Technology & Engineering
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy is the energy released during nuclear reactions, either through nuclear fission or fusion. In nuclear fission, the nucleus of an atom is split into smaller parts, releasing a large amount of energy. This energy is used to generate electricity in nuclear power plants, making nuclear energy a significant source of power worldwide.
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9 Key excerpts on "Nuclear Energy"
eBook - PDFGlobal Energy Fundamentals
Economics, Politics, and Technology
- Simone Tagliapietra(Author)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- Cambridge University Press(Publisher)
5 Nuclear Energy 5.1 introduction to Nuclear Energy Nuclear Energy is contained in nuclei of atoms, which can be released using two different physical processes: nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Nuclear fission entails splitting atoms in a reactor, then col- lecting the heat to vaporise water into steam, turn a turbine and generate electricity; this is a well-established technology that has been in use for decades. Nuclear fusion is the process where two atomic nuclei unite to form a common nucleus, hereby releasing a high amount of energy. Nuclear fusion is the source of energy of the sun and of the stars. Research into developing controlled nuclear fusion for civil purposes began in the 1940s and still continues today, but whether or not it will become a commercially viable technology is not yet clear. Major hurdles remain, including the high temperatures (several million Celsius degrees) that need to be reached and maintained. Nuclear Energy is used in both military and civil fields. The first nuclear reactors were built during World War II. They were not used to supply electricity but, on the model of the first chain reaction battery built by Enrico Fermi in Chicago, to obtain technical information on the parameters that regulate nuclear reactions and to analyse the principles of operation, experiment with different reactor models, and produce material for bombs. Nuclear bombs can be built in two ways: by enrich- ing the uranium to produce uncontrolled fission in a pure quantity of uranium, along the path leading to the launch of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima; or through the use of reactors to produce plutonium. Each reactor operating on uranium fuel creates plutonium as a by-product. Once the fuel used is taken from a reactor, plutonium 97 can be extracted through a specific chemical process. In the huge reactors built during World War II in the United States for the Manhattan project 1 , the energy produced by fission was treated simply as waste.
eBook - PDFEnergy Security
Visions from Asia and Europe
- A. Marquina(Author)
- 2008(Publication Date)
- Palgrave Macmillan(Publisher)
15 Nuclear Energy: World Perspectives Eduardo González and José María Martínez-Val The role of Nuclear Energy in electricity supply Nuclear Energy is the technical and economic label to identify a set of activi- ties that transform the energy contained in the atomic nucleus into a useful type of energy, particularly electricity. The potential energy of the inner com- ponents of the atomic nucleus is very large, and it conveys nuclear radiation and nuclear reactions. The main reaction exploited so far is fission, which is usually induced by a free neutron. In one fission, about 0.1 per cent of the reacting mass disappears, and it is converted into heat. This is a much higher value than the corresponding level of chemical reactions. In fact, it is about 1 million times higher. This is why Nuclear Energy is so powerful, but it is also a cause for concern. To minimize the risks, nuclear reactors are designed and operated so that temperature and pressure values do not exceed the allowed levels. Nuclear Energy for electricity generation was started in the late 1950s, and evolved very fast in the first two decades. This fast early deployment was slowed down by a set of factors, particularly social and political attitudes. Accidents, such as TMI-2 (Harrisburg, USA, 1979) and Chernobyl-4 (former Soviet Union, 1986), were at the very root of social and political concern. Additionally, nuclear waste was also considered to be too complex a prob- lem from social and political viewpoints. Last, but not least, proliferation of nuclear weapons was another fundamental issue for nuclear foes. However, despite these social concerns, it must be stated that the actual facts are very different. First, nuclear accidents in the Western world (including TMI-2) have not had any relevant impact on people and the environment.
