Nuclear Fuel
• Storage?
• Disposal?
• Recycle?

Yucca Mountain, NV
26
Opportunities

• Low-Level Radioactive Waste Non-Fuel Items
• Clothing, tools, filters, equipment
• Storage
• Minimize

27
Nuclear Energy has aPositive Environmental Impact

• Clean Air
• Clean Water
• Habitat Friendly

28
Nuclear Energy Clean Air

• Not carbon based
• Low Greenhouse gases
• No emissions causing smog or acid rain

29
Nuclear Energy Clean Water

• No harmful pollutants
• Meets regulatory standardsfor temperature
  designedto protect aquatic life
• Cooling water does not have contact with
  radioactive materials

30
Nuclear Energy Safe Habitats

• Low land use
• Environmentally safe

31
Highly Regulated

• NRC, DOT, OSHA, EPA, DOE
• Regulatory compliance is required for facilities
• Design
• Construction
• Operation
• Closure
• Decommissioning
• Regulatory compliance in Transportation
• Packaging
• Mode of transport
• Driver qualifications
• Security

32
The Future of Nuclear Energy

• A bright energy future starts with
• Energy conservation
• Energy efficiency
• Sound energy policy has a variety of resources
  and technologies
• Oil and gas
• Clean coal
• Nuclear
• Renewables wind, solar, hydroelectric,
  geothermal
• New technologies
• Ground source heat pumps
• Biofuels algae, corn, manure, switchgrass
• Growing energy demands
• National Security
• Global warming
• International cooperation

33
Nuclear Energy Careers?

• Engineers Nuclear, Electrical, Chemical,
  Mechanical, Structural
• Professionals Health Physics, Industrial
  Safety, Information Tech, Training,
• Skilled Workers Electricians, Welders, Pipe
  Fitters, Machinists

34
References

• Energy Information Association www.eia.doe.gov
• World Nuclear Association www.world-nuclear.org
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission www.nrc.gov
• Nuclear Engineering Institute www.nei.org
• Radiology Information - www.radiologyinfo.org
• Maps www.nationatlas.gov
• DOE Energy, Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• www.eere.energy.gov
• American Nuclear Society http//local.ans.org
• Renewable Resource Data Center
  httprredc.nrel.gov

35

• Creating the next generation of mathematicians,
  scientists, and engineers for Americas future