Nuclear Power

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Nuclear Power Team 2
Leann Baer, Zach Rodgers, Megan Gershey
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Fission vs. Fusion
http//knol.google.com/k/-/-/oml631csgjs7/e4w1oo/f
ission.jpg
http//knol.google.com/k/-/-/oml631csgjs7/e4w1oo/f
usion.jpg
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Life Cycle
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FileNuclear_Fuel_Cyc
le.png
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Then and Now

• 1954 USSRs Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant
• Nuclear capacity started at 1 GW (gigawatt) and
  quickly rose to 100 GW in the late 1970s.
• In the1980s, nuclear power increased much more
  slowly
• In 2007, 14 of the world's electricity came from
  nuclear power, despite concerns about safety.
• 63 nuclear units were cancelled in the USA
  between 1975 and 1980.

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Replacement
http//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64
/CO226NPPs.png
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Can energy production from nuclear energy be
enhanced in areas already producing it?
http//www.world-nuclear.org/outlook/nuclear_centu
ry_outlook.html
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Ability to enhance nuclear power overall

• Can energy production from nuclear energy be
  enhanced
• in areas already producing it?
•  
• new ore discoveries and advanced mining
  techniques could increase the production of
  nuclear energy
• even though other countries have the potential to
  increase nuclear power, over 80 of the futures
  nuclear power will come from countries already
  using nuclear power
• currently producing countries such as Japan, the
  United States, and France have the potential to
  use much more nuclear power than before
• capacity for nuclear power for already-producing
  countries in 2008 was 367 GW, but could increase
  to 9137 GW by 2100

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Ability to enhance nuclear power overall

• Can energy production from nuclear energy be
  developed in those areas where it has not yet
  been developed?
• New ore discoveries and advanced mining
  techniques could increase the production of
  nuclear energy
• Countries currently uninvolved in nuclear power
  have the potential to generate 999 GW by 2100

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Environmental Issues

• What environmental problems does nuclear energy
  pose?  Are those problems real or exaggerated?
• overall, it is clean energy
• nuclear energy doesnt produce carbon dioxide or
  give off other greenhouse gases
• little waste is produced
• the waste that is produced is highly dangerous
  and radioactive
• must be stored away
• when buried underground, it causes damage to the
  surrounding environment and the inhabitants
• must be kept away from earthquakes and floods

http//www.world-nuclear.org/outlook/clean_energy_
need.html
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Social/Political Problems

• High initial investment cost somewhere between
  6 and 9billion.
• Uranium has to be mined.
• Only 3 of uranium is used out of the rods used
  to power the reactors.
• At current consumption rates the minable uranium
  will last only 100 more years.
• 2/3 of energy produced goes off as waste heat.
• Droughts can pose a problem, because reactors
  need lots of water for cooling.

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Social/Political Problems

• A nuclear power plant produces 3 cubic meters of
  spent fuel each year.
• The spent fuel contains actinides which remain
  radioactive for a long time.
• We do not have a way of disposing of radioactive
  waste.
• There is a continuous threat of radioactive
  contamination.
• A nuclear power plant could have a meltdown,
  which is when fuel rods overheat and basically
  melt down and contaminate everything.

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Laws and Regulations

• The U.S. environmental protection agency is
  concerned with the amount of radioactive waste
  that is produced. (50,000) metric tons as of
  2007)
• The U.S. Department of Energy has a program that
  promotes secure, competitive, and environmentally
  responsible nuclear technologies to serve the
  present and future needs of the United States and
  the world.
• The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission also
  regulates nuclear energy in the United States,
  and promotes nuclear security.
• There are lots of other organizations that
  promote safe nuclear practices such as the
  American Nuclear Society, Canadian Nuclear
  Society, etc.
• Organizations such as the World Nuclear
  Association, World Nuclear University, and World
  Nuclear News, help research and educate people on
  nuclear energy. As well as promoting safe nuclear
  practices.

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• Questions?