Nuclear Power

Nuclear Power
• Use of nuclear reactors to release nuclear energy, and
thereby generate electricity

• Release of nuclear energy includes nuclear fission,

nuclear decay and nuclear fusion

• As of October 2021 there are 441 nuclear reactors in

operation in 30 countries around the world, provides
about 10% of the world's electricity

• As of May 2021, there were 52 nuclear reactors under

construction worldwide, 14 in China, 0 in US.
Nuclear Power
World Nuclear Power
Structure of an Atom
• # of protons defines the
chemical element.
• # of neutrons defines the
isotope of the element.
• Electrons influences the
magnetic properties of an
atom.
• Electrons and protons:
Electromagnetic force
• Protons and neutrons:
Nuclear force, strong
• Mass of nucleus ≠ Neutrons +
Protons, representing energy
released when the nucleus
was formed
 Release of Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy is released by three exoenergetic
(energy release) processes:

• Radioactive decay: where a neutron or proton in the radioactive

nucleus decays spontaneously by emitting either particles,
electromagnetic radiation, (gamma rays), or both. Source of
geothermal energy

• Fission: the breaking of a heavy nucleus into two (or more rarely
three) lighter nuclei

• Fusion: two atomic nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus

 Nuclear Fission
• The nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts (lighter
nuclei).
1 Neutron (slow moving)

Captured, excited and unstable

mass of M

56 Barium

ΔM=M-Mp>0
mass of Mp E=ΔMc 2

36 Krypton

3 Neutrons 3.2x10-11 Joules/atom; 1.9x1013

Joules/mole
 Expanding Chain Reaction
• The fission reaction
produces more neutrons
which can then induce fission
in other Uranium atoms.

• To have a controlled nuclear

reaction, the speed of the
neutrons, and the number of
neutrons have to be
controlled.
 Fission vs. Fusion
Fusion: two atomic nuclei fuse together to form a heavier
nucleus
 Fusion-The Sun
• The Sun generates its energy by nuclear fusion of hydrogen nuclei into
helium.
• In its core, the Sun fuses 620 million metric tons of hydrogen each
second.
• Fusion on the Earth: 100 million degrees Celsius
• Fusion nuclear power plants?
• Cold fusion-pseudoscience?
 Moderator
• Neutrons are slowed down by having them collide with
light atoms (water in US reactors).

• Highest level of energy transfer occurs when the masses

of the colliding particles are equal (ex: neutron and
hydrogen)
 Control Rods
• Control rods are made of a material that absorbs excess
neutrons (usually Boron or Cadmium).
• By controlling the number of neutrons, we can control the
rate of fissions
 Basic Ideas of Nuclear
Power Plant
• The Uranium is both the fuel and the source of neutrons.
• The neutrons induce the fissions
• Water acts as both the moderator and a heat transfer
medium.
• Control rods regulate the energy output by “sucking up”
excess neutrons
• Nuclear energy will be converted to generate stream and
then drive the turbine and generator
 In Reality…
• Processing of Uranium

• Each ton of Uranium ore

produces 3-5 lbs of Uranium
compounds

• Uranium ore is processed near

the mine to produce “yellow
cake”, a material rich in U3O8.

• Only 0.7% of U in yellow cake is

235
U. Most of the rest is 238U
which does not work for fission
power.
Distribution of Uranium
 Enrichment
• To be used in US reactors, fuel must be 3-5%
235
U.
• Yellow cake is converted into UF6 and this
compound is enriched using gaseous diffusion
and/or centrifuges.
• There are some reactor designs that run on
pure yellow cake.
 Controlling the Chain Reaction
Depends on
• Arrangement of the fuel/control rods

• Quality of the moderator

• Quality of the Uranium fuel

• Neutron energy required for high probability of fission

Daya Nuclear Power Plant
• First in mainland China
• Two 944 MW PWR nuclear reactors
• Started commercial operation in 1993
and 1994 respectively
• About 80% of the plant's output to
supply Hong Kong's power needs
• Some minor incidents
• Net output 15,742.98 GWh (56,674.7
TJ) (2021)
• Lifetime: 2021
Future of Nuclear Power