Joey9220's Report 1 for IDC4U

1. The Future of Power
Generation
BY JOEY ZHOU

2. Introduction
Throughout mankind’s fifty thousand year history, humans learned to make energy their servants. The discovery of fire allowed
humans to access an immediate source of heat. Harnessing the energy of animals and slaves to harvest fields, boosting crop yields.
Sails on ships used wind power to transport humans from place to place. Then came the industrial revolution, the new fossil-fuel
based technologies advanced mankind like never before. Human population and standards of living in industrialized states increased
exponentially. By the end of the 20th Century, most of the global population relied solely on fossil fuels. Petroleum powers the
transportation industry, while coal and natural gas fuels power generation. However, as the consumption of fossil fuel increased, so
did environmental degradation. Burning fossil fuels release large amounts of greenhouse gases, causing global warming. In response
to the negative environmental impacts of fossil fuels, researchers began looking for new ways to generate energy for society. The
most efficient form of clean energy involves nuclear power. Unlike other clean energy sources, its large power-generating capacity is
able to meet the demands of large cities and countries, while also running on a plentiful fuel source. Despite these benefits, nuclear
energy come with many risks such as nuclear meltdown and the disposal of radioactive waste products. This report evaluates the
environmental effects of nuclear energy and proposes a solution to a more sustainable, safe and clean energy source.

3. What are fossil fuels?
 Fossil fuels are fuels formed by the decomposition of buried dead organisms. It can take the
form of petroleum, oil, and natural gas.
 The combustion of fossil fuels can be used to produce a significant amount of energy per unit
weight.
 According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), it is estimated that in 2010, the
worldwide energy consumption by fossil fuel based sources was over 80%

4. So What?
 The burning of fossil fuels raises serious
international environmental concerns.
 Combustion of fossil fuels emit greenhouse gases
and other harmful air pollutants that enhances the
effect of global warming, contributes to acid rain
and gives rise to other environmental issues.
 Ever since the industrial revolution, the amount of
carbon dioxide emitted by the burning of fossil
fuels rose exponentially. Accounting for more than
90% of greenhouse gas emissions.

5. So What?
 Air pollutions of fossil fuel particles cause negative health effects when
inhaled by humans and wildlife.
 These health concerns may include respiratory illness, asthma, bronchitis,
and cancers.
 The burning of fossil fuels also releases radioactive materials into the
atmosphere.
 According to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, “In 2000, about 12000
tonnes of thorium and 5000 tons of uranium were released worldwide
from burning coal” (Cleveland). The amount of radioactivity released in
2000 is hundreds of times greater than the Three Mile Island nuclear
meltdown accident.

6. So What?
 Furthermore, fossil fuels are considered to be a non-
renewable energy source.
 At the current rate of consumption, fossil fuels will be
completely depleted by the end of this century.
 “If we step up production to fill the gap left through
depleting our oil and gas reserves, the coal deposits we
know about will only give us enough energy to take us as
far as 2088” ("The End Of Fossil Fuels”)

7. Nuclear Energy
 Fossil fuel burning is a global-scale issue due to massive amounts
of emissions of greenhouse gases and other toxic air pollutants.
Mitigation of these effects can be accomplished by the large-
scale utilization of nuclear power. Unlike power plants that utilizes
fossil fuels, nuclear reactors produce little greenhouse gas
emissions.
 In a recent paper published by the National Aeronautics and
Space Association (NASA), their quantitative analysis on the
effects of nuclear power on human and environmental health
concluded that nuclear power “nuclear power prevented an
average of 64 gigatonnes of [greenhouse gas] emissions globally
between 1971-2009” ("National Aeronautics and Space
Administration”).

8. Nuclear Energy
 NASA also compared the toxic pollutants of
fossil fuel plants compared to nuclear
reactors, evidence showed that “although
natural gas burning emits less fatal
pollutants […] than coal burning, it is far
deadlier than nuclear power, causing about
40 times more deaths per unit electric
energy produced” ("National Aeronautics
and Space Administration”).

9. Nuclear Energy
 Contrary to popular belief, the fuel source –uranium
235 – for modern nuclear reactors is unlikely to run out
within the next five billion years assuming current rate
of consumption.
 With over “four million tonnes” of natural uranium-235
in the Earth’s crust, and “some 44 million kilowatt-hours
of electricity produced from one tonne of natural
uranium” ("World Nuclear Association”) Physicist
Bernard Cohen suggests that “[reactors], fueled
exclusively by natural uranium […] could supply [the
world] energy at least as long as the sun's expected
remaining lifespan of five billion years” ("Nuclear Power
Proposed as Renewable Energy”).

10. Nuclear Energy
 Compared to other clean renewable energy sources, nuclear energy is perhaps the most
economically efficient and environmentally friendly method of energy generation.
 For hydroelectric power, building large dams by flooding fields can displace large
populations of people and local organisms. Not to mention the massive ecological costs
of dam construction and maintenance demands.
 Solar energy is the least efficient out of all renewable energy sources. The power density,
or watt per square meter of solar cells is miniscule, resulting huge area usages with
minimal energy production. On top of that, it is only able to generate electricity during
daylight hours. Also, it solar cells uses exotic materials such as cadmium telluride and
copper indium gallium selenide that limits its mass production.
 Wind energy is unreliable for the fact that it depends on intermittent wind currents to
turn its turbines. It also poses as a hazard to local wildlife (birds, bats, etc.) and can take
up huge amount of area to implement.

