NUCLEAR POWER PROCESSES APPLICATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

NUCLEAR POWER PROCESSES APPLICATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

NUCLEAR PROCESS • Nuclear energy is produced through a process called Nuclear Fission in which a uranium-235 atom is struck at high speed by a neutron. As soon as the nucleus of the atom captures the neutron, it splits into two lighter atoms and sends off two to three new neutrons that will cause further fissions. A substantial amount of energy in the form of heat and gamma radiation is released in this reaction when the atom splits and the two new atoms obtained in result also emit some gamma and beta radiation as they settle into their new states.

NUCLEAR PROCESS • Diagram

REACTORS • The function of a reactors is to produce heat and transfer that heat to the coolant, maintain a pressure boundary, so the coolant is not lost, and provide a structure to hold the fuel.

REACTOR TYPES • BWR-Boiling Water Reactor • LGR-Light Water Cooled - Graphite Moderated Reactor • LMFBR-Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor • LMGMR-Liquid Metal (Cooled) -Graphite Moderated Reactor • LWBR-Light Water Breeder Reactor • PWR-Pressurized Water Reactor

REACTOR TYPES PWR

REACTOR TYPES BWR

APPLICATONS

Nuclear power is generally used as an alternative for coal and other energy sources because… • it has the highest energy output for material input, • the material used is abundant, • plutonium a resultant of the process can also be used as a fuel, • and the amount of waste produced is the least of any major energy production process.

PLUTONIUM • Plutonium is a byproduct of nuclear operations that, although capable of being a lasting resource, is viewed negatively as the stuff bombs can be made from.

Nuclear Waste ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

AIR • • The gases released in to the atmospheric environment from nuclear power plants come from the cooling towers, ventilation systems, diesel generators and air ejectors and are monitored and regulated to acceptable levels where necessary. The giant cooling towers release water-vapor that is not radioactive. Ventilation systems from sites within the plant that deal with radioactivity release radioactive gases but at acceptable amounts that are maintained by radiation monitors. Diesel generators do not release radioactive gases but are the only emitters of green house gases. Air ejector exhaust at PWR are not radioactive but are at BWR plants where they are maintained at acceptable levels by radiation monitors.

• Water used to cool the condenser in a reactor comes from the cooling tower and is not radioactive, but that which comes from the steam generator and directly cools the reactor sometimes is. water from the steam generator is there for must be stored, cleaned and tested to make sure its radioactive levels are below acceptable levels before being released from a nuclear power plant

NUCLEAR POWER BY Pascal Messavussu George Karolidis Director Mr. Aghassi Producer DJ KHALED Sources http: //www. virtualnucleartourist. com/ This presentation was brought to you by