Sarmiento, Joseph Aeron R.

ME-5D
LECTURE 5: NUCLEAR ENERGY
History of Nuclear Energy

Birth of Nuclear Power

 In 1953,US President Eisenhower gives the “Atoms for Peace” speech, calling for international
cooperation in the development of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
 The first electricity production was in 1951 and it was produced by the EBR-1 reactor.
 1954 was the year when nuclear energy was used commercially.

1960’s Post War Economic Growth

 The development of nuclear powerplant in the US intensifies: before 1966, less than ten
reactors had been ordered, but in 1966-67 that number quadrupled.
 The reactors used in late 1960’s were Light Water Reactor (LWR), Magnox, and CANada
Deuterium Uranium (CANDU). And LWR and the CANDU have proved commercially viable over
the long term.

Expansion of Nuclear Power

1970s: Oil Crisis

 US oil share dropped from 17 per cent to 4 per cent.

 French prime minister launches huge nuclear power program in response to oil crisis.
 In France, contribution to electricity production has risen from 8% in 1974 to 78% today.

Slow-down of Nuclear Power

Late 1970’s-1980’s: Setbacks and Accidents

 Huge quantities of natural gas were discovered in the North Sea from the 1950s to the 1970s.
 In 1979, Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania suffered a partial meltdown. After the incident,
nuclear plants and projects were cancelled in USA and several reactors from Austria and Sweden
were also canceled.
 In 1986, Russia’s Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant catastrophic explosion released vast amounts
of radiation causing multiple number of deaths.
 At 1987 Soviet Union’s nuclear program was stalled
 Italy shut down its four nuclear power plants.

Decades of Technological Advancement

1990’s-2000’s: Third Generation

 A third generation of new reactor designs were developed: General Electric’s Advanced Boiling
Water Reactor (ABWR) of Japan and Westinghouse’s System 80+ Advanced Pressurized Water
Reactor (APWR) of South Korea.
  In 1994, nuclear weapons were utilized to become electricity.
 In 2004, a Nuclear Renaissance was discussed.
 In 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi loses its backup generators caused by the tsunami and suffers
core meltdowns.

Nuclear Energy & Power Plants

What is Nuclear Energy?

 Energy in the nucleus, or core, of an atom.

 Enormous energy in the bonds that holds atoms together.
 Nuclear Fission – Atoms are split apart to form smaller atoms, releasing the energy.
 Nuclear Fusion – Energy is released when atoms are combined or fused together to form a
larger atom.

AGENCIES ASSOCIATED WITH NUCLEAR ENERGY

1. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

2. Word Nuclear Association (WNA)
3. Nuclear Energy Institute(NEI)
4. World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO)
5. Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

Nuclear Power Plant

 Power plants that use the heat generated from nuclear fission in a contained environment to
convert water to steam, which power generators to produce electricity.
 Nuclear reactor is a system that contains and controls sustained nuclear chain reactions.
 Reactors are used for generating electricity, moving aircraft carriers and submarines, producing
medical isotopes for imaging and cancer treatment, and for conducting research.
 Usually pellets of uranium oxide are arranged in tubes to form fuel rods.
 Moderator slows down the neutrons released from fission so that they cause more fission.
 Reflector reflects back some neutrons that leak out from core surface.
 Control Rods is inserted or withdraw from the core to control the rate of reaction or to halt it.
 Coolant – fluid circulating through the core so as to transfer the heat from it.
 Containment is a structure around the reactor and steam generators that serves as a
protection.

TYPES OF NUCLEAR POWERPLANT

1. Pressurized Water Reactor

2. Boiling Water Reactor
3. Heavy Water Reactor
4. Gas Cooled Reactor
5. Very High Temperature Reactor
6. Fast Breeder Reactor
ADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

1. Low Operating Costs

2. Environment-friendly
3. Reliability
4. Abundant Supply
5. High Energy Density

DISADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

1. Precarious Waste Disposal

2. Harmful
3. Expensive
4. Finite Raw Material Sources

TRENDS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY INDUSTRY

 A Dutch nuclear research institute discovered that Thorium could be safer to use for nuclear
power.
 ITER International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project aims to use hydrogen fusion,
controlled by large superconducting magnets to produce massive heat energy which would drive
the turbines.

NUCLEAR ENERGY IN THE PHILIPPINES

There are three existing laws covering nuclear energy:

1. RA 2067 (The Science Act of 1958)

2. RA 5207 Atomic Energy (Regulatory and Liability)
3. Presidential Decree 1586 (Philippine EIS System Law)

PNRI-It is the national authority responsible for the regulation, licensing and safeguards of radioactive
materials and atomic energy facilities.

NUCLEAR ENERGY SAFETY AND IMPLEMENTATION

 Defense in depth is a concept which has multiple safety components each with back-up and
design to accommodate human error.
1. Control of radioactivity
2. Maintenance of Core Cooling
3. Maintenance of barriers that prevent release of radiation
 The design of the reactor also includes back-up components, independent systems, monitoring
of instrumentation and prevention of a failure of one type of equipment affecting any other.
 Other Safety Measures
1. Aseismic Measures
2. Environmental Radiation Monitoring
3. Safety Assurance Measures Implemented
4. Cybersecurity
5. Emergency Preparedness
BATAAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

 It covers a 356-hectare land located at Napot Point, Morong, Bataan.

 BNPP has an expected net electrical power is 620MW.
 In 1974, the government had discussions with GE and Westinghouse for the BNPP construction.
GE although expensive proposed a well organized and detailed plan.
 In 1976, Westinghouse got the contract for constructing the BNPP.

NEW TECHNOLOGY: SMALL MODULAR REACTOR (SMR) is a type of nuclear fission reactor which are
smaller than conventional reactors.

NUCLEAR POWERPLANT CONSTRUCTION (NPP)

Stages in NPP Project

1. Pre-Project
a. Organizational Structure
b. Project Management System
c. National Energy Supply Planning
d. Electric Power System
e. Nuclear Power Plant Project Planning
f. Activities related with treaties, conventions, and agreements
g. National Infrastructure
h. National Participation Plan
i. Site Survey
2. Project Decision-Making
a. Pre-Investment Feasibility Study
b. Bid Evaluation
3. Plant Construction
a. Plant Equipment, components and systems installation