THE FUTURE OF FUKUSHIMA

CHAPTER 23 NUCLEAR POWER

Can nuclear energy overcome its bad rep?

March 11, 2011

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster

World’s most expensive natural disaster$300,000,000,000

What happened at Fukushima?Nuclear power plant survived a huge Pacific

earthquake.

This wave of water knocked out the nuclear power plant

generators and water cooling system.

Earthquake created a monster tsunami (wave).

This resulted in a full meltdown of several of itssix reactors

Accident received the highest rating on theInternational Nuclear Event Scale (7) .

Nuclear Energy

There are currently 432 nuclear power plants around the world.

Nuclear is clean(very few toxic gas emissions)

80% of electricity in France is nuclear.

Atoms 101

Nuclear Energy

Energy released when an atom is either

split (fission) or combines with another

atom (fusion).

Nuclear FissionReaction that occurs when a neutronbreaks the nucleus of an atom apart

releasing smaller particles.

1 lb. of uranium ore produces the sameamount of energy as 100,000 lbs. of coal

The Fission Reaction

A chain reaction releases about 10 million moretimes of heat than burning fossil fuels.

Isotopes

Atoms that have the same number of

protons but different numbers of neutrons

Uranium Isotopes

Radioactive Decay Pathway for

Uranium - 238

Radioactive Half-Life

The Penetrative Ability of DifferentRadioactive Particles

Mining for Uranium

Uranium Fuel Rod Assembly

Fuel RodsCylinders filled with uranium pellets

that provide the fuel for fission reactors.

Control Rods

Rods that absorb neutrons to control the nuclear chain reaction.

A nuclear power plant is really verySimilar to a coal-burning plant.

1. Fission of UR results in energy released as heat

2. Heat converts water into steam

3. Steam drives a turbine

4. Turbine powers the generator

5. Generator creates electricity for the grid

How a Nuclear Power PlantGenerates Electricity:

Pressure Water Reactor

How a Nuclear Power PlantGenerates Electricity:Boiling Water Reactor

Nuclear power plants use phenomenal amounts of water to cool the fuel rods and create steam. The ‘smoke’ seen here is really steam released

from the cooling tower.

Major Nuclear Disasters

1. 1979. Three Mile Island. PN, USA2. 1986. Chernobyl, USSR

3. 2011. Fukushima, Japan

Materials with low levels of radiationCan be safely buried

USA produces 100,000 tons/year

Low-Level Radioactive Waste

High-Level Radioactive Waste

From spent fuel rods and nuclear weapons

USA produces 2000 tons/yearNo long-term storage plan

Pros & Cons of Nuclear Power

Although many people are scaredof nuclear power, it has a good

safety record!

Despite the enormous financial and emotionalcosts of the Fukushima-Daiichi disaster, very

few deaths were the direct result of the accident.