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.
What’s Inside a
Nuclear Power
Plant?
1. Reactor pressure
vessel
In reactor pressure vessel
the nuclear fission reaction
takes place, it contains the
fuel rods, moderator and
control rods.
This arrangement is again
covered under a
containment building made
of reinforced concrete and
can sustain load as high as
40 thousand ton.
The water in the vessel is
heated under a high
pressure, making its boiling
point as high as 300
degree centigrade.
2. Fuel rods
Fuel is contained in these
fuel rods as fuel pellets.
These fuel rods contain a
number of fuel pellets, and
neutrons hit these fuel
pellets to start and continue
the fission reaction.
3. Moderator
Is the liquid contained in
the pressure vessel at high
pressure. It is generally
heavy water.
The main function of
moderator is to slow down
the highly energized
neutrons and the
appropriate velocity of
neutron which is required
to split the uranium atom.
4. Control rods
Are the most important
part of a nuclear reactor in
nuclear power plant, and
are made up of Barium or
Cadmium.
It controls the ongoing
nuclear reaction by absor-
bing the neutrons & can
also control the energy
production by inserting the
control rods accordingly.
5. Heat Exchanger
Water from pressurized
vessel is then pumped to
the heat exchanger also
called as steam generator.
The thermal energy of
water from pressurized
vessel is transferred to the
water taken from river or
from cooling tower through
heat exchanger, and
convert it into high
pressurized steam,
6. Turbine Steam
turbine is made to rotate by
the high pressurized steam
and the shaft of this turbine
is further connected to the
generator.
7. Generator
It converts the rotational
motion of turbine-generator
coupling into electrical
energy.
This electrical energy is
then stepped-up to high
voltage through
transformer and is then
transmitted to the nearest
power grid through
transmission lines.
8. Condenser
It converts the steam
coming from the turbine
into water so that it could
be pumped to cooling
tower to be circulated to
the heat exchanger again.
9. Cooling Tower
It cools down the water
pumped from the
condenser, using
expansion process.
Hot water is sprayed from a
certain height and it cools
down to cool water now
ready to be re-circulated to
the heat exchanger.
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.
Advantages of Nuclear
Energy
The operating cost of
reactor is quite low, and the
life of a reactor is about 50-
60 years before it goes out
of business
Advantages of Nuclear
Energy
Reliability and consistency
over a long period of time,
as it does not depend upon
weather conditions.
Advantages of Nuclear
Energy
Uranium is available in a
large amount and going to
last longer than fossil fuels.
Advantages of Nuclear
Energy
If any country sets up a
nuclear power plant, then it
does not have to worry
about the fluctuating prices
of fossil fuels.
Disadvantages of Nuclear
Energy
Keeping an eye on the
waste storage plant, for it
to be safe and check for
radiation to be under limit.
Disadvantages of Nuclear
Energy
There is always a chance
of nuclear accident as in
Fukushima, Japan due to
tsunami.
Disadvantages of Nuclear
Energy
This energy has got so
much of power in it, that if it
goes into wrong hands it
could destroy human race
from earth.
HYDROELECTRIC
ENERGY
 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.
 As the water flows, a
turbine installed at the
bottom of the structure
generates electricity.
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.
WIND ENERGY
 Wind Energy is an
indirect form of solar
energy which can be used
continuously unlike solar
energy
Wind energy classified in
two types
1.- Planetary winds
2.- Local winds.
Planetary winds are
cause due to greater
heating of earth’s surface
near the equator as
compared to solar heating
near the south & north
poles.
Local winds are caused
due to differential heating
of land & water in coastal
areas these are also
caused due to uneven
heating in hills & mountain
along the slopes.
Winds are caused by the
uneven heating of the
atmosphere by the sun,
the irregularities of the
earth's surface, and
rotation of the earth.
This wind flow, or motion
energy, when "harvested"
by modern wind turbines,
can be used to generate
electricity.
HOW WIND
POWER IS
GENERATED?
The terms "wind energy"
describe the process by
which the wind is used to
generate mechanical
power or electricity.
Wind turbines convert the
kinetic energy in the wind
into mechanical power.
Wind turbines, like aircraft
propeller blades, turn in
the moving air and power
an electric generator that
supplies an electric
current.
Simply stated, a wind
turbine is the opposite of a
fan. Instead of using
electricity to make wind,
like a fan, wind turbines
use wind to make
electricity.
The wind turns the blades,
which spin a shaft, which
connects to a generator
and makes electricity.
Types of Wind Turbines:
According to use of wind
turbine:
1. Windmills If the
mechanical energy
generated by the wind
turbine is directly used for
mechanical work such as
grinding or pumping, this
type of wind turbine is
known as windmill.
2. Wind generator
the mechanical energy
generated by turbine is
used to drive a generator,
this type of wind turbine is
known as wind generator.
According to the axis
of rotation
1. Horizontal axis wind
turbine
The axis of rotating of
blades of turbine is
parallel to the ground or
horizontal, the wind,
turbine
In this type of wind turbine
the rotating axis of turbine
blade is parallel to the
ground. This is the most
common wind turbine
which widely used to
commercially.
According to design these
wind turbines are
classified as follow
a. Up wind turbine
b. Down wind turbine
c. Shrouded wind turbine
Shrouded wind turbine
2. Vertical axis wind turbine
The axis of rotating of
blades of turbine is parallel
to the ground or horizontal,
the wind turbine is known
as horizontal axis wind
turbine.
There are very few vertical
axis wind turbine because
they do not take advantage
of higher wind speed at
higher elevation above the
ground.
According to design they
are classified as follow
a. Savonius wind turbine
This type of wind turbine
has S shaped. It run
relatively slow but
generates high torque.
This wind turbine is used to
grinding or pumping. Due
to its slow rotation speed,
this is not used to generate
electricity.
b. Flapping panel wind
turbine This wind turbine
used the wind coming
from all direction and the
wind turbine work
according to it.
c. Darrieus wind turbine
It is the most popular wind
turbine. It has two or three
C shaped blades. This
wind turbine needs to start
before the wind will rotate
it.
Advantages of
Wind Energy
1. Wind Energy Is
Renewable &
Sustainable
2. It’s Good For The
Environment
3. It Reduces Fossil Fuel
Consumption
4. Wind Energy is Free
5. Wind Turbines Have A
Small Footprint
6. Both Industrial &
Domestic Wind Turbines
Are Available
7. Wind Energy Can
Provide Power to Remote
Locations
8. Wind Technology is
Becoming Cheaper
9. Wind Turbines Are Low
Maintenance
Disadvantages of Wind
Energy
1. The Wind Fluctuates
2. Wind Turbines Are
Expensive
3. Wind Turbines Pose a
Threat to Wildlife
4. Wind Turbines Are
Noisy
5. Wind Turbines Create
Visual Pollution