eBook - PDF- John R Fanchi(Author)
- 2010(Publication Date)
- World Scientific(Publisher)
98 CHAPTER 5 Nuclear Energy Fossil fuels were the dominant energy source in the 20 th century. Concern that the supply of fossil fuels is limited and fossil fuel combustion produces greenhouse gases is motivating the search for other sources of energy. One energy source that is receiving renewed interest is nuclear fission energy. Nuclear fission is the process in which a large, unstable nucleus splits into two smaller fragments. Energy from nuclear fission ge-nerates heat, which is typically used to generate electric power. Energy consumed by the United States in 2008 included over 8% nuclear fission energy in 2008 (Appendix B). World energy consumption included almost 6% nuclear fission energy in 2006 (Appendix C). Nuclear Energy can be provided when large nuclei split into smaller fragments in the nuclear fission process. Energy can also be provided by combining, or fusing, two small nuclei into a single larger nucleus in the nuclear fusion process. Nuclear fusion reactions are the source of energy supplied by the sun. Both nuclear fission and nuclear fusion reactions release large amounts of energy. Significant quantities of energy need to be controlled. Some of the energy is waste heat and needs to be dissipated. Some of the energy is useful energy and needs to be transformed into a more use-ful form. Decay products from the fission process can be highly radioactive for long periods of time and need to be disposed in an envi-ronmentally acceptable manner. On the other hand, the byproducts of the fusion process are relatively safe. The purpose of this chapter is to dis-cuss the history of Nuclear Energy, the role of Nuclear Energy in the current energy mix, and the potential value of Nuclear Energy in a future energy mix. We begin by presenting the history of Nuclear Energy. Nuclear Energy 99 5.1 H ISTORY OF N UCLEAR E NERGY Nuclear Energy became an important contributor to the global energy mix in the latter half of the 20 th century.
- John R. Fanchi, John R. Fanchi, (Authors)
- 2013(Publication Date)
- Academic Press(Publisher)
CHAPTER ELEVEN Nuclear Energy The fundamental science underlying Nuclear Energy was introduced in the previous two chapters. Nuclear Energy can be obtained from two principal types of reactions: fission and fusion. Fission is the splitting of one large nucleus into two smaller nuclei; fusion is the joining of two small nuclei into one large nucleus. In both reactions, significant amounts of energy can be released. The historical development of Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Energy technology is discussed in this chapter. 1 11.1 HISTORY OF Nuclear Energy Physicist Leo Szilard conceived of a neutron chain reaction in 1934. Szilard knew that neutrons could interact with radioactive materials to cre-ate more neutrons. If the density of the radioactive material and the number of neutrons were large enough, a chain reaction could occur. Szilard thought of two applications of the neutron chain reaction: a peaceful harnessing of the reaction for the production of consumable energy, and an uncontrolled release of energy (an explosion) for military purposes. Recognizing the potential significance of his concepts, Szilard patented them in an attempt to hinder widespread development of the military capabilities of the neutron chain reaction. This was the first attempt in history to control the proliferation of nuclear technology. Italian physicist Enrico Fermi (1901–1954) and his colleagues in Rome were the first to bombard radioactive material using low-energy (slow) neutrons in 1935. The spatial extent of the nucleus is often expressed in terms of a unit called the fermi , in honor of Enrico Fermi. One fermi is equal to 10 − 15 m, or 1 fm = 10 − 15 m, and is the range of the nuclear force. The correct interpretation of Fermi’s results as a nuclear fission process was provided in 1938 by Lise Meitner and Otto Frisch in Sweden, and Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann in Berlin. Hahn and Strassmann observed that neutrons colliding with uranium could cause the uranium 321
eBook - PDF- John R Fanchi(Author)
- 2013(Publication Date)
- World Scientific(Publisher)
Other nations around the world have developed nu-clear technology for peaceful purposes, and possibly for military purposes as well. Point to Ponder: Can we put the nuclear genie back in the bottle? Some historians argue that nuclear weapons were not needed to end World War II and that the world would be better off if nu- Energy in the 21 st Century 110 clear energy had never been developed. Today, nations with nuclear weapons arsenals must be concerned about the securi-ty of every weapon in its arsenal. Even one nuclear weapon can be a weapon of mass destruction. In addition, many nations are seeking to acquire nuclear technology, which increases the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation. Now that the world knows about Nuclear Energy, society must learn to govern its use. One forecast discussed in Chapter 14 is based on the premise that nuclear technology can be safely controlled and used as a long-term source of energy. 5.2 N UCLEAR R EACTORS The primary commercial purpose of a nuclear reactor is to generate elec-tric power from the energy released by a nuclear reaction. Nuclear reactors also provide power for ships such as submarines and aircraft carriers, and they serve as facilities for training and research. Our focus here is on the use of nuclear reactors to generate electricity. We then dis-cuss global dependence on Nuclear Energy. 5.2.1 Nuclear Fission Reactors The neutrons produced in fission reactions typically have energies rang-ing from 0.1 million electron volts (1.6 × 10 -14 Joules) to 1 million electron volts (1.6 × 10 -13 Joules). Neutrons with energies this high are called fast neutrons. Fast neutrons can lose kinetic energy in collisions with other materials in the reactor. Less energetic neutrons with kinetic energies on the order of the thermal energy of the reactor are called slow neutrons or thermal neutrons. Some nuclei tend to undergo a fission reaction after they capture a slow neutron.