11. Nuclear Meltdowns
 Despite many benefits of nuclear energy over fossil fuel based energy, the
biggest concern with nuclear power generation is the devastating risks of
reactor meltdowns. Meltdowns of nuclear power plants results in severe
environmental contamination that may last for decades to centuries.
Furthermore, disaster clean-ups can cost up to tens of billions of dollars.

12. Nuclear Meltdowns
 In March 2011, an earthquake and tsunami caused damage to the
Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in Japan that lead to explosions and
partial meltdowns. Radioactive isotopes were released from the
reactor containment vessels, which resulted in the displacement of
50,000 households in the area. Radioactive material also leaked into
the air, soil and sea that led to bans on shipments of vegetation and
fish. Furthermore, the contaminated area was reported as being
over 25 times above the safe limit of ionizing radiation dosage. To
this day, water is still being poured into the damaged reactors to
cool the melting fuel rods.
 As The Economist reports, “…years of clean-up will drag into
decades. A permanent exclusion zone could end up stretching
beyond the plant’s perimeter. Seriously exposed workers may be at
increased risk of cancers for the rest of their lives...” ("When the
Steam Clears”)
 “…the devilishly difficult cleanup there is expected to take 40-plus
years and cost tens of billions of dollars. Some 160,000 evacuees
still live in temporary housing, having lost their livelihoods and land
to the contamination, which may render some of it unfarmable for
centuries to come” (Schiffman, 2011)

13. High-level Radioactive Waste
 Another downfall of nuclear energy is the storage of nuclear waste. Spent
fuel from uranium-235 and plutonium-239 contain countless numbers of
carcinogenic isotopes. These radioactive waste products is hazardous to
most forms of life and the environment.
 Naturally, radioactivity decays over time, though it can range from a few
weeks to millions of years for radioactive waste to decay to a safe level.

14. High-level Radioactive Waste
 The current approach to managing these waste
products is to isolate and confine these products to a
disposal facility for a sufficient period of time until it
no longer poses a threat to the environment.
 Not only does this take up a relatively large area, but
it can be lethal to nearby wildlife should the waste be
improperly stored.
 The waste also has to be carefully guarded and
monitored to prevent terrorists from obtaining these
materials to nuclear weapons.

15. Final Solution – Liquid Fluoride
Thorium Reactors

16. Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors
 There are many types of nuclear reactors, but
they all suffer from the risk of meltdown and
the production of large amounts of
radioactive waste products.
 The liquid fluoride thorium reactor (LFTR for
short) amplifies the benefits of a standard
Uranium-fueled reactor, while abolishing the
risks involved in the energy generating
process.
 LFTR meltdown is impossible with the
“emergency freeze plug” which allows the
liquid core to flow into an energy dump tank
in case the reactor overheats

17. Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors
 Furthermore, LFTRs produces considerably less
radioactive waste products because energy is
almost completely extracted from thorium.
 Theoretically, a LFTR plant would generate
thousands of times less nuclear waste than
tradition uranium-fueled reactors
 Of the waste products produced by LFTRs,
83% of the waste are safe within ten years and
the remaining 17% will become safe after 300
years.
 On top of that, LFTRs can also be used to burn
current waste from most of today’s nuclear
power plants.

18. Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors
 LFTR also provides many economic
benefits over tradition Uranium-Fueled
Reactors.
 Because LFTRs have a greater energy
production capability and the fuel
source being four times more common
than uranium, the total cost would be
25-50% less than a traditional nuclear
reactor.
 One ton of thorium can produce as
much energy as 200 tons of uranium

19. Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors

20. Conclusion
 In conclusion, nuclear energy serves as a vital
energy source for the future. It is clean
energy source that produces little carbon
emission. It is safe when operated under the
right conditions. It is sustainable, as the
Earth’s crusts will provide more than enough
fuel for future generations. The safety risks
associated with nuclear energy can be
mitigated by advancements in nuclear reactor
technology. The liquid fluoride thorium
reactor design is one of many ways to make
nuclear energy as the most viable energy
source for the future. Nuclear power will
revolutionize society.

21. Works Cited
Cleveland, Cutler J. "Fossil Fuel." Fossil Fuel. The Encyclopedia of Earth, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.
"The End Of Fossil Fuels." Our Green Energy. Ecotricity, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
"The Energy From Thorium Foundation." The Energy From Thorium Foundation. The Energy From Thorium Foundation, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.
"National Aeronautics and Space Administration." NASA GISS: Science Brief: Coal and Gas Are Far More Harmful than Nuclear Power. National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.
"Nuclear Power Proposed as Renewable Energy." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.
Schiffman, Richard. "Two Years On, America Hasn't Learned Lessons of Fukushima Nuclear Disaster." The Guardian. The Guardian, n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2015.
"Thorium-based Nuclear Power." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.
"When the Steam Clears." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 26 Mar. 2011. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.
"World Nuclear Association." Nuclear Fuel Cycle Overview. World Nuclear Association, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.