1. PowerPoint ® Lecture prepared by Gary A. Beluzo NUCLEAR POWER 21

2. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Distinguish the differences between nuclear fission and fusion, and why such differences are important in regards to the economics of electricity generation. Draw a diagram of the nuclear fuel cycle. Explain why nuclear power plants are not currently being built in the U.S. Describe the technological and political challenges facing long term nuclear waste disposal. Explain how human error contributed to the accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. After reading this chapter, students will be able to

3. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Nuclear Power: A Faustian Bargain? Johannes Faust lived in early 16 th Century Germany Faust sought to acquire supernatural knowledge In return he would surrender himself to Satan Has society made a Faustian bargain by embracing nuclear power to generate electricity?

4. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Uranium Ore

5. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company The Nature of Uranium Resources U 238 and U 235 (92 protons) Only U 235 is naturally fissile U 238 is a fertile isotope and forms Pu 239

6. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company U.S. Uranium Industry

7. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company First Nuclear Electricity

8. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company U.S. Nuclear Power Industry

9. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company World Nuclear Power Generation

10. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Nuclear Protests

11. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company The Nuclear Fuel Cycle

12. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Inside a Nuclear Reactor

13. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Transportation of Radioactive Wastes

14. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company The Yucca Mountain Site Figure 21.14 top

15. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company The Yucca Mountain Repository Figure 21.15

16. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company How Safe is Nuclear Energy?

17. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company The Chernobyl Accident

18. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Contamination from Chernobyl Figure 21.18a Figure 21.18b Figure 21.18c Figure 21.18e Figure 21.18f Figure 21.18d

19. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company The Economics of Nuclear Power Capital Cost (more for nuclear) Operating Cost Coal = 2.1 cents/KwH Gas = 3.5 cents/KwH Oil = 3.8 cents/KwH Nuclear = 2.3 cents/KwH Large government subsidy to nuclear power Price-Anderson Act

20. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Fusion Fusion of light elements into heavier ones Isotopes of hydrogen fuse to helium 160x energy from a Kg of uranium oxide 10,000,000x energy from a Kg of coal But scientific and engineering barriers

21. Copyright © 2007 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company A Nuclear Renaissance? Nuclear Power emits small quantities of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants Technological issues and long-term waste