NUCLEAR ENERGY PART II

Nuclear energy

PART II

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RESEARCH PROYECT DONE BY DELFÍN MATA CERVERA

Remember what we have learned

Nuclear energy is the energy that keeps neutrons and protons together. It can be used to produce electricity. But before that, the energy must be released.

The water of the reactor vessel is boiled thanks to the nuclear chain reaction, creating steam, that passes through a turbine. This mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy.

The nuclear chain reaction

Nuclear fission is a reaction where the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, while releasing energy. These extra neutrons will hit other surrounding uranium-235 atoms, which will also split and generate additional neutrons in a multiplying effect, the result: a chain reaction. Each time the reaction occurs, there is a release of energy in the form of heat and radiation.

Cherenkov radiation

SPANISH

Text of IAEA, What is Nuclear Energy? The Science of Nuclear Power (Andrea Galindo)

The nuclear fuel cycle

YELLOWCAKE

FUEL RODS

MOX FUEL

Image of IAEA, by the Department of Nuclear Energy.

The radioactive waste

Waste is an unavoidable consequence of everyday life. But nuclear waste is a very small portion of all waste. The types of nuclear waste are:

1. Very low level and low level waste

LOW LEVEL WASTE

HIGH LEVEL WASTE

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL WASTE

This radioactive waste contains small amounts of radioactive substances such as clothes in nuclear facilites.It can be stored in the surface.

2. Intermediate level waste

This radioactive waste typically contains materials from decommissioned reactors and research laboratoires.It requires more isolation.

3. High level waste

This radioactive waste are pellets and fuel rods of nuclear reactors. It is very radioactive. It needs to be stored in a deep geological repository.

Text of IAEA, What is Nuclear Energy? The Science of Nuclear Power (Andrea Gallindo)

Small Modular Reactors (SMR)

Small Modular Reactors, a modular reactor plan that can be built in the same way as a car, are small and safe . These are some future projects of SMR:

VOYGR 4 (NuScale)

• Generating capacity : 308 MWe.
• Standard LWR fuel.

• It will occupy the footprint of two football pitches
• Generating capacity : 402 MWe.

Rolls-Royce SMR

Important people in nuclear energy

These are the most important people related to the nuclear energy. Then and now.

Marie Curie

Alfredo García

Enrico Fermi

She was an important physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity (1867-1934). She won the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering the polonium and the radium.

He was an important physicist (1901-1951). While working for the Manhattan proyect, he created the first nuclear reactor in history,called "The Chicago Pile 1", in 1942.

He is a nuclear energy divulgater, and nuclear operator in the nuclear plant of Ascó. He wrote books such as "La energía nuclear salvará al mundo".

Nuclear energy in Andalusia

In Andalusia we haven't got any nuclear plant but we have a DGR (Deep Geological Repository) in El Cabril. The waste is placed in concrete matrices inside drums, normally of 220-liter capacity, which are then placed in concrete containers. The containers are located in 28 disposal cells on two platforms.

Low-level radioactive waste

Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy

Advantages

Disadvantages

• It generates many MWe.
• It is a reliable energy source.
• Nuclear power creates many jobs (many in refueling).
• It is a clean energy.
• It is carbon neutral energy.

• High operation costs.
• Uranium is technically non-renewable
• Nuclear waste

Utilities of nuclear energy

Space Exploration

Energy production

X-Ray

Criminal Investigation

Why a nuclear power plant doesn't explode?

Because the concentration of U-235 of a nuclear reactor is approximately a 3%. And the minimun concentration of U-235 for an atomic bomb is a 90%.

How is the nuclear fission reaction initiated?

Thanks to the most expensive element in the periodic table, californium. This process is only used after reactor refueling. Because, being a new fuel, it has no neutrons.

Text of "La energía nuclear salvará al mundo" by Alfredo García.

Bibliography

Nuclear chain reaction : Text of IAEA, What is Nuclear Energy? The Science of Nuclear Power (Andrea Galindo) Video: 80's US Governement video. Nuclear fuel cycle: Image of IAEA, and the Department of Nuclear Energy. The radioactive waste: Text of IAEA, What is Nuclear Energy? The Science of Nuclear Power (Andrea Galindo) La energía nuclear salvará al mundo (Alfredo García) Small modular reactors: What are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)? by Joanne Liou, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication Nuclear energy in Andalusia: CSN, Almacén de residuos definitivo Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy: Advantages and Challenges of Nuclear Energy (energy.gov) Utilities of nuclear energy Ultimate fast facts about nuclear energy PDF (US Departement of Energy)

Personal conclusion

I love the nuclear energy and the nuclear tecnologies. The nuclear energy have future. New tecnologies are even closer such as SMRs and the nuclear fussion. Nuclear is future. Nuclear is reliable. Nuclear is our salvation.

A question...

Limpio. Confiable. Nuclear.

Thank you for your attention!

Cherenkov radiation