NUCLEAR ENERGY

Juan Luis García MartínezCarmen Gª-Calvo LópezEnrique Gª-Tenorio Corcuera2ºC-D

Nuclear energyNuclear energy is the

energy released in nuclear reactions. However, we also refer to nuclear energy as the use of that energy for other purposes such as providing electrical, mechanical and thermal energy from nuclear reactions.

What is nuclear energy?Nuclear energy is a

physical-chemical process in which a lot of energy is released(called nuclear energy). We will explain the process caused in nuclear reactions in which this nuclear energy is obtained.

We analyze the two main methods of obtaining nuclear energy:

Nuclear fissionNuclear fusion

Nuclear fissionNuclear fission is one of

the two possible reactions that take place when we work with nuclear energy.

We called nuclear fission the division of the nucleus of an atom. The nucleus becomes many fragments with a mass almost equal to half the original mass plus two or three neutrons.

Nuclear fusionNuclear fusion is a

nuclear reaction in which two nuclei of light atoms combine to form one heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy.

A clear example is seen in the solar energy that comes from the fusion of hydrogen nuclei, generating helium and releasing a large amount of energy.

AdvantageA third of the energy

generated in Europe comes from nuclear energy, this implies that emit 700 million tons of CO2 and other contaminants generated from burning fossil fuels.

FranciaEslovaquia

UcraniaArmenia

SuizaBulgaria

Findlandia

0 50 100

Distribution of nuclear energy in Europe

Distribution of nuclear energy in Europe

AdvantageFossil fuels will be exhausted in a not

too distant future. One of the great advantages of using nuclear energy is the relationship between the amount of fuel used and the energy obtained.

Here is a graphic which shows how much time will non-renewable last. Coal

Uranium

Coal

Petrol

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

Years

Years

AdvantageAs an alternative to

fossil fuels as carbon or oil, we would avoid the problem of so-called global warming. It will improve the quality of air we breathe.

DisadvantagesThe main disadvantage is

that the responsibility falls on people. Irresponsible decisions can lead to accidents at nuclear plants.

One of the main problems is the generation of nuclear waste and the difficulty to manage as it takes many years to lose its radioactivity and dangerous.

Let’s see a real example of how irresponsible decisions can cause a disaster.

The nuclear accident of Chernobyl.On the 26th April 1986, the

reactor number four of the nuclear plant of Chernobyl suffer the most nuclear accident of the history.

The consequences of the disaster affecting an area of nearly 5 million inhabitants, contaminating 23% of the surface of neighboring Belarus, parts of Russia and Ukraine and parts of Poland, Czech Republic and Germany.

DisadvantagesNuclear fusion is

unfeasible because of the difficulty of heating the gas to such high temperatures and to maintain a sufficient number of cores for a time sufficient to obtain energy and retaining the gas is highly expensive.

Important nuclear plants in Spain.The most important

are:Sta. Mª de Garoña,

Trillo, José Cabrera, Cofrentes, Ascó I-II, Almaraz I-II, Vandellós II.

How does a nuclear plant works? First, in the nuclear reactor,

nuclear fission occurs. This reaction generates a lot of heat used to heat water. The water transformed into high-temperature steam, reaches the turbine which rotates. It transforms heat into kinetic energy. The turbine is connected to an electric generator which can transform kinetic energy into electric energy. The steam exits the turbine and, as it is still hot, it must be cool. Whe it leaves the turbine, it reaches a condensation tank and becomes liquid, so that we can put it back in the circuit.

Bibliographyenergia-nuclear.net/es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energía_nuclearhttp://www.inza.com/ainoa/nuclear2.swfhttp://energia-nuclear.net/es/como_funciona_l

a_energia_nuclear.html