Nuclear EnergyChristopher Liu, Michael Coppinger

APES, Period 4

What is Nuclear Energy?

•Energy derived from nuclear reactions.o Currently, only through nuclear

fission

How Does It Work?: Nuclear Fission

•Decay of an atom into two different atoms

•Produces energy (as heat) and additional neutrons as products

How Does It Work?: Nuclear Reactors

How are We Using It?: Domestic

•Current number of reactors in the US: 104

Local Reactors:•Diablo Canyon

o San Luis Obispo

•San Onofreo 45 miles SE of

Long Beach

   

How are We Using it?: Domestic

•US is THE largest producer of nuclear energy

•Accounts for 19% of total energy output

•Produces 821 billion kWHs of energy annually

How are We Using It?: International

•17% of energy production worldwide

•Over 430 plants

•Majority used for electricity production

What are the Advantages?

•NO emissions

•NO air pollution

•NO water pollution

•Once built, reliable and cheap energy

•Uses small amounts of land

•Abundant fuel source

What are the Disadvantages?

•Produces radioactive wasteo Must be stored and

managed for thousands of years

•Potential terrorist acquisition

•Possibility of accidentso Chernobyl o Fukushima

How Likely is an Accident?

•Only three major accidentso Chernobyl (Doesn't count, they're Soviets)o Three Mile Island (Radiation was entirely contained)o Fukushima

•No known terrorist acquisitions

So, It's Safe?

•Coal vs. Nuclear; 4,000 deaths: 1 death

•One of the safest forms of energy production

What Can We Expect in the Future?

•Nuclear use will expand in futureo China and India

•Possibility of cold fusion technology

•Radioactive waste?o Geological

Repositorieso Waste Reusel

Bibliography

http://nuclearenergyissafe.weebly.com/the-science.html

http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/list-power-reactor-units.html

http://mapawatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/US_net_generation_source_pie_chart_2010.jpg

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf41.htmlhttp://www.fi.edu/guide/wester/benefits.htmlhttp://www.the9billion.com/2011/03/24/death-rate-

from-nuclear-power-vs-coal/http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/149090-

nasas-cold-fusion-tech-could-put-a-nuclear-reactor-in-every-home-car-and-plane