The Return of Nuclear The Return of Nuclear PowerPowerBy Mark TreatBy Mark Treat

OutlineOutline

Benefits of Nuclear Benefits of Nuclear Power ProductionPower Production

Features Of Features Of Generation III Generation III ReactorsReactors

What to do with What to do with nuclear wastenuclear waste

Benefits of Nuclear PowerBenefits of Nuclear Power

The energy provided by one Uranium Fuel pellet The energy provided by one Uranium Fuel pellet (about the size of your little finger) is equivalent to (about the size of your little finger) is equivalent to 1780 lbs of coal, or 17000cf of natural gas1780 lbs of coal, or 17000cf of natural gas

Air pollution associated with coal fired and natural Air pollution associated with coal fired and natural gas plants is non-existentgas plants is non-existent

Nuclear Plant operation cost is roughly 50-80% Nuclear Plant operation cost is roughly 50-80% less than other sourcesless than other sources

Through the use of “Breeder Reactors” electricity Through the use of “Breeder Reactors” electricity could be generated at current levels for 1000 yearscould be generated at current levels for 1000 years

There have been no fatalities as a result of There have been no fatalities as a result of operating nuclear reactors in the U.S. in the last operating nuclear reactors in the U.S. in the last 40 years40 years

Generation III ReactorsGeneration III Reactors

Pebble Bed Modular ReactorsPebble Bed Modular Reactors Westinghouse AP1000Westinghouse AP1000

Pebble Bed Modular Pebble Bed Modular ReactorReactor

Fueled with Uranium contained in Fueled with Uranium contained in “pebbles” composed of graphite, pyrolitic “pebbles” composed of graphite, pyrolitic carbon and silicon carbidecarbon and silicon carbide

Uses Helium to drive the gas turbine. Uses Helium to drive the gas turbine. Helium is incombustible and can not Helium is incombustible and can not become radioactivebecome radioactive

The PBMR is incapable of going into The PBMR is incapable of going into meltdownmeltdown

Each PBMR produces 168MWe and has Each PBMR produces 168MWe and has start up costs of $1000/kW in clusters of 8start up costs of $1000/kW in clusters of 8

Pebble Bed ReactorPebble Bed Reactor

Westinghouse AP1000Westinghouse AP1000

The AP600 is a simplified, more The AP600 is a simplified, more robust version of a generation II robust version of a generation II steam turbine nuclear plantsteam turbine nuclear plant

Safety systems are designed to reduce Safety systems are designed to reduce reliance on point failure sources such reliance on point failure sources such as pumps, fans, diesel motors and as pumps, fans, diesel motors and chillers by using natural forceschillers by using natural forces

The AP600 will produce 600MWe and The AP600 will produce 600MWe and has start up costs of $1200/kWhas start up costs of $1200/kW

Simplification In The Simplification In The AP600AP600

Westinghouse AP1000Westinghouse AP1000

The Big ProblemThe Big ProblemRadioactive WasteRadioactive Waste

There are many options for disposal and There are many options for disposal and reduction of nuclear wastereduction of nuclear waste

The proposed Yucca Mountain facility The proposed Yucca Mountain facility Disposal in the ocean at a subduction Disposal in the ocean at a subduction

faultfault Disposal in the arctic ice capDisposal in the arctic ice cap Reprocessing to recover fissionable Reprocessing to recover fissionable

material and reduce waste which must material and reduce waste which must be disposed.be disposed.

Yucca MountainYucca Mountain Stainless steel and Stainless steel and

Nickel alloy 22 will Nickel alloy 22 will be used to insure be used to insure long lifelong life

Waste containers and Waste containers and tunnels are designed tunnels are designed to handle punishmentto handle punishment

Yucca Mountain’s dry Yucca Mountain’s dry climate and natural climate and natural geological makeup geological makeup slow the travel of slow the travel of radioactive particlesradioactive particles

SummarySummary

Nuclear Power is a viable source of Nuclear Power is a viable source of electricityelectricity

It is economically more sound than It is economically more sound than other forms of energy productionother forms of energy production

It is environmentally friendlyIt is environmentally friendly New designs are making Nuclear New designs are making Nuclear

Power safer and more efficientPower safer and more efficient There are multiple options for nuclear There are multiple options for nuclear

waste disposalwaste disposal

Works CitedWorks Cited http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8208/http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8208/

8208coal.html8208coal.html http://www.uic.com.au/nip16.htmhttp://www.uic.com.au/nip16.htm http://www.pbmr.com/http://www.pbmr.com/ http://www.westinghousenuclear.com/http://www.westinghousenuclear.com/

D6c.aspD6c.asp http://library.thinkquest.org/17940/http://library.thinkquest.org/17940/

texts/nuclear_waste_future/texts/nuclear_waste_future/nuclear_waste_future.htmlnuclear_waste_future.html

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/r/a/http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/r/a/ram332/nwdo.htmram332/nwdo.htm