1. Nuclear Power: “Too cheap to meter”
Ready Kilowatt

2. Uranium production in the U.S.

3. What is “nuclear fission”?
U neutron = U-236
U-236 splits into:
2 neutrons + byproducts + ENERGY

4. Light Water Reactors
Boiling Water Reactor

5. Light Water Reactors
Pressurized Water Reactor

6. Heavy Water Reactor
Nuclear fission reactors used in Canada use heavy water as the moderator in their reactors. Since the deuterium in heavy water is slightly more effective in slowing down the neutrons from the fission reactions, the uranium fuel needs no enrichment and can be used as mined. The Canadian style reactors are commonly called CANDU reactors.

7. Moderator = graphite blocks
Problems:
Instability
of graphite
Lack of
containment
at Chernobyl

8. Fast Breeder Reactors
Under appropriate operating conditions, the neutrons given off by fission reactions can "breed" more fuel from otherwise non-fissionable isotopes. The most common breeding reaction is that of plutonium-239 from non-fissionable uranium-238. The term "fast breeder" refers to the types of configurations which can actually produce more fissionable fuel than they use. France has made the largest implementation of breeder reactors with its large Super-Phenix reactor and an intermediate scale reactor (BN-600) on the Caspian Sea for electric power and desalinization.

9. Gas-Cooled Reactors: Pebble bed

10. World Nuclear Reactors

11. NUCLEAR POWER TIMELINE
Atomic Energy Act passed creating AEC
1957 Price Anderson Act passed
Many US nuclear plants constructed
1970s: increasing anti-nuclear activism :
Three Mile Island accident
China syndrome
1986: Chernobyl

12. NUCLEAR POWER TIMELINE
Since TMI decline of nuclear power in U.S.; cancellation of plants, etc. Business in rest of the world is mixed, at best.
Politics: Seabrook / MUSE
“prudency reviews” / TMI, Ginna
Evacuation plans and licensing
Decommissioning
new designs
Licensing Process: US
Elsewhere

13. Radioactive Wastes
Low-Level Waste (LLW) - includes radioactively contaminated protective clothing, tools, filters, rags, medical tubes, and many other items
High-Level Waste (HLW)- "irradiated" or used nuclear reactor fuel; some fuel processing wastes
Uranium Mill Tailings - the residues remaining after the processing of natural ore to extract uranium and thorium

14. Waste Disposal
Low-level wastes: LLRWPA/compacts
High level wastes:
NWPA: Indiana case
Yucca Mountain

15. High level Nuclear Waste (Dry Cask) Storage

16. High level Nuclear Waste (Wet) Storage (fuel rods)

17. Nuclear Waste (Wet) Storage

18. Conceptual diagram of the Yucca Mountain facility

19. Opposition to Yucca Mountain Disposal Site

20. What should be done with American high-level nuclear waste? Why?
Nuclear power comprises roughly 15-20% of US (and worldwide) electric generation.
How much should the U.S. rely on it in the future? Why?