1. 1 Nuclear Science An Overview Of Atomic Energy and Nuclear Power Plants Mr. Schimanski Feb 17, 2015

2. 2 Do we need Nuclear Power Plants ? What do you know about Nuclear Power Plants ?? What do you want to know about Nuclear Power Plants ??? What’s the purpose of all Power Plants ????

3. 3 How is Electricity made? To make electricity you must have 3 things: A conductor A magnetic field Relative motion between the two

4. 4 Turbine / Generator (generator generates electricity, every type of power plant has one)

5. 5 56% COAL 9.6% GAS 3.7% OIL 9.5% HYDRO 21% NUCLEAR 0.2% GEOTHERMAL & OTHERS Electricity Generation Sources in U.S.

6. 6 Commercial Power Production (Power Plants) Commercial Power Production is the process of taking the energy source (fuel) and turning it into electricity for consumer use. Conservation of Energy: Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but it can be altered in form. Nuclear fuels are split, and mass is converted into energy (heat). Other fuels are burned, converting mass into energy (heat).

7. 7 How Do Nuclear Power Plants Work?

8. 8 The Fission Process Fission occurs when a neutron strikes the nucleus of a uranium atom and is absorbed, making the atom unstable The unstable atom splits, releasing fission fragments and energy in the form of heat and radiation When carefully controlled, these neutrons create a sustained chain reaction The fission creates heat, to boil water, to make steam, to turn the turbine and generator, to make electricity

9. 9 Nuclear Energy Comes From Fission Neutrons Uranium atom Split atoms

10. 10 Splitting Atom Releases Neutrons, Creating Heat Heat Neutrons

11. 11 The Chain Reaction

12. 12 What is a Nuclear Reactor? A huge, super strong, steel container Nuclear fuel is contained in the reactor What’s the purpose of the Nuclear Fuel? It generates massive amounts of heat (from fission) The heat boils the water to produce the steam

13. 13 What’s the purpose of the steam? The steam is used to turn the turbine What does the turbine due? The turbine is connected to a generator The generator creates the electricity (conductor, magnetic field, and relative motion) The turbine and generator spin at 1800 RPM !

14. 14 Nuclear Power Plant Where is the nuclear reactor? Where is the turbine? Where is the generator?

15. 15 How may different types of nuclear power plants do you know about? 2 BWR and PWR What does BWR stand for? What does PWR stand for? Boiling Water Reactor Pressurized Water Reactor

16. 16 Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)

17. 17 Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)

18. 18 Turbine / Generator

19. 19 Safety and Security

20. 20 Reactor Levels of Containment Containment Vessel 1.5-inch thick steel Shield Building Wall 3 foot thick reinforced concrete Dry Well Wall 5 foot thick reinforced concrete Bio Shield 4 foot thick leaded concrete with 1.5-inch thick steel lining inside and out Reactor Vessel 4 to 8 inches thick steel Reactor Fuel Redundant Safety Systems Also Ensure Safety

21. 21 Containment Wall

22. 22 Radiation Exposure From Different Activities (in millirem) Natural Background Radiation (1 year) Working at a Nuclear Power Plant (1 year) One Diagnostic X-ray Living in a Stone, Brick or Concrete Building (1 year) One Cross-Country Flight Living at the Gate of a Nuclear Plant (1 year) Watching TV (average person, 1 year) Living Within 50 miles of a Coal-Fired Plant (1 year) Living Within 50 miles of a Nuclear Plant (1 year) 300 115 20 7 5 3 1.5 0.03 0.009

23. 23 Benefits of Nuclear Energy

24. 24 Nuclear Energy is: Clean Nuclear energy produces no greenhouse gases, ground-level ozone formation, smog or acid rain Coal 996 Natural Gas 476 Oil 809 Nuclear0 Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Metric Tons

25. 25 Nuclear Energy is: Safe You would have to live near a nuclear power plant for more than 2,000 years to get the equivalent radiation exposure of one diagnostic medical X-ray Secure The Center for Strategic and International Studies concluded that nuclear plants “are probably our best defended targets,” with the industry spending $1.2 billion in security since September 11, 2001

26. 26 Nuclear Energy is: = = = Powerful A single fuel pellet produces as much energy as 2.5 tons of wood, 3 barrels of oil, or 1 ton of coal

27. 27 Nuclear vs. Solar/Wind

28. 28 Nuclear Energy is: = = = Powerful A single fuel pellet produces as much energy as 2.5 tons of wood, 3 barrels of oil or 1 ton of coal One nuclear power plant produces enough energy to power everything in your house for an entire month….. in just 4 seconds! These nuclear fuel pellets last 6 years!

29. 29 Nuclear Energy is: Affordable and Reliable Nuclear power plants have the lowest production cost of the major sources of electricity and their costs are more predictable than most other forms of generation Nuclear plants can produce electricity around the clock and in all weather conditions Economically Beneficial to the Community Nuclear energy contributes an estimated $500 million per year for each new plant brought online –Jobs –Taxes –Philanthropy

30. 30 Engineers Nuclear, Electrical, Chemical, Mechanical, Materials, Civil, Structural Professionals Health Physicists, Radiation Protection Technicians, Chemists, Information Technology, Business Management, Security, Training Skilled Workers Operators, Mechanics, Electricians, Welders, Pipe fitters, Machinists, Carpenters, Heavy Equipment Operators Who Works at Nuclear Power Plants?

31. 31 Questions?