eBook - PDFApplied Energy
An Introduction
- Mohammad Omar Abdullah(Author)
- 2012(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
9 Nuclear Energy and Energy from Biomass In this chapter, we will consider Nuclear Energy in the first part, and energy from biomass in the second part. • Nuclear • Biomass 9.1 Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Power Plant Nuclear Energy can be harnessed in a nuclear reactor, similar to energy from our Sun and the countless stars in some ways, for electrical and thermal energy production applications. Nuclear power is economically feasible and meets > 20% of the world demand for electricity, generated by some 440 nuclear power reactors in 32 countries. The extraordinary high energy density of nuclear fuel relative to fossil fuels is an advantageous physical characteristic ( [1] ). Some countries have successfully utilized nuclear power for power generation. A typical example is France where nuclear power plants produce almost 80% or 4 5 of its total electricity! In Korea, about 36% of the share of electricity generation is from nuclear sources, with 12 operating nuclear power plants (10 PWRs and 2 pressurized heavy water reactors). Japan has 53 operating nuclear power units with an installed capacity of 42 400 MW(e), supplying 34% of total electricity. 9.1.1 What Are Nuclear Power and Nuclear Power Plants? In a nuclear power plant, the nuclear reactor and heat exchanger(s) take the place of conventional boilers, and the steam thus generated is expanded through the conventional turbine and generates electricity via a electrical generator. The main components of a nuclear power plants and their functions are as follows: 1. Nuclear reactor — to produce heat. 2. Heat exchanger — functions as a boiler or steam generator, in which heat liberated from the reactor core is taken up by the coolant circulated around the core via a heat exchanger to generate steam. The followings components are similar to a steam turbine plant system. 3. Steam turbine — provides expansion of the steam for producing work. 4. Condenser — for heat rejection. 5. Generator — for electricity production.
eBook - PDF- Richard Dunlap(Author)
- 2018(Publication Date)
- Cengage Learning EMEA(Publisher)
Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it. 236 CHAPTER 7 Energy from Nuclear Fusion 7.1 Introduction In the previous chapter, it was seen that the use of either fast breeder reactors or thermal reactors with effective fuel reprocessing, would provide much of our energy needs for a substantial period of time. The decision to utilize nuclear fission energy must deal with concerns over reactor safety, nuclear waste disposal, and the security of nuclear materials. An alternative approach that makes use of the enormous energy associated with the nuclear force is fusion energy. Figure 6.1 shows that the binding energy per nucleon of a nucleus increases with nuclear size for very light nuclei. Thus, binding together two light nuclei to produce a heavier nucleus (up to about A 5 55) is an exothermic process and can produce usable energy. Fusion has several significant advantages over fission, such as ● ● A potentially inexpensive and plentiful supply of fuel. ● ● Reactions that are inherently easier to control and are therefore much safer. ● ● Substantially reduced environmental hazards from reactor by-products. However, at present, fusion power is not technologically feasible because of the fundamental differences between the fission and fusion processes. This chapter reviews the physics of nuclear fusion and overviews the efforts to produce a viable fusion reactor. Learning Objectives: After reading the material in Chapter 7, you should understand: ● The properties of fusion reactions and the production of fusion energy. ● The design and operation of magnetic confinement reactors. ● The design and operation of inertial confinement reactors.
