Engineering

1. NUCLEAR ENERGY
What is it?

2. THE SOURCE: FISSION
 Fission is the splitting of a nucleus into two or more separate
nuclei of comparable mass
 One neutron interacts with one “fissionable” nucleus
(Uranium for example)
 Results are:
• Fission Products – Two heavy nuclides
- One heavier than the other (Average ratio of ~ 2 : 3 )
• Neutrons – 2.43 on average emitted / fission
- Important that more neutrons are produced than are used to
cause one fission
• Gamma rays, beta particles
• Energy !!
E = mc2

3. NUCLEAR ENERGY FOR
ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION
 Currently produces 20% of U.S. electricity
 104 operating units in the U.S.

4. PERCENT OF ELECTRICITY FROM
NUCLEAR ENERGY
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5. TOP 10 NUCLEAR
GENERATING COUNTRIES
2007, Billion kWh
 Enter text
806.5
418.6
266.4
147.8 136.6 133.2
96.5 87.2
64.4 62.6
U.S. France Japan Russia Korea
Rep.
Germany Canada Ukraine Sweden China
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency, U.S. is from Energy Information Administration
Updated: 5/08

6. NUCLEAR ENERGY FOR
ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION
 Currently produces 20% of U.S. electricity
 104 operating units in the U.S.
 19 UTILITIES ARE PROPOSING TO LICENSE 34
NEW UNITS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS
• 17 applications for 24 units already before the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission
• Some purchasing of components has begun but no
firm orders expected until licensing more advanced
 An energy source the public should understand

7. BOILING WATER REACTOR

8. PRESSURIZED WATER REACTOR

9. CONTROL ROOM

10. NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
 ARE THE PRODUCT OF:
• Nuclear Engineers
• Mechanical Engineers
• Electrical Engineers
• Civil Engineers
• Human Factors Experts
• Computer Engineers/Scientists
• Etc.

11. WHY NUCLEAR ENERGY SHOULD
BE AN OPTION -- MARCH 15TH
 Energy Security is National Security
• Uranium is a domestic source of energy
 Competitive Costs
 No Climate-change Releases
 Proven Record
 Concentrated Form of Energy