NUCLEAR ENERGY

Nuclear reactions occur

when atoms of one
species of chemical
element are transformed
into atoms of another
species by nuclear
change.
Nuclear reactions occur
in two ways.
1. By fission or the
splitting of heavy atoms
into lighter atoms
2. By fusion or
combination of two light
atoms to form a heavier
atom
Fission occurs when an
atom is hit by a neutron,
causing it to release heat
& fragments that form new
and lighter elements, &
ejects neutron from the
nucleus.
These neutron strike other
fissionable atoms, creating
a continuous chain
reaction. If this reaction
occurs in a controlled
manner, it could provide
useable energy.
Some of the radioactive
elements that decay are
uranium-255,
uranium-238
thorium-252.
These elements can be
mined and used to obtain
nuclear energy by fission.
Uranium is found in
mineral pitchblende, and
thorium is present in
monazite.
To be useful as fuel or
reactor grade, U concentra-
tion must be enriched. The
difficult and expensive en-
richment process is done in
gas centrifuge that sepa-
rates isotopes by weight.
The reactor grade U is
transtormed into fuel rods
which could generate heat
and cause water to boil
and generate steam when
used in a nuclear power
plant.
The steam is used to drive
turbines and generate
electricity. A nuclear power
plant is a highly contained
structure Since radioactive
materials are present.
There are two problems
associated with nuclear
power plants.
First, the fuel rod should
maintain a certain
temperature, otherwise, it
could generate temp. high
enough to cause meltdown
or explosion of radioactive
materials.
The Fukushima Daiichi
nuclear power plant in
Japan experienced a
meltdown when, in 2011, a
tsunami destroyed the
cooling system, sending
radioactive particles in the
atmosphere.
 The second problem is the
generation of radioactive
wastes. These wastes
need to be stored in deep
underground chambers for
very long period of time.
The Bataan nuclear power
plant was built in 1976 in
Morong, Bataan but it was
stop because of issues on
safety, technology use &
presence of potential
geologic hazards near
active faults.
 HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY

•Hydroelectric energy is
essentially due to
gravity.
An object at rest in a
higher elevation has
gravitational potential
energy. When it moves to
lower elevation, the
potential energy is
transformed into kinetic
energy.
The power generated by
the energy from falling
water or fast running water
is called hydropower.
During the ancient times,
hydropower was
harnessed using water
wheels for operation of
mills, lifts, and provision of
water.
In the nineteenth century,
hydropower was used to
generate electricity called
hydroelectricity. In large
rivers, dams were built to
allow water to move from
higher to lower elevations.
The potential of
conventional hydroelectric
dam depends on the
volume of water stored in
the reservoir & the
difference in height
between the source & the
water's outflow.
This height difference is
called the head. Water
enters the intake at the
bottom of the reservoir and
flows through a tunnel or
large pipe called penstock
to reach the turbine.
The water pressure causes
the turbine to rotate &
generate electricity. The
higher the dam, the higher
the head, and the stronger
are the pressure that would
cause the turbine to gene-
rate power.
When a reservoir is not in
its full capacity even in high
dams, the head is lower.
Depending on the need for
electricity, the amount of
water entering the
penstock can be controlled
in the intake.
Excess water in the
reservoir is allowed to flow
through the spillway,
particularly during rainy
season to prevent overflow
or dam breach.
San Roque Dam in
Pangasinan is the largest
hydroelectric dam in the
Philippines with height of
200 meters.
Large hydroelectric dams
can generate electricity in
the order of hundred MW.
However, dams and
reservoirs have limited
lifetimes.
After a specific time, a
reservoir will be filled up
with sediments.
There are also
environmental effects, such
as altering the river
ecosystem and displacing
the communities Iiving in
the area that will be
converted into reservoir.
Small scale hydropower or
run-of-the-river power has
become more common. It
generates electricity in the
order of 10 MW to 30 MW.
It is further subdivided into
mini hydro, which can
generate <500 kW
The requirements
for small scale
hydropower is more
common in rugged areas
since the gradient of
streams is steeper.
A diversion structure, called
weir, is constructed along
the stream to divert water &
allow it to flow through
canal, called headrace, into
a forebay where sediments
can settle.
 From the torebay, water
passes to a penstock
(made of steel pipes) and
flows towards the turbine
in the powerhouse.
The water will turn the
turbine and generate
electricity. From the
powerhouse, the water
flows back to the stream.A
water storage may not be
necessary for this system.
Small-scale systems have
limited environmental
impacts. In mountainous
areas in the Philippines
like the Cordilleras, many
small scale hydropower
plants are operational.
In areas with large tidal
range the potential energy
during high tide is also
harnessed to generate
power similar to
conventional hydroelectric
dams.
A dam, called barrage, is
built in the tidal inlet and
water is allowed to enter
during high tide. The water
is then allowed to be
released during low tide.
 As the water flows, a
turbine installed at the
bottom of the structure
generates electricity.