Nuclear power plants produce electricity through a process called nuclear fission. Uranium-235 is used as fuel and splits into parts when hit by neutrons, releasing energy. This energy heats water to produce steam that spins turbines to generate electricity. While nuclear power has benefits like being efficient and producing low emissions, it also has risks like radioactive waste storage and potential disasters. Three major nuclear disasters include those at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima.
5. Deuterium – Tritium Fusion
Reaction
Fusion - Combining two light nuclei to
form a heavier, more stable nucleus. The
sun makes its energy by fusion.
6. What is nuclear energy?
Power plants use heat to produce electricity.
Nuclear energy produces electricity from heat
through a process called fission. Nuclear power
plants use the heat produced by fission of certain
atoms.
1. Nuclear fission
nucleus of atom is split into parts,
produces free neutrons and
energy
7. Nuclear Fuel: Uranium
2. Uranium-235
Fission of U-235 splits nucleus
in two pieces
releases neutrons for chain
reaction
Nuclear fission chain
reaction releases energy in
the form of heat
The fuel used in
nuclear power
plants is an
isotope of the
radioactive
element uranium
http://www.ecolo.org/photos/uranium/uranium-black.jpg
92
U
Uranium
8. Nuclear Reactors
3. Nuclear Reactor device built
to sustain a controlled nuclear
fission chain reaction
www.pbase.com/pbrakke/image/44279993
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Crocus-p1020491.jpg
Main Components of Nuclear
Reactor:
- reactor vessel
- tubes of uranium
- control rods
- containment structure
control rods control
radioactivity, absorbs
neutrons
Containment structure
contains the reaction
in at least 3 feet of
concrete!
9. The Nuclear Power Plant
Fission occurs
in the reactor
vessel. Heat is
produced.
The heat is used
to heat water to
create steam
The steam is
used to turn the
turbine in the
generator to
produce
electricity
The steam is
cooled in the
condenser to
return to the
liquid phase.
4. Nuclear power plant
consists of all the
parts needed to create
electricity by using
nuclear energy
10. 1. nuclear fission
2. Uranium-235
3. nuclear
reactor
4. nuclear power
plant
Key Components of
Nuclear Energy
11. - U.S. produces about 31%
of world’s nuclear power
- consumes about 22%
GA Power plants Plant
Hatch and Plant Vogel
20% of Ga’s energy is from nuclear power
Plant Hatch
Baxley, GA
Plant Vogtle
Waynesboro, GA
Nuclear Power Production in Georgia
12. Efficient – 91%!
High energy production from a small
amount of fuel
Low greenhouse gas emissions so it
doesn’t contribute to global warming
or acid rain
Low pollution
Reliable 24/7
Cheaper than other energy sources
except Hydroelectric
We don’t have to rely on other
countries for our fuel
13. Storage and disposal of hazardous
wastes. The half-life of 239 Pu (the
radioactive waste from nuclear power
plants is 24,000 years!)
Proliferation (rapid growth) of nuclear
materials
Potential terrorist applications
High startup costs and expenses to close
down
Danger of meltdown
