NUCLEAR ENERGY

What is it?

David J. Diamond

Energy Sciences & Technology Department

February 2009

THE SOURCE: FISSION

Fission is the splitting of a nucleus into two or more separate nuclei of comparable mass

One neutron interacts with one “fissionable” nucleus (Uranium for example)

Results are:• Fission Products – Two heavy nuclides

- One heavier than the other (Average ratio of ~ 2 : 3 )

• Neutrons – 2.43 on average emitted / fission- Important that more neutrons are produced than are used to

cause one fission

• Gamma rays, beta particles• Energy !!

E = mc2

NUCLEAR ENERGY FOR ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION

Currently produces 20% of U.S. electricity

104 operating units in the U.S.

U.S. NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

NPPs AROUND THE WORLD

PERCENT OF ELECTRICITY FROM NUCLEAR ENERGY

0

10

20

30

4050

60

70

80

90

France

Slovakia

Belgium

Ukraine

Sweden

Switzerl

and

Hungary

Korea R

ep.

Bulgaria

Czech R

P

Finland

Japan

Germany

U.S.

Pe

rce

nt

of

Ele

ctr

icit

y

TOP 10 NUCLEARGENERATING COUNTRIES2007, Billion kWh

Enter text806.5

418.6

266.4

147.8 136.6 133.296.5 87.2

64.4 62.6

U.S. France Japan Russia KoreaRep.

Germany Canada Ukraine Sweden China

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency, U.S. is from Energy Information Administration

Updated: 5/08

NUCLEAR ENERGY FOR ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION

Currently produces 20% of U.S. electricity 104 operating units in the U.S. 19 UTILITIES ARE PROPOSING TO LICENSE 34

NEW UNITS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS• 17 applications for 24 units already before the Nuclear

Regulatory Commission• Some purchasing of components has begun but no

firm orders expected until licensing more advanced

An energy source the public should understand

BOILING WATER REACTOR

PRESSURIZED WATER REACTOR

NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

NPPs IN FINLAND

AREVA VIDEO CLIP

WATER SYSTEMS

CONTROL ROOM

NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

ARE THE PRODUCT OF:• Nuclear Engineers• Mechanical Engineers• Electrical Engineers• Civil Engineers• Human Factors Experts• Computer Engineers/Scientists• Etc.

WASTE DISPOSAL

A concern to many people

Used (spent) nuclear fuel consists of ceramic pellets encased in metal tubes

Current solution: On-site storage at NPPs

DRY STORAGE IN CASKS ON SITE

WASTE STORAGE Long term solution financed by nuclear utilities in

cooperation with U.S. government

Yucca Mountain: one site for high-level radioactive waste makes it easy to monitor, regulate, and secure

DOE: Required to design, construct, operate EPA: Required to set standards to protect public

and environment NRC: Required to approve/license DOE proposal

YUCCA MOUNTAIN SITE

TRANSPORTATION

Over the last 40 years, 3,000 shipments of spent nuclear fuel on 1.7 million miles of U.S. roads

Each shipment carefully packaged and monitored• Casks are ~15 times thicker than a gasoline tank truck

shell and include 3 inches of stainless steel with thick lead radiation shields

• Typically for every ton of spent fuel there are 3 tons of protective packaging

THE FUTURE OF NUCLEAR POWER IN THE U.S. 51 NPPs have obtained extensions of their 40-year license

to enable operation to 60 years--41 more are pending

Many plants have increased their power: 5900 MW of new nuclear electricity has been added (equivalent to adding 6 new units)

19 UTILITIES ARE PROPOSING TO LICENSE 34 NEW UNITS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS• 17 applications for 24 units already before the Nuclear

Regulatory Commission• Some purchasing of components has begun but no firm

orders expected until licensing more advanced

WHY NUCLEAR ENERGY SHOULD BE AN OPTION -- MARCH 15TH Energy Security is National Security

• Uranium is a domestic source of energy

Competitive Costs

No Climate-change Releases

Proven Record

Concentrated Form of Energy