NUCLEAR ENERGY

NUCLEAR ENERGY

Naturally

Manmade Machines callednuclear reactors, parts ofnuclear power plants, provide electricity for many cities. Man-made nuclear reactions also occur in the explosion ofatomic and hydrogen bomb

Some nuclear energy is produced naturally. For example, the Sun and other stars make heat and light by nuclear reactions

large nuclei are split to release energy (nuclear fission)

small nuclei are combined to release energy (nuclear fusion)

Produced in 2 different ways

Nuclei of atoms are split, causing energy to be released

Nuclear reactor work by fission element uranium is the main fuel used to undergo nuclear fission to produce energy Uranium nuclei can be easily split by shooting neutrons at them

This phenomenon is known as achain reaction

once a uranium nucleus is split, multiple neutrons are released which are used to split other uranium nuclei

Nuclei of atoms are joined together, or fused

Under very hot conditions Heat required to start the fusion reaction is so great that anatomic bomb is used to provide it

For example, the sun creates heat and light through nuclear fusion

Hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium and in the processrelease huge amount of energythus producing ahuge explosion.

THE USES OF RADIOACTIVE COMPOUND AS SOURCES OF ENERGY (NUCLEAR ENERGY)

 Electrical energy is produced

from the controlled nuclear reaction. HOW?? Nuclear energy is produced when an atom's nucleus is split into smaller nuclei by the process called fission. The fission of large atoms, such as Uranium 235 and Plutonium 239, produces a great deal of energy

The radioactive compound is mined, enriched, manufactured into nuclear fuel.

The fuel can be recycled and returned to usage in power plant.

Then, delivered to the final repository for geological disposition

The nuclear fuel is delivered to the nuclear power plant.

Any chemical fuel that can be burned to derive nuclear energy

Contains heavy fissile elements that can undergo nuclear fission chain reactions in the nuclear fission reactor Common heavy fissile elements are 235 U and 239Pu Plutonium-238 - to produce small amounts of nuclear power by radioactive decay in radioisotope thermoelectric generators and other atomic batteries.

Innuclear fuel cycle, it refer to the material or to physical objects (fuel bundles composed offuel rods)

Oxide fuel Uranium dioxide (UOX) Mixed oxide (MOX)

Liquid fuel Molten salts Aqueous solutions of uranyl salts

Metal fuel TRIGA fuel Actinide fuel

Ceramic fuel Uranium nitride Uranium carbide

Common physical forms of nuclear energy uranium oxide ceramic is formed into pellets and inserted intoZircalovtubes that are bundled together cylindrical rods put into bundles uranium oxide is dried before inserting into the tubes to try to eliminate moisture in the ceramic fuel that can lead to corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement Zircaloy tube has diameter of 1 cm Fuel cladding gap is filled with helium gas to improve the conduction of heat 179-264 fuel rods per fuel bundle Fuel rods are bundled 14x14 to 17x17, 4m length, enriched with several percent of 235U

Pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel

121-193 fuel bundle are loaded into a reactor core

Common physical forms of nuclear energy Primarily done to prevent local density variations from affecting neutronics and thermal hydraulics of the reactor core Boiling water reactor (BWR) fuel There are either 91,92 or 96 fuel rods per assembly

Similar to PWR fuel but BWR fuel bundles are canned(a thin tube surrounding each bundle)

Each BWR fuel rod is back filled with helium to a pressure of 300 kPa

A range between 368 assemblies for the smallest and 800 assemblies for the largest U. S. BWR forms the reactor core

Common physical forms of nuclear energy Consist of sintered (UO2) pellets in zirconium alloy tubes, welded to zirconium alloy end plates A typical core loading is on the order of 45006500 bundles

Fuel bundles Length about half meter Diameter 10 cm Weight 20 kg

CANDU fuel Current CANDU designs do not need enriched uranium to achieve criticality (due to their more efficientheavy water moderator)

Modern types typically have 37 identical fuel pins radially arranged about the long axis of the bundle

 Thorium-232 is used in gas lantern mantles, as it

glows well when heated. Use in EuropeandNorth Americain since the late 19th century and now is mostly use for portable camping lantern. The principal use of thorium has been in the preparation of the Welsbach mantle, used for portable gas lights. These mantles, consisting of thorium oxide with about 1% cerium oxide and other ingredients Modern mantles are made by saturating aramiebased artificial silk orrayonfabric with rare earths. when heated by akeroseneor liquified petroleum gasflame, the mantle emits radiation that is

 i.

ii. iii.

iv.

Mechanism: When the mantle, which resembles a small net bag, is placed in the flame for the first time, the fabric burns away, leaving a residue of metal oxide, which glows brightly. The mantle shrinks and becomes very fragile after this first use. The mantle also aids the combustion process, keeping the flame small at higher flow rates than in a simple lamp. This concentration of combustion near the mantle, in turn, improves the transfer of heat from the flame to the mantle.

FOOD IRRADIATIO N

THE USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY IN

AGRICULTU RE

WHAT IS FOOD IRRADIATION??

The process of exposing food to ionizing radiation to destroy microorganism, bacteria, viruses or insects that might present in food.

HOW ITS BEEN DONE

Food irradiation process exposes food to gamma rays from cobalt-60, a radioisotope of cobalt. Sometimes, the process uses electron beams or X-rays to produce the gamma rays. At high doses, this process kills insects, moulds, bacteria, viruses and other potentially harmful microorganism

At low doses, irradiation extends the products shelf life

AGRICULTURE

develop hundreds of varieties of hardier, more disease-resistant cropsincluding peanuts, tomatoes, onions, rice, soybeans and barley improve the nutritional value of some crops, as well as improve their baking or melting qualities or reduce their cooking time pinpoint where illnesses strike animals, allowing the breeding of disease-resistant livestock show how plants absorb fertilizer, helping researchers to learn when to apply fertilizer, and how much to use; this prevents overuse, thus reducing a major source of soil and water pollution.

As compared to coal, Uranium fission does not produce soot and harmful gases. Only a small amount is needed to generate a lot of energy. Reduce the cost of production of electricity. Reduce the dependence on fossil fuel.

 The waste products are radioactive and

difficult to be handled. May kill many lives if accidents occur. May be depleted since they are nonrenewable resources. Abandoned mines contaminated with highlevel radioactive waste can continue to pose radioactive risks for as long as 250,000 years after closure.

How to shield radiation? Radioactive materials are often stored or handled under water, or by remote control in rooms constructed of thick concrete or lined with lead. The concrete residues can be broken up to form an aggregate for concrete which is cast to form such structures and metal objects can be added for the casting of transport and storage vessels for radioactive wastes

Barriers of lead, concrete or water give good protection from high levels of penetrating radiation such as gamma rays Nuclear residues with a Co60 specific activity of 1 to 100 Bq/g, such as concrete or metal parts of a nuclear reactor installation, are used as raw materials for the production of radiation shielding structures for such nuclear installation