NUCLEAR ENERGY

What is it?
David J. Diamond Energy Sciences & Technology Department February 2009

THE SOURCE: FISSION

Fission is the splitting of a nucleus into two or more separate
nuclei of comparable mass One neutron interacts with one fissionable nucleus (Uranium for example) Results are: Fission Products Two heavy nuclides
- One heavier than the other (Average ratio of ~ 2 : 3 )

Neutrons 2.43 on average emitted / fission - Important that more neutrons are produced than are used to cause one fission Gamma rays, beta particles

Energy !!

E = mc2

NUCLEAR ENERGY FOR ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION

Currently produces 20% of U.S. electricity 104 operating units in the U.S.

U.S. NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

NPPs AROUND THE WORLD

Percent of Electricity

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

PERCENT OF ELECTRICITY FROM NUCLEAR ENERGY

Sl e ov ak i Be a lgi um Uk ra in e Sw e S w de n itz er lan Hu d ng Ko ary re aR ep Bu . lg ar Cz ia ec hR P Fi nla nd Ja pa Ge n rm an y U. S .

Fr an c

TOP 10 NUCLEAR GENERATING COUNTRIES

2007, Billion kWh
806.5 Enter text

418.6

266.4 147.8 136.6 133.2

96.5

87.2

64.4

62.6

U.S.

France

Japan

Russia

Korea Rep.

Germany Canada

Ukraine Sweden

China

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency, U.S. is from Energy Information Administration Updated: 5/08

NUCLEAR ENERGY FOR ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION

Currently produces 20% of U.S. electricity 104 operating units in the U.S. 19 UTILITIES ARE PROPOSING TO LICENSE 34
NEW UNITS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS
17 applications for 24 units already before the Nuclear

Regulatory Commission Some purchasing of components has begun but no firm orders expected until licensing more advanced

An energy source the public should understand

BOILING WATER REACTOR

PRESSURIZED WATER REACTOR

NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

NPPs IN FINLAND

AREVA VIDEO CLIP

WATER SYSTEMS

CONTROL ROOM

NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

ARE THE PRODUCT OF:
Nuclear Engineers
Mechanical Engineers Electrical Engineers Civil Engineers Human Factors Experts Computer Engineers/Scientists Etc.

WASTE DISPOSAL
A concern to many people Used (spent) nuclear fuel consists of
ceramic pellets encased in metal tubes

Current solution: On-site storage at NPPs

DRY STORAGE IN CASKS ON SITE

WASTE STORAGE
Long term solution financed by nuclear utilities
in cooperation with U.S. government

Yucca Mountain: one site for high-level

radioactive waste makes it easy to monitor, regulate, and secure

DOE: Required to design, construct, operate EPA: Required to set standards to protect
public and environment NRC: Required to approve/license DOE proposal

YUCCA MOUNTAIN SITE

TRANSPORTATION
Over the last 40 years, 3,000 shipments of spent
nuclear fuel on 1.7 million miles of U.S. roads

Each shipment carefully packaged and

monitored
Casks are ~15 times thicker than a gasoline tank truck

shell and include 3 inches of stainless steel with thick lead radiation shields Typically for every ton of spent fuel there are 3 tons of protective packaging

THE FUTURE OF NUCLEAR POWER IN THE U.S.

51 NPPs have obtained extensions of their 40-year license
to enable operation to 60 years--41 more are pending

Many plants have increased their power: 5900 MW of new

nuclear electricity has been added (equivalent to adding 6 new units)

19 UTILITIES ARE PROPOSING TO LICENSE 34 NEW

UNITS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS 17 applications for 24 units already before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Some purchasing of components has begun but no firm orders expected until licensing more advanced

WHY NUCLEAR ENERGY SHOULD BE AN OPTION -- MARCH 15TH

Energy Security is National Security
Uranium is a domestic source of energy

Competitive Costs

No Climate-change Releases
Proven Record Concentrated Form of Energy