Nuclear Energy
Fuel Used: Uranium 235 (hard to find)
Process: Nuclear Fission: splitting of large uranium atoms. When atoms are split, this creates smaller atoms, heat energy, and neutrons. The neutrons hit neighboring Uranium 235; this causes a chain reaction to occur, where more uranium atoms are split.
How it Works: Uranium 235 rods (fuel rods, 12ft long) are dipped in cold water. The uranium starts to decay, producing heat. The cold water turns to steam, which causes a turbine to spin that generates electricity.
Because this reaction causes much heat, cold water is in constant need. Also, containment rods are also placed inside the water to absorb neutrons from the uranium fuel rods. This slows the chain reaction down.
Pros of Nuclear Energy
1) Doesn’t emit air pollutants
2) Moderate land degradation and water pollution
3) Low rates of accidents/death
1) Huge radiation disasters such as Chernobyl or Three Mile Island
2) Gives off wastes (see below) that must be stored
3) Mining of Uranium destroys habitat and creates soil erosion
Wastes (2 types created by nuclear fission)
High Level Wastes: Gives off high amounts of radiation for a short time, or low
amounts for a long time. Created by spent fuel rods or
waste from making bombs. Usually requires a long storage time.
Low Level Wastes: Give off small amounts of radiation, Stored
safely for 100-500 yrs
In US: put in steel drums; dumped into ocean, some
in landfills (Carlsbad, NM)
Disposal Site
Debate: Creation of Yucca
Mountain in Nevada
•1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act
• First site
proposed 1985: isolated, good weather, owned by gov.
•Yucca Mountain, Nevada
– near volcano,
active faults
– quakes could raise
water table, cause contamination
–Leakage of rainwater