1. Nuclear Power Plants

2. Nuclear Power Plant Turbine and Generator Spinning turbine blades and generator Boiling water Steam

3. Nuclear Energy Powers 1 in 5 U.S. Homes and Businesses

4. Nuclear Energy Comes From Fission Uranium atom Neutrons Spit atoms

5. Heat Splitting Atoms Releases Neutrons, Making Heat Neutrons

6. Heat Produces Steam, Generating Electricity Heat Steam produced Steam Turbine Generator Electricity

7. Nuclear Fission The process of splitting a larger atomic nucleus into two smaller nuclei by bombarding it with neutrons. This process releases energy that is stored in the nucleus.

8. n 1 0 + U 235 92 Kr 91 36 n 1 0 Ba 142 56 ++ + Energ y 3

9. Uranium Is Mined and Refined

10. Uranium Ore  Uranium hexafluoride  Gas  Solid

11. Enrichment Concentrates the Uranium Isotope

12. Our current nuclear power plants run on fission They use theU-235 isotope of Uranium as fuel. Most uranium in natural ores exists in as U-238 Only U-235 is fissionable. Processed uranium must be “enriched” in centrifuges to concentrate the U-235. Uranium used in reactors is 4-5% U-235. Uranium used in nuclear weapons must be 90% U-235.

13. Uranium Is Encased in Solid Ceramic Pellets

14. Fuel Rods Filled With Pellets Are Grouped Into Fuel Assemblies

15. The fission process can continue until all of the available “big atoms” are gone. This is a chain reaction. Reactions must be slowed down with neutron-absorbing control rods.

16. Controlling the Chain Reaction Control rods Fuel Assemblies Withdraw control rods, reaction increases Insert control rods, reaction decreases

17. Boiling Water Reactor

18. Steam Pressurized Water Reactor

20. Safety Is Engineered Into Reactor Designs 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 Weir Wall 1.5 foot thick concrete