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 FROM

NUCLEAR ENERGY

TOP 10 NUCLEAR
GENERATING COUNTRIES
2007, Billion kWh
Enter text

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