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Nuclear Power

What is nuclear energy?


Power plants use heat to produce electricity.
Nuclear energy produces electricity from heat
through a process called fission. Nuclear power
plants use the heat produced by fission of certain
atoms.

1. Nuclear fission
nucleus of atom is split into parts,
produces free neutrons and
energy
Nuclear Fuel: Uranium
92

U 2. Uranium-235
Uranium
Fission of U-235 splits nucleus
in two pieces
releases neutrons for chain
reaction
http://www.ecolo.org/photos/uranium/uranium-black.jpg

The fuel used in


Nuclear fission chain
nuclear power
reaction  releases energy in
plants is an
the form of heat
isotope of the
radioactive
element uranium
Nuclear Reactors
3. Nuclear Reactor  device built
to sustain a controlled nuclear
fission chain reaction

Main Components of Nuclear


Reactor:
- reactor vessel
- tubes of uranium
- control rods
- containment structure
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Crocus-p1020491.jpg

control rods control


Containment structure
radioactivity,
contains absorbs
the reaction
neutrons
in at least 3 feet of
concrete!
www.pbase.com/pbrakke/image/44279993
The Nuclear Power Plant

4. Nuclear power plant


consists of all the
parts needed to create
electricity by using
Fission occurs The heat is used nuclear energy
in the reactor to heat water to
vessel. Heat is create steam
produced.

The steam is
The steam is used to turn the
cooled in the turbine in the
condenser to generator to
return to the produce
liquid phase. electricity
Video: How a pressurized water nuclear
reactor (pwr) works

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0VjHg0juz4
Key Components of
2. Uranium-235

1. nuclear fission

3. nuclear
reactor

4. nuclear power
plant

Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Power Production in Wisconsin

- U.S. produces about 31% WI - 2 nuclear power


of world’s nuclear power plants, Kewaunee and
- consumes about 22% Point Beach

20% of WI’s energy is from nuclear power

Kewaunee Power Point Beach Nuclear


Plant Power Plant
Carlton, WI Two Rivers, WI
Three Mile Island

Pennsylvania, USA
The American Experience’s
Meltdown at Three Mile Island

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBNM3GLzvzo

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