eBook - PDFEnergy Systems
A Project-Based Approach to Sustainability Thinking for Energy Conversion Systems
- Leon Liebenberg(Author)
- 2024(Publication Date)
- Wiley(Publisher)
Apart from secure long-term fuel disposal, nuclear power must contend with numerous issues surrounding safety and security risk, nuclear proliferation, and the risk of nuclear terrorism. All these issues are complex, interdependent on other issues, and require vast resources to address. 381 Energy Systems: A Project-Based Approach to Sustainability Thinking for Energy Conversion Systems, First Edition. Leon Liebenberg. © 2024 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published 2024 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Companion website: www.wiley.com/go/liebenberg/energy_systems Reimagine Our Future Imagine if your university were to build a micro-nuclear plant on campus, mainly to generate heat during winter. Compare the costs (social and environmental) of doing so with plugging energy leaks by, for instance, improving building insulation. 18.1 Reactor Safety Nuclear safety is closely linked to nuclear security and nuclear safeguards. Security focuses on the intentional misuse of nuclear or other radioactive materials by non-state elements to cause harm. It relates mainly to external threats to materials or facilities. Security at nuclear facilities is the responsibility of national governments. To date, no cyber-attack on a nuclear reactor’s information and control system has compromised safety. The first time an operating civil nuclear power plant was attacked by an armed group was during Russia’s military action in Ukraine in 2022. Although safety and security are treated separately, if a facility or a radioactive source is not secure, it could pose a potential hazard and, thus, is not safe. Since the early 2000s, there has been a shift in attention from ensuring that nuclear materials are not diverted from peaceful uses, toward protecting plants from armed assault and cyberattacks (WNA 2022). Safeguarding focuses on restraining activities by states that could lead to the acquisition or devel- opment of nuclear weapons.
eBook - PDF- Bonnie A. Osif(Author)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
453 18 Nuclear Engineering Mary Frances Lembo INTRODUCTION, HISTORY, AND SCOPE OF THE DISCIPLINE On.December.2,.1942,.the.first.successful.self-sustaining.atomic.chain.reaction.was.achieved.at.the. University.of.Chicago,.thus.ushering.in.the.Nuclear.Age.and.the.discipline.of.nuclear.engineering . . Rather.than.being.a.theoretical.endeavor.of.physicists,.“nuclear.fission.propelled.the.subject.into. the.military.arena,.leading.to.the.enormous.Manhattan.Project.in.the.United.States.that.produced. the. Hiroshima. and. Nagasaki. bombs. (McKay,. 1984,. preface)” . . The. demands. of. an. undertaking. on.the.scale.of.the.Manhattan.Project.presented.new.and.unique.challenges.to.the.engineering. . industry . .Developing.processes.to.create.and.refine.plutonium.and.uranium,.constructing.build-ings.and.reactors.to.facilitate.these.processes,.and.designing.nuclear.weapons.were.all.immediate. challenges.made.even.more.imperative.by.the.military.threat.of.Germany.and.Japan.during.World. War.II . After. the. nuclear. bombs. dropped. on. Hiroshima. and. Nagasaki. effectively. ended. World. War. II,. scientists.were.in.a.position.to.devote.their.energies.to.nonmilitary.uses.for.nuclear.energy . .Atomic. technology,.originally.developed.for.its.destructive.uses,.was.now.being.tapped.for.peaceful.applica-tions,.such.as.producing.electricity.and.developing.medical.isotopes . .However,.nuclear.production.also. resulted.in.the.challenge.of.cleaning.up.wartime.facilities.and.safe.storage.of.waste.by-products.as.well. as.maintaining.active.nuclear.power.plants . .The.field.of.nuclear.engineering.covers.the.entire.range.of. nuclear.energy.production.including:.design,.construction,.operation.and.maintenance.of.nuclear.power. and.naval.propulsion.reactors,.reactor.safety,.development.of.nuclear.weapons,.disposal.of.radioactive. wastes,.and.the.production.of.radioisotopes.( Encyclopaedia Britannica ,.1993,.pp . .423–424) .
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