Alternate Energy Beyond the Age of Oil. Remember…. Needs to be versatile: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation (Internal combustion or other)

Alternate EnergyBeyond the Age of Oil

Remember….

Needs to be versatile: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation

(Internal combustion or other)

Nuclear

What can it be used for: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation

(other than via electricity)

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.



E = mc2

2004/2005Nuclear Output

Electricity

Production

(billion kwh)

Operating

Reactors

Under Construct

ion

Planned or

Proposed

Uranium Required (metric tons)

World 2618.6 441 23 137 68,357

U.S. 788.6 103 1 2 22,397• 16% of World Electricity• U.S. is #1 Nuclear Energy Producer



Uranium Ore

Earth’s Crust (average): 0.0003% Uranium Ore: 0.1 - 2% Uranium (Uraninite - Pitchblende)







Mined Processed Enriched



Uranium Ore

Processed: Uranium extracted from rock








Uranium OreUranium consists of 3 isotopes: U-234,U-235 & U-238Only U-235 is “fissionable”Natural Uranium is <1% U-235Fuel needs to be enriched to at least 3% U-235








Uranium OreWorld Uranium Resource - 3,107,000 metric tons3% in U.S. (100,000 metric tons)5 yrs supply in U.S. (depend on imports)44 yrs supply in world at current consumption rate!








Nuclear Fission

Reactor -Controlled reaction

Bomb -Uncontrolled reaction

Controlled by “Control Rods”



Reactor



Waste



Yucca Mtn, NV



High-Level WasteCesium-137Strontium-90Plutonium-239

Low-Level WasteMine Tailings



SNF - Spent Nuclear FuelHLW - High Level Waste

Nuclear Conclusions

Pros Cons1. Big output for

little fuel (1 pellet = 4 barrels oil)

2. Relatively clean(no greenhouse gas)

1. Expensive start up costs

2. Potential for major disaster

3. Nonrenewable4. Waste

Outlook: A temporary solution at best. Is it worth high start-up costs and potential problems? Need to figure out solution for waste.

Alternative:Breeder Reactor



Convert U-238 into Plutonium-239 (“Waste product”)

Lots of U-238Currently 1% of all reactors

Extremely hot (needs liquid sodium coolant) & Plutonium is a weapons grade material

Nuclear Fusion(Cold Fusion)







Nuclear Fusion Conclusions

Pros Cons1. Fuel --> water2. Enormous energy

output(Hydrogen from 1 km2 of seawater = total world oil reserves)

1. We can’t do it (yet)!

Outlook: Would be cool, but still science fiction.

Renewable Alternatives

1. Biomass Burning2. Geothermal Energy3. Wind4. Water: Hydroelectric5. Tidal6. Ocean-Thermal Electric

Conversion7. Solar: Passive and Active8. Hydrogen Fuel Cells



Biomass Burning



Direct burning:•Wood/charcoal•Dung•Garbage•Biofuels/Ethanol

Digestion/burning:•Sewage•Animal Waste•Garbage

Direct Burning


are needed to see this picture.QuickTime™ and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Waste Digestion



Renton Sewage Treatment Plant

1. Waste decays & gives off methane

2. Methane captured3. Methane burned for

energy, or4. Hydrogen from methane

used to power fuel cell

Biofuels





Bioethanol• Produced from fermentation of sugars

in high-energy plants• Often mixed with gasoline

Biodiesel• Produced from vegetable oil, animal

oil/fats, tallow and waste cooking oil• Works in diesel engines

Biomass Conclusions

Pros Cons1. Renewable2. No net greenhouse

gas3. Decrease landfill

input4. Reduce methane5. Burns waste

products6. Fits oil

infrastructure

1. Air pollution (smoke/soot)

2. Habitat loss (forest)

3. Desertification4. Biofuels -

agricultural impacts

Outlook: Methane digestion, biofuels, etc. have great potential. Wood, burning waste, etc. must be managed correctly to prevent pollution and habitat loss.

Geothermal Energy







Geothermal Power Plant



The Geysers Geothermal Plant,

CA



1,100 Megawatts(Declined over last 20 yrs)

Geothermal Potential





Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal heat for individual buildings

Geothermal Conclusions

Pros Cons1. Relatively clean,

no greenhouse gases

2. Renewable3. Minimal impact4. Zinc extracted

from water

1. Regional2. Expensive: water

is corrosive3. Smells4. Potential for

water pollution

Outlook: Good but limited to select regions. Will never be a major percentage of U.S. energy production. Heat pumps good but currently expensive.

Documents

Alternate Energy Beyond the Age of Oil. Remember…. Needs to be versatile: Heat Electricity Generation Transportation (Internal combustion or other)