NUCLEAR ENERGY Or How The World Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Alternative Energy Source Sophia Khan and Dom Bolton

Dec. 2, 1942: Chicago-Pile 1 Uranium Renewable Reactors and power plants WHAT IS NUCLEAR ENERGY?

BUT I THOUGHT…

FRIENDLY TERMS Fission: nuclear reaction which splits massive nuclei into smaller ones while releasing energy Kyoto Protocol: reduce greenhouse gases

HOW IT WORKS

HOW IT WORKS (cont.) Core: encased in metal, high temperature and pressure Fuel assemblies: differ, long rods, release large amount of neutrons  high energy Control Rods: cadmium, heavy neutron absorbers, level of absorption, power up or down Moderator: slows down neutrons, coolant

HOW IT WORKS (cont.) High pressure steam Goes to turbines Generates electricity Closed in by thick concrete

URANIUM Ore mined Then crushed And Uranium extracted 85% total radioactivity (from radon gas)

INSIDE A REACTOR tons of uranium = 17% of world’s power requirements Levels of water cooling Light, Heavy, Pressurized, Boiled Generation III and III+ Increase efficiency Higher temperature Higher pressure

THE FUTURE Different generations Worldwide 440 reactors in 31 countries 367 gigawatts = 16% of world's electricity Next 15 years: 60 new plants = 17% electricity China Goal: 4% electricity from nuclear energy By 2020: 41 power plants

BENEFITS Powerful Durable Clean

THE ENERGY CRISIS Never-ending search U.S. Dept. of Energy predicts 75% in electricity use Electricity: 1/3 of greenhouse gas emissions Problem for current nuclear reactors: coal-fired

DOWNFALLS Uranium Mining Lead-210 and Polonium-210 Limited: tons left Nuclear Waste and Storage Continue to release radiation Canada: 200 million pounds Disasters (Chernobyl) Breeder reactors and plutonium Non-renewable 42 years of reserves left

TO GET THE BALL ROLLING… 103 plants = 20% electricity US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Initial cost high, but low later Burn more fuel Fuel flexibility Plutonium, thorium, LEU, MOX

NEW GENERATION IVs COMING SOON 2030