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Nuclear Hydroelectric Power

The document discusses different types of nuclear and hydroelectric energy. It covers topics like nuclear fission and fusion, different types of nuclear reactors, nuclear waste, and environmental impacts of nuclear and hydroelectric power. It also provides details on specific nuclear incidents and concerns about a power plant in Florida.

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169 views21 pages

Nuclear Hydroelectric Power

The document discusses different types of nuclear and hydroelectric energy. It covers topics like nuclear fission and fusion, different types of nuclear reactors, nuclear waste, and environmental impacts of nuclear and hydroelectric power. It also provides details on specific nuclear incidents and concerns about a power plant in Florida.

Uploaded by

api-295113779
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Do Now

1. What are the 1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics?


2. How has energy use changed in the U.S. from the preIndustrial Revolution era to the present?
3. Explain the difference between renewable and
nonrenewable sources of energy
4. What is OPEC? What is it responsible for?
5. Explain why hydrofracking is controversial.

Nuclear &
Hydroelectric Energy
Energy
Lesson 2

Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear Fusion can occur when extremely
high temperatures are used to force nuclei
of isotopes of lightweight atoms fuse
together, which can cause large amounts of
energy to be released
A coal-fed electrical plant producing 1,000
MW of electricity in one day produces
30,000 tons of CO2 gases, 600 tons of SO2
gas, and 80 tons of NO2 gas
In contrast, a fusion plant producing the
same amount of electricity would produce 4
pounds of harmless helium as a waste
product

Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Fission-an atom splits
into two or more smaller nuclei
along with by-product particles
(neurons, photons, gamma rays,
and beta and alpha particles.
Nuclear Fission is an
exothermic (gives off heat)
reaction
If controlled, the heat that is
produced is used to produce
steam that turns generators
that then produce electricity
If the reaction is not controlled,
a nuclear explosion can result

Nuclear Energy
The potential energy contained in nuclear fuel is 10
million times more than that of more traditional fuel
sources (coal, petroleum)
However, nuclear wasted remain highly radioactive for
thousands of years and are difficult to dispose of
The most common nuclear fuels are U-235, U-238, and
Pu-239

U-235
Isotope of uranium
Uranium that has been processed to separate out U-235
is enriched uranium
Enriched uranium is an issue with Iran and North Korea
Nuclear weapons contain 85% or more U-235
Nuclear power plants contain about 3% U-235
The minimum amount required for a chain reaction is
called the critical mass
The half life of U-235 is 700 million years

U-238
The most common (99.3%) isotope of uranium
Has a half-life of 4.5 billion years
Most depleted uranium is U-238
Decays into Pu-239

Pu-239
Has a half life of 24,000 years
Produced in breeder reactors from U-238
Plutonium fission provides about one third of the total
energy produced in a typical commercial nuclear power
plant
Control rods in nuclear power plants need to be
changed frequently due to the buildup on Pu-239 that
can be used for nuclear weapons and due to the buildup
of Pu-240, a contaminant

Electricity Production
Nuclear power production began in the U.S. in the
1960s and increased rapidly until the 1980s
As of 2005, nuclear power provided 6% of the worlds
energy and 15% of the worlds electricity
The U.S. produces the most nuclear energy, which
accounts for 19% of the energy we consume

Light-Water Reactors
Water serves as the
moderator and coolant
Pressurized-water
reactors allow water
coolant to operate at a high
pressure before pumping it
to the core of the reactor
Boiling-water reactors
allow water to boil within
the core of the reactor by
operating at a lower
pressure

Heavy-Water Reactors
Deuterium oxide (D2O) is a form of water in
which each hydrogen atom contains one
proton, one electron, and one neuron
Hydrogen normally has no neurons
Used in reactors where it acts as a neutron
moderator to slow down neutrons so they
can react with uranium
Heavy water use increases the
effectiveness of the nuclear reaction

Graphite-Moderated Reactors
Uses light-water for
cooling, graphite for
moderation, and uranium
for fuel
These reactors require no
separated isotopes
(enriched uranium or
heavy water)
Initially built by Russians;
very unstable; no longer
produced (Chernobyl)

Exotic Reactors
Fast-breeder reactors and other experimental
installations are in this group
Breeder reactors produce more fissionable material than
they consume

Environmental Advantages &


Disadvantages of Nuclear Power
Pros

Cons

No air pollutants

Nuclear waste takes millions of years to


degrade (half-life) and is difficult to store

Releases one-sixth of the CO2 of fossil fuel


plants

The process of commissioning and


decommissioning nuclear power plants is
regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission and is costly and dangerous

Water pollution is low

Low-net energy yield; energy is required for


mining uranium, processing ore, building
and operating the plant, dismantling the
plant, and storing wastes

Land disruption is low to moderate

Safety and malfunction concerns

Radiation and Human Health


Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor Meltdown-Ukraine, 1986
3 Mile Island Nuclear Disaster-United States, 1979
Fukushima Nuclear Reactor Meltdown-Japan, 2011

Current Concerns: Biscayne Bay, FL

http://www.local10.com/news/um-studyfinds-link-in-bay-to-turkey-point-can
als

Hydroelectric Power
Dams are built to
trap water which in
turn is then
released and
channeled through
turbines that
generate electricity.
Hydroelectric power
supplies about 10%
of the electricity in
the U.S. and about
3% worldwide

Environmental Advantages &


Disadvantages of Hydroelectric Power
Pros

Cons

Dams control flooding

Dams create large flooded areas behind the


dam; displaces people; slow water breeds
pathogens

Low operating and maintenance costs

Dams destroy wildlife habitats and prevent


fish from migrating

No polluting waste products

Sedimentation doesnt reach farmland

Long life spans

Expensive

Moderate to high net-useful energy

Destroys wild rivers; water loss because of


increased evaporation

Areas of water recreation

Large-scale projects are subject to


earthquakes

Flood Control
Channelization-straightens and deepens
streams
Dams-stores water in reservoirs
Identify & Manage Flood-Prone Areasprecautionary building practices emerge as a
result
Levees or Floodwalls-raised embankments
to prevent rivers from overflowing; can
break, as they did in New Orleans during
Hurricane Katrina in 2005
Preserve Wetlands-preservation maintains
natural floodplains and biodiversity

Salmon

Silting and Other Impacts


Reservoirs in tropical areas have slow moving or still
water, which is a breeding ground for infectious disease
Displacement of people due to flooding and destruction
of croplands
Deprives downstream areas of nutrient-rich water
Migration and spawning cycles are disrupted
Silt particles build up behind dams and must be
removed/dredged

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