2.  Benefits of Nuclear Energy  How Fission Works  Nuclear Power Plant Basics  Overview of Uranium Fuel Cycle  Energy Lifecycle of Nuclear Power  Generation IV Reactors  Technical Challenges  Conclusions

3.  Continuous, reliable supply of energy  Well-developed technology › 12,700 reactor-years of commercial experience › Accounts for ~16% of world electricity generation  Extensive fuel supply › Breeder reactors › Fissile materials other than Uranium

4.  Water or other moderator slows neutrons, thermalizing them  Thermal neutron collides with U- 235  Unstable nucleus splits in two  Energy and neutrons are released  Reaction repeats

5. http://www.eas.asu.edu/~holbert/eee460/pwrdiag.gif A common type of Light Water Reactor (LWR)

6. http://www.arevaresources.com/nuclear_energy/datagb/cycle/cyclerep.gif

7. Based on 3090 MW Forsmark plant operating for 40 years. http://nuclearinfo.net/Nuclearpower/TheScienceOfNuclearPower

8.  Radioactive waste storage/disposal › Yucca Mountain › Reprocess spent fuel  Safety › Only fatalities from commercial nuclear power plant occurred at Chernobyl › Must overcome public fear

9. * high = 7-15 Mpa + = with some U-235 or Pu-239 ** 'battery' model with long cassette core life (15-20 yr) or replaceable reactor module http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf77.html

10.  U-238 captures a neutron and transmutes to Pu-239  Pu-239 is fissile like U-235  Increases efficiency of uranium use >50x  Could use up depleted uranium stockpiles & plutonium from dismantled weapons http://www.atomeromu.hu/mukodes/tipusok/gyorsreak-e.htm

11.  290 reactor-years of commercial experience  Monju (Japan) and Superphenix (France)  Not economically practical  More costly to construct  More difficult to operate  Proliferation dangers associated with plutonium

12.  Nuclear fission is a viable energy source  It cuts down on CO 2 emissions, improving air quality  New designs have made nuclear power safer and more economically feasible  Issue of radioactive waste will need to be addressed