Nuclear energy comes from splitting atoms in a process called nuclear fission. Nuclear power plants use heat from fission to generate electricity. Uranium is a key fuel for nuclear fission. It is mined from the ground and enriched for use in nuclear reactors. There it undergoes fission, producing heat that is used to generate steam and power turbines to produce electricity. Nuclear power has advantages like no greenhouse gas emissions but also drawbacks like radioactive waste and high initial costs.

1. The Energy source
Nuclear Power Plant
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2. What is Nuclear Energy?
Nuclear energy is the energy in the nucleus of
an atom.
. At the core of each atom there are two types of
particles (neutrons and protons) that are held
together.
Nuclear energy is the energy that holds
neutrons and protons.
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3. 3
Nuclear Fusion and Fission
 Nuclear Fusion
 Small nuclei into large
 Immense temperature and
pressure
 Core of stars
 Nuclear Fission
 Large nuclei into small
 Critical mass to sustain
 Two isotopes we use
235
U 239
Pu

4. 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
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5. THE SOURCE: FISSION
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Uranium
 Uranium is a very heavy metal which can be used as
an abundant source of concentrated energy.
 Uranium was discovered in 1789 by Martin Klaproth

7. Uranium Mining
There are three main methods:
 Underground mining
 Open pit mining
 In Situ Leaching (ISL)
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8. In Situ Leaching
 Wells are drilled into aquifers, the water is removed, and a
solvent, such as hydrogen peroxide, is pumped in
 The peroxide dissolves the uranium, and the solution is
pumped back up
 An ion exchange system causes the uranium to precipitate in
the form of UO42H2O (uranium peroxide)
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9. In Situ Leaching
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10. ISL has its woes
 Ground water supply has radioactive residues (mostly radon)
 There are ISL mines in Texas, Wyoming, and Nebraska that
share the same aquifers as residents
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11. From Where Does It Come?
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 Australia has 30% of the world’s uranium below its topsoil,
and it is all for export
 Canada (mostly
Saskatchewan) is the next
largest source
 The True North, strong and
free, has 20% of the world’s
supply

12. Nuclear Power Plant (NPP)
 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.
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13. NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
ARE THE PRODUCT OF:
Nuclear Engineers
Mechanical Engineers
Electrical Engineers
Civil Engineers
Human Factors Experts
Computer Engineers/Scientists
Etc.
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14. How it work?
There are two types
Boiling Water Reactor
Pressurized-Water Reactor
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15. Pressurized-Water Reactor
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16. j
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17. Boiling Water Reactor
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19. Working Process Conclusion
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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

20. Safety
 Public remains wary of nuclear power due to Chernobyl and
three mile island accidents
 Nuclear plants vulnerable to terrorist attacks
 Safer, more efficient, and more secure plants planned for the
future
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21. WASTE DISPOSAL
 A concern to many people
 Used (spent) nuclear fuel consists of ceramic pellets
encased in metal tubes
 Current solution: On-site storage at NPPs
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22. DRY STORAGE IN CASKS ON
SITE
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23. WASTE STORAGE
 At this time, radioactive wastes are being stored at the
Department of Energy’s facilities around the country
 High level wastes are stored in underground carbon or
stainless steel tanks
 Spent nuclear fuel is put in above-ground dry storage
facilities and in water-filled pools
 Yucca Mountain: one site for high-level radioactive
waste makes it easy to monitor, regulate, and secure
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Yucca Mountain
 Storage sites becoming full,
waste may be transported
to Yucca Mountain
 Located on government
land, about 100 miles
northwest of Las Vegas in
the Nevada desert

25. Problems with Yucca Mountain
 The nuclear waste currently sitting around is enough to fill the
repository
 Danger to the public with the transportation of the waste to
yucca mountain
 Possible health risks to those living near Yucca Mountain
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27. 27
 At right is a map of the
Yucca Mountain site
 The area within the dotted
line is the burial site
 Two faults run directly
through the site

28. Top 10 Nuclear Generating Countries, 2016
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30. Advantages of Nuclear Power
 Clean
 Plentiful Supply
 High energy content in uranium
 Small fuel pellet
 Can provide base load power
 Energy savings in transportation
 Operating cost is low after construction
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31. Drawbacks to Using Nuclear
Power
 Initial construction costs
 Radioactive waste byproduct
 Storage
 Natural disasters
 Public perception
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32. Uses of Energy Sources
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References
 www.need.org
 https://whatisnuclear.com/articles/nuc
energy.html
 http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2011/05/17/
nuclear-reactor-wall-chart-electronic-
library/
 Brookheaven national Lab
 Etc…