Nuclear Power

Nuclear (uranium) energy comes from the nucleus of an atom.

Nuclear energy is released through either fusion or fission.

In nuclear fusion, energy is released when the nuclei of atoms combine.

Fusion is a process in which particles of an element collide and combine to form a heavier element, such as the fusion of hydrogen into helium that occurs in the Sun’s core.

Hydrogen fuel cells are an experimental energy source that combine hydrogen and oxygen in a chemical reaction to make energy called fusion.

In nuclear fission, (the only process currently in use) energy is released when the nuclei of atoms are split apart.

Uranium (nonrenewable) is the fuel used by nuclear power plants.

Uranium is the unstable element that nuclear reactors use to generate electricity.

Nuclear fission splits atoms to produce energy.

Nuclear power is generated from the heat released when uranium atoms split.

The heat from nuclear fission boils water to make the steam that turns the turbines to generate electricity.

The nuclear reactors use water to cool down the immense heat that is generated in this nuclear fission reaction.

Chernobyl Nuclear Plant Disaster

Chernobyl is the location of one of the worst nuclear accident in history.

What happened? On April 26, 1986 an operatior error cause a reactor explosion at the nuclear power plant 190 tons of radioactive gasses into the atmosphere Fire starts that lasts 10 days

Where is Chernobyl?

Radioactive fallout Czech Technical University in Prague 23 May 2007

Direct Casualties 31 people died in 3 months of radiation poisoning 134 emergency workers suffered from acute radiation sickness 25,000 rescue workers died since then of diseases caused by radiation 5.5 million people still live in contaminated areas

Environment Impact Areas still impacted today: Soil Ground Water Air Food Crops Livestock

Another one of the worst nuclear accident occurred in Japan after a tsunami.

Japan

What happened in Japan? 2011 The nuclear power plants in Fukushima 9.0 earthquake damaged the power plants Tsumani Power outages meant that the plants couldn't cool the reactors quickly enough. The employees of the power plant and others are making heroic efforts to find ways to cool the reactors enough to stop them from melting down and causing an explosion

Three Mile Island

Nuclear Accident at 3 Mile Island

In 1979 at Three Mile Island nuclear power plant a cooling malfunction caused part of the core to melt and destroyed a nuclear reactor. Some radioactive gas was released a couple of days after the accident, but not enough to cause any dose above background levels to local residents. There were no injuries or adverse health effects from the Three Mile Island accident.

Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania is the location of the worst nuclear accident in the U.S.