Power Plant Construction and QA/QC

Section 1.4– Nuclear Energy

Engineering Technology Engineering Technology DivisionDivision

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Overview

• Introduction

• Purpose

• Fission Process

• Current Reactor Types

• Uranium Fuel Processing

• Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing

• Future - Nuclear Fusion

Section 1.4– Nuclear Energy

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Section 1.4– Nuclear Energy

Purpose of Nuclear Energy

First Purpose was for Nuclear Medicine - 1941

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Section 1.4– Nuclear Energy

Purpose of Nuclear Energy

Second Purpose was for weapons – used 1945

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Section 1.4– Nuclear Energy

Purpose of Nuclear Energy

Third Purpose was for Electrical Generation – 5/60

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Fission Process

Section 1.4– Nuclear Energy

1. Thermal Neutron generated from fission or decay2. Thermal Neutron absorbed by 92U235 or 93Pu239

3. Compound (or excited) 92U235 or 93Pu239

4. Atom splits creating two fragments – mass conversion to energy.

5. Fast neutron produced.6. Fast neutron has thermalized7. Thermal Neutron absorbed by 92U235 or 93Pu239

8. Fission fragment decays9. First excited daughter decays10. Fast neutron produced11. Fast neutron absorbed by 92U238

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2 3

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4

10

9

8

7

10

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Heat

DecayFast

Slow

Fast Slow

Slow

Forced vs. Natural

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Reactor Types

Section 1.4– Nuclear Energy

• PWR – Light Water – US - Westinghouse, Framatome• PWR – Heavy Water – CANDU - Canada• BWR – Light Water – US - GE, Toshiba• RBMK – Light Water Graphite – Soviet Union (now

Russia)• GCR – Gas Cooled Reactor – England• LMFBR – Liquid Metal (Sodium) Breeder – United

States• LMFBR – Liquid Metal (Lead) Breeder – Soviet Union

(Russia)• MSRE – Molten Salt – Spain – Operation, US - Testing• PBR – Pebble Bed – US Lead Design• Natural Reactor – Oklo mine in Gabon, West Africa• Fission Reactor – The Sun

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Fuel Processing - US Uranium Locations

Section 1.4– Nuclear Energy

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Section 1.4– Nuclear Energy

Fuel Processing - Overview

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Section 1.4– Nuclear Energy

Fuel Processing – End product

Each Pellet◦ 2.5 tons of

Wood◦ 1 ton of Coal◦ 17,000 cubic

feet of Natural Gas

◦ 3 barrels of Oil (42 gallons each)

Uranium Oxide (Yellow Cake)

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Section 1.4– Nuclear Energy

Fuel Processing – Packaging

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Section 1.4– Nuclear Energy

Fuel Reprocessing

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Future Nuclear - Fusion

Section 1.4– Nuclear Energy

Tritium + Deuterium = Helium + Neutron

3.016 + 2.014 Fusion 4.003 + 1.000 + Energy

5.030 = 5.003 + Energy (.027 amu)

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Questions?

Section 1.4– Nuclear Energy