Nuclear Power Science : Atoms are the smallest particles that make everything around you. A single atom’s mass is primarily confined to the core (which is called the nucleus). The electron cloud encircling the nucleus contains the remainder of the mass. The nucleus is made up of subatomic particles such as protons and neutrons.
An exceptionally massive atom’s nucleus can split in two under specific conditions. A portion of the massive atom’s mass is turned to pure energy using Einstein’s famous formula E = MC2. It has a mass of zero and has a speed of light equal to C (a considerable number). Humans first discovered and harnessed this energy as a weapon in the 1930s and 1940s.
The nuclear bombs built during the Manhattan Project were able to harness this kinetic energy and use it in a chain reaction to create vast amounts of heat and light. After World War II ended, the newly discovered energy source found application in the nuclear navy’s propulsion system, which was developed shortly after.
I am putting in engines in submarines that could last over a year before needing to be refueled. The public sector adopted this technology immediately. When and where commercial power plants for the generation of electricity were first built and put into service. Check out the posts listed below to learn more about the history of nuclear energy.
Today’s Nuclear Power Science:
Only around a quarter of the country’s electricity is generated by nuclear reactors. There are more than 400 nuclear power reactors (about 100 of these are in the USA). They generate 24/7 base-load electricity without polluting the environment (including CO2).
However, they generate radioactive nuclear waste that must be handled with extreme care. Nuclear fission and fusion are two different processes. Fission and fusion are the two primary nuclear energy generating technologies under consideration.
When big atoms like uranium or plutonium split energetically into two smaller particles, the fission products are created. A neutron must be used to split an atom. One or more neutralinos may be emitted that could divide surrounding atoms.
The first of these two nuclear reactions to be found was this one. This reaction is used by all currently operating commercial nuclear power facilities to create heat, converted to electricity. Using two light atoms like Hydrogen and Helium, fusion creates heavier atoms as well as energy. While fission produces radioactive waste, these reactions can liberate additional energy.
In the sun, fusion processes occur when Hydrogen is used as fuel and Helium is produced as waste. After the Greek Sun God Helios, Helium was discovered and given the name Helium.
However, this reaction has not yet been put to commercial use and has sparked considerable interest in laboratories worldwide. Because of the practically infinite, low-pollution, and non-proliferative energy it promises.
Nuclear Power’s Capabilities:
Sustainable:
Nuclear fuel (Uranium) is in short supply, there is a lot of concern that it may run out like oil. Nuclear waste is recyclable. Thus this isn’t a concern. It has the potential to be a significant problem from an economic standpoint. Commercial nuclear reactors today use less than 1% of the world’s total nuclear fuel supply.
Everything else is either recycled or disposed of (as depleted uranium and nuclear waste). Proliferation and economic concerns forced the US recycling effort to end in the 1970s. On the other hand, France and Japan have had remarkable success with gasoline recycling in recent years. As a result of recent technological advancements, there is far less need to be concerned about nuclear proliferation.
Because of the lack of recycling, the Uranium Reserves “Red Book” published by the United Nations in 2005 would be entirely out of date by 2010. According to the IAEA, if current consumption continues, Uranium reserves will last for almost 200 years.
In addition, seawater contains enormous amounts of uranium dissolved at low concentrations. Although people have come close, no one has yet discovered a low-cost method of extracting it. Thorium is an alternative fuel for nuclear reactors.
Ecological:
When nuclear power plants are up and running, they release only hot water into the atmosphere. The iconic nuclear reactor cooling tower symbol is, well, a cooling tower.
All that’s left is pure water vapor. Nuclear power generates minimal CO2 or other greenhouse emissions. Mining, construction, and other activities all release some carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, it is a small fraction of the quantity produced by coal and natural gas combined. Once the spent nuclear fuel has been appropriately handled and disposed of geologically, it will negatively impact the environment.
They’re all right, as well. Former NASA scientist James Hansen (of the 350 ppm limit fame) submitted a report in March 2013 indicating that nuclear energy is safe and beneficial to our environment. It has saved the lives of 1.8 million people worldwide by reducing air pollution, which is a recognized carcinogen. This contains any fatalities caused by nuclear energy accidents.
Independent:
Many countries can achieve near energy independence by using nuclear power science. Many causes make the United States and the rest of the world concerned about our “oil addiction. I am using nuclear-powered electric or plug-in hybrid electric automobiles. We can drastically cut our reliance on foreign oil.
Several nuclear reactor designs are capable of producing high-quality process heat in addition to electricity. Hydrogen production, desalination, and other processes can be carried out using this technology Other industrial uses, such as heating cities and towns, are also possible.
Radiation Pollution:
Even when splitting atoms to liberate energy, excited states can persist in the smaller particles that are leftover. They are removing potentially harmful energetic particles from the environment. The decline in the stability of some of the longest-living atoms takes hundreds of thousands of years.
For at least that long, this radioactive waste must be contained and kept out of the environment. That long-term system design can be a real challenge. One of the main selling points of anti-nuclear organizations.
The Energy Density Of Different Fuels:
Nuclear processes unleash a staggering amount of energy. Due to nuclear power science fission, natural uranium has a very high energy density energy stored in a unit of mass.
