Introduction to Nuclear Energy
NUCLEAR ENERGY: FUEL OF THE FUTURE?
“America should also expand a clean and unlimited source of energy — nuclear power. By renewing and expanding existing nuclear facilities, we can generate tens of thousands of megawatts of electricity, at a reasonable cost, without pumping a gram of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. New reactor designs are even safer and more economical than the reactors we possess today. And my energy plan directs the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency to use the best science, to move expeditiously to find a safe and permanent repository for nuclear waste”
Remarks by President George W. Bush to Capital City Partnership River Centre Convention Center St. Paul, Minnesota (May 2001)
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/05/20010517-2.html
With all the praise that nuclear energy has garnered as a safe and clean fuel source, we seek to examine why it is not the primary source of fuel in the United States.
Current Status of nuclear energy:
Nuclear energy use and status varies in different countries around the world. Nuclear power plants currently provide 17% of the world’s electricity. In the U.S., there are 103 nuclear power plants in operation and nuclear energy represents 20% of the U.S.’ total energy (second to coal). Other countries, in particular France, show a greater use of nuclear energy. Seventy-eight percent of France’s energy comes from nuclear sources.
Nuclear Energy production and reactors around the world:
What are the major benefits of nuclear power?
There are numerous benefits to nuclear power: One strong advantage is that nuclear power does not emit harmful greenhouse gases. As a result, it has the least environmental impact per unit of power produced. Nuclear power is also a very efficient fuel, especially in comparison to fossil fuels: 1kg uranium contains 20,000 times more energy than the same amount of coal. With current supplies of uranium, nuclear power also has the potential to supply 100 years of energy if it were used as the sole energy source. This period could be further extended if supplies were reprocessed. However, analogously, supplies of fossil fuels are running low. There would only be 57.8 years of petroleum and 58.5 years of natural gas. Although there would be 587 years of coal supplies, the amount of greenhouse gases that is emitted from coal-powered plants makes coal a less desirable energy source. Lastly, nuclear power requires less dependence on foreign oil from unstable countries. Nuclear fuels come from stable countries such as Australia and Canada.
In examining the chemical and political barriers to U.S.’ adoption of nuclear energy, it is evident that there are obstacles present at each step of the nuclear cycle. Evolving technology has the potential to eliminate several of the problems in the cycle. This site will explore the chemistry of each step of the nuclear fuel cycle, policy issues, technological improvements and how these impact the future of nuclear energy.
What is Nuclear Energy?
Image courtesy of: Department of Energy:
Video courtesy of: http://library.thinkquest.org/17940/texts/fission/fission.html
In general, nuclear energy seeks to use the significant amount of energy generated from nuclear fission as a harvestable power source.
Overview of Nuclear Cycle
More on the Steps of the Nuclear Cycle:
Mining: the extraction of uranium from geologic deposits
Conversion: the conversion of uranium ore to uranium oxide then to uranium hexafluoride (UF6)
Enrichment: the process to increase the concentration of U-235 isotope so UF6 is fissionable
Fuel Fabrication: how enriched UF6 tis converted to uranium dioxide, which is usable in reactors
Reactor: the process by which energy is extracted from fuel
Reprocessing: the extraction of useful U and Pu from spent nuclear fuel rods for reuse
Waste Disposal: the safe disposal of high level nuclear waste
We hope to enlighten you on the issues surrounding nuclear energy. Enjoy our website!
References:
Kozlov,VV. (2004) Determination of the highest possible capital costs for the construction a nuclear power plant based on data from construction abroad. Atomic Energy, 97, 5, 750-756.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-power.htm
Spiro T, Stigliani W. Chemistry of the Environment. Prentice Hall (NJ):2003, 489p