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To preform fission of uranium, a very special and highly-protective reactor is need for the containment of the heat and radioactivity produced in the reaction. This nuclear reactor needs a few things. The whole reactor is surrounded by thick concrete to prevent any gases and radioactivity from getting outside. Inside, a steel pressure vessel surrounds two very important things. First is fuel rods that contain uranium. The second is control rods which hold a material that collects the neutrons made in the reaction. Through this core is water that boils under the heat and turns into steam, which then creates electricity. All the leftovers from these reactions are extremely radioactive, so you cant just throw it out. The spent fuel rods and other materials have to be disposed an underground station specially made for that, or stored at the plant.
A coal power plant is like a nuclear power plant because they both turn water into steam, and then use the steam to turn the turbine generators that then make electricity. First, coal is pulverized till it is the same consistency as talcum powder. The coal is then pushed into the firebox with hot air which makes the maximum heat that can be created. Then the water is pushed through the boiler and turned into steam because of the heat being created. This steam can pressure up to 3,500 pounds per square inch, and with these massive amounts of pressure, the turbine blades are pushed at great speeds. The turbines connect to the generators shaft, and the generator creates electricity. After the steam does it's work, it moves down to the condenser. Cold water is taken from a local water source and shot through tubes which run through the condenser. This cool water changes the steam back into water. This water can be used over and over again, and the water in the tubes go back to the source uncontaminated.
In a nuclear power plant, they too turn water into steam, just like coal power plants. Their main difference is how they create heat to turn the water into steam. In a nuclear power plant, they go through a process called fission. In fission, the nucleus of an atom splits into two nuclei. This lets off energy, and in a power plants, they do this reaction on massive scales causing a chain reaction and creating enough heat to turn the water into steam. There are a few different types of nuclear power plants. In a pressurized water reactor, the reaction heats the water, but since it is put under a pressurizer, it does not boil. It then moves through a steam generator and the steam made turns the turbines that is connected to the generator. In a boiling water reactor, the fission reaction actually boils the water, and the steam created turns the turbines. Both of these go into the condenser and retun back into cool water.
"Introduction Nuclear Power." Introduction -Duke Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2013.
"How Do Coal-Fired Plants Work?" -Duke Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2013.
My opinion and background knowledge.
"Resources & Stats." Nuclear Energy Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.
The fuel cost in nuclear power plants are a minor percentage of of the total generating costs. This is one plus of nuclear power, but there are also more steps into making fuel. First you have to get uranium. Then you process it, enrich it, and then fabricate it into fuel. Half of the cost of it's fueling is from the enrichment and fabrication process. The biggest issue is the gaining ability to handle radioactive materials, and how to dispose of it. Even with all of the stuff needed, the total fuel costs are on average about a third
of the costs for a coal fired power plant. Uranium is found
in the low levels of the Earth and in rocks. It can be mined
as uraninite and extracted from its ore. The U.S. Nuclear
Energy Institute estimates that the uranium is about 14%
of the total cost is fuel.
"Electricity in the United States." - Energy Explained, Your Guide To Understanding Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.
The U.S. Nuclear Energy Institute estimates that 78% of the total cost is for fuel in a coal power plant. The coal is mined and then delivered by truck, barge, or train. Coal is relatively cheap because it is one of the most abundant fossil fuel in the world. The biggest problem is that coal is not an unlimited source, seeing as it is a fossil fuel. Even with this problem, some of the largest deposits of coal are in the U.S. Once you get this coal, you grind it up into the consistency of talcum powder. The total fuel cost is about three times the cost of a nuclear power plant's fuel cost.
With the way most countries, including the United States, are using coal, there is a chance we will run out in as soon as 100 years. At the rate we consume coal and other fossil fuels, it's not a stretch to think this could happen. Fossil fuels aren't infinitive source, and we aren't giving the environment enough time to create more. One thing that could help is nuclear power. Uranium is
very abundant now. That's one thing
that makes nuclear power good. A lot of
the things needed for it are abundant and
will continue to be. Also, natural gases and
solar and wind power will most likely
become more common. These things are
unlimited unless for some reason the wind stops and the sun goes dark, but in that case, electricity would be the least of our problems. All in all, coal, gas, and other fossil fuel powers won't be around forever, so we need to cut down now or they'll be gone for a long time. In that case, we'll switch to powers that aren't very commonly used like solar and nuclear powers, and nowadays we are gradually moving towards these energies.
"The Economics of Nuclear Power." Nuclear Power Economics. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2013.
"Energy Transformation." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Jan. 2013. Web. 28 Jan. 2013.
In 2011, nuclear energy provided about 19.2 percent of the United States' electricity. Though it isn't a very high percentage, it is raising. Nuclear power will most likely become a bigger part in how we make energy. Though it has some very dangerous risks, it is going to be needed to maintain how much electricity we use in the United States and in the world. In conclusion, though the levels of electricity that nuclear power plants provided is low, it is slowly getting higher as the depletion of fossil fuels is are also getting higher.
"EcoHearth Environmental Website - Best Ecology Websites, Environmental Blogs, News, Activism, Green Jobs, Green Products." RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.
In 2011, coal power plants produced about 42% of the United States' energy. This is much more than nuclear power plants, but it isn't as much as it has been in the past. Though it generates the most power in the United States, it has been going down in the past few years. This is mostly because of the knowledge that coal and other fossil fuels won't be here forever, and if we want to use coal in the future, we really have to cut back.
"Cradle to Grave: The Environmental Impacts from Coal." Www.catf.us. Clean Air Task Force, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2013.
"Profiles--Nuclear » Explore More: The Future of Energy." Profiles--Nuclear » Explore More: The Future of Energy. Iowa Public Television, n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.
The energy forms and transformations are...
1. The chemical energy in the coal is transformed into thermal energy after it is pushed into the firebox with the hot air.
2. The thermal energy created is then turned into more thermal energy and also kinetic energy when it transforms water to steam.
3. The thermal and kinetic energy(steam) then pushes the turbine which means it is mechanical.
4. The mechanical energy that the turbine makes powers the generator which in turn makes electrical energy and the overall outcome.
1. After fission, which is nuclear energy, thermal energy is created because of the reaction.
2. The thermal energy made is used to heat the water until it's steam, which in turn makes more thermal energy and also kinetic.
3. The thermal and kinetic energy made will spin the turbine. This makes mechanical energy.
4. The turbine is connected to the generator, which means that the mechanical energy converts to electrical.
All in all, the transformations are very similar. Their main differences are their ways of creating heat.
Nuclear power lets off no emissions into our atmosphere. This means that these plants do not create air pollution. The major risk is that if something goes wrong, such as a reactor overheating, the costs to the environment and loss of life can be very high.
Coal-burning plants makes about one-third of the carbon dioxide in the United States. This is just one of the many harmful compounds and elements given off by coal-burning plants. One of them is mercury, and it can affect organisms miles away, even if it is given off in extremely low quantities. One of the effected organisms is in fact humans. In general, people that live nearer to coal power plants are
at a higher risk for health issues. With all the
chemicals being let off, it's no surprise that air
pollution is also getting higher. All in all, these
chemicals can effect your health and the
environment in a pretty extreme way.