Nuclear Power

An energy future based onfossil fuels is not sustainable...

...nuclear power does not contribute to climate change – AND there is

enough nuclear fuel to last around 230 years at current use rates

(with the possibility of infinite supply right around the corner)

Where in the World...

is nuclear power?

Accident @ Three Mile Island (3.28.79) puts U.S. nuclear power program on the lowdown!

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/page/nuc_reactors/operational.xls

All current nuclear power plants employ the fission of 235U.

The heat/energy produced by this reaction is used to boil water to produce steam which drives a turbine to generate electricity.

...some of the mass of the starting atom is converted to energy!

Enrichment and more

• To make nuclear fuel, uranium ore is purified into uranium oxide (UO2)

• Enrichment: separation of 235U from 238U to produce a material containing a particular concentration of 235U

• Continuous Chain Reaction: mix of 4% 235U to 96% 238U allows CCR, but doesn’t support amplification into an explosion...

Enrichment and more

• Moderator: substance that slows down neutrons so they trigger more fission; water!

• Fuel rods: long metal tubes with enriched UO2 in geometric patterns necessary for fission

• Control rods: neutron-absorbing material inserted/withdrawn as necessary to initiate fission reaction

Coal vs Nuclear: Fuel

• COAL (3 mil tons)– Strip mining causes

habitat destruction and acid leaching

• NUCLEAR (75K tons)– Much lower impact

from mining– The fission of 1 pound

of uranium releases energy equal to burning 50 tons of coal

Coal vs Nuclear: CO2

• COAL– Emits 7 mil tons of

CO2 into atmosphere

• NUCLEAR– No CO2

Coal vs Nuclear: SO2, et al

• COAL– Emits 300 K tons of

SO2, particulates and other pollutants into atmosphere

– Acid rain– Air pollution

• NUCLEAR– No emissions

Coal vs Nuclear: Radioactivity

• COAL– Due to natural

presence of radioactive compounds in coal, releases 100x more radioactivity than nuclear plant

• NUCLEAR– Assuming

containment, releases low levels of radioactive waste gases

Coal vs Nuclear: Solid Waste

• COAL– 600 K tons of ash,

requiring land disposal

• NUCLEAR– 250 tons of highly

radioactive wastes, requiring safe storage/disposal

Coal vs Nuclear: Safety

• COAL– Worker fatalities – Destructive fires

• NUCLEAR– Worker fatalities – Minor to catastrophic

release of radiation, possible widespread radiation sickness, scores of human deaths, untold cancer occurrences, widespread long-lasting environmental contamination

Let’s not go nuclear...?

• The technology is not trustworthy... accidents will happen and people will die.

• Construction is costly, plants have short operational lifetimes

• Plants are prime targets for terrorist attacks

• NIMBY...where will the waste go?

Can the problems of radioactive waste and the potential for accidents be

overcome?

FukushimaReactor 3Rooftop