Nuclear Energy About 20% of US electricity is from nuclear power plants.
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Nuclear Energy A nuclear reactor uses heat from a controlled fission reaction This is used to create the steam needed to generate electricity. [
Nuclear Energy Control Rods are used in the core to make sure the fission reaction does not create too much heat. Made from Boron or Cadmium [ BF8D-266B8B3AC063/0/diagram_controlrod.gif] Click Here for a Demo.
[ The core of a reactor. Cerenkov radiation
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[ Cooling Tower, not the reactor!
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Nuclear Energy Nuclear fuel is Uranium Dioxide (UO 2 ) 3-5% of U-235 isotope must be present. Remember: U-238 is most abundant! (only 0.7% is U-235) [
Uranium Soil Concentrations [
Nuclear Energy Pros No air pollutants. No carbon dioxide. Overall efficiency around 35%, same as fossil fuel plants. Only $0.03 per kWh of energy produced (but larger “start-up” costs)
Nuclear Energy Cons Mining for uranium. Disposal of nuclear waste. Possible release of radioactivity. RBMK Reactor (Chernobyl) vs. LWR Reactor (United States) [
RBMK Reactor (Chernobyl) If H 2 O is lost, reaction speeds up!
LWR Reactor (United States) If H 2 O is lost, reaction slows down! [ content/uploads/2009/09/student-bwr.gif]