This document provides an overview of nuclear fission and fusion processes. It defines fission as the splitting of an atomic nucleus when bombarded by a neutron, releasing large amounts of energy. Fusion is the joining of atomic nuclei to form heavier nuclei, which also releases energy. The document discusses the history of discovering fission, the chain reaction it can create, and its usage in nuclear power plants. Fusion is examined as a potential alternative energy source that could involve smaller nuclei fusing to form larger nuclei and release energy. Both processes can be used for good in energy production but also have potential for weapons of mass destruction.

1. POWER PLANT
ENGINEERING
TOPIC:
NUCLEAR FISSION AND
FUSION
PREPARED BY: SUBMITTED TO:
130010119047 PROF. BALA DUTT
(YASH A. LAD) (MECH. ENGG DEPT.)
(ME-O8)
1

2. CONTENT:
 History
 Definition of fission & fusion
 Process of These System
 Energy Comes From Fission & Fusion
 Chain Reaction
 Usage

3. History :
Hahn & Strassman
 In 1939 They First Identified The Nuclear
Fission
Their Statement Was :
 Bombarded Uranium-235 samples with neutrons expecting the
Uranium-235 to capture neutrons
Meitner & Frisch
Explained Hahn & Strassman results
Instead of heavier Uranium, it had split into
smaller elements = Nuclear Fission

4. A LITTLE BIT ON THE ATOM:

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-







Negative electrons
Positive protons
Neutral neutrons
Nucleus

5. NUCLEAR FISSION
A reaction in which an
atomic nucleus of a
radioactive element splits
by bombardment from an
external source, with
simultaneous release of
large amounts of energy,
used for electric power
generation

6. CHAIN REACTION
A chain reaction occurs
• When a Critical Mass of
Uranium Undergoes
Fission.
• Releasing a Large
Amount of Heat and
Energy That Produces
an Atomic Explosion.

7. Nuclear Fission Diagram
1n + 235U “236 U” 91Kr + 142Ba + 3 1n + Energy
0 92 92 36 56 0

8. Energy from Fission
 Each uranium-235 atom has a mass of 3.9014 x 10-
25 kg.
 The total number of atoms in 1 kg of uranium-235
can be found as follows:
 No. of atoms in 1 kg of uranium-235 = 1/3.9014 x 10-25
 No. of atoms in 1 kg of uranium-235 = 2.56 x 1024
atoms

9. If one uranium-235 atom undergoes a fission reaction
and releases 2.385 x 10-11 J of energy, then the
amount of energy released by 1 kg of uranium-235
can be calculated as follows:
Total energy = energy per fission x number of
atoms
Total energy = 2.385 x 10-11 x 2.56 x 1024
Total energy = 6.1056 x 1013 J
Energy from Fission

10. NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
In nuclear power
plants:
 fission is used to
produce energy
 control rods in the
reactor absorb neutrons
to slow and control the
chain reactions of fission

11. FISSION CAN BE USED
• GOOD
A controlled chain reaction in a reactor used
in nuclear power plants to produce
electricity.
• EVIL
An uncontrolled chain reaction is used to
create incredibly powerful weapons – the
atomic bombs dropped on Japan.

12. NUCLEAR FUSION
 Nuclear Fusion Is The Process By Which Multiple
Nuclei Join Together To Form a Heavier Nucleus.
 It Is Accompanied By The Release Or Absorption Of
Energy Depending On The Masses Of The Nuclei
Involved..
H
2
1
+He
4
2
+ n
1
0
H
3
1
+Energy

13. Fusion: Small Nuclei Form
Larger Nuclide, Release Energy
This type of
Fusion is
being
Examined
as
An
alternative
Energy
source
On Earth.
Small nuclei come together to form larger
nuclide, releasing energy

14. Complete the Reaction
1H
4Be
1
H
8O
4Be
2He
2He
1H
2He
2He
2He
6C
1H element
atomic number
(protons)
6C

15. ENERGY FROM FUSION
E = mc2m = 3.1 x 10-29 kg
c = 3 x 108 ms-1
E = E
E = 3.1 x 10-29 x (3 x 108)2
E = 2.79 x 10-12 J
H
2
1
+He
4
2
+ n
1
0
H
3
1 +Energy
The energy released per fusion is 2.79 x 10-12 J.

16. A-BOMB vs. H-BOMB
• ATOMIC BOMB (Hiroshima)
o Killed over 66,000 people instantly
o 13 kilotons of TNT-equivalent
o 2 exploded in warfare
• HYDROGEN BOMB
o 10 megatons (million-tons) of TNT-equivalent
o NEVER exploded in warfare
o Is it the bomb too big to ever be used???

17. FUSION CAN BE USED
• GOOD
A controlled reaction in a reactor used to produce
cleaner, inexpensive electricity
• EVIL
A fission bomb starts a fusion chain reaction to
create an incredibly powerful weapon –
thermonuclear weapons (H-bombs), MUCH more
destructive than atomic bombs.

18. REVIEW
NUCLEAR FISSION:
A large nucleus splits into
several small nuclei when
impacted by a neutron, and
energy is released in this
process
NUCLEAR FUSION :
Several small nuclei
fuse together and
release energy.

19. REFERENCES:
 Fission and Fusion Animations:
http://reactor.engr.wisc.edu/fission.htm
 Fission graphic: http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nucene/u235chn.html
 Data:
1. http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/html”
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_force