Nuclear Power in Perspective and Intro to Nuclear Reactors

Top 10 Nuclear Generating Countries

Nuclear Energy Production

Although the national percentage of nuclear generated electricity is 19%, it varies from state to state.

U.S. Primary Energy Consumption

U.S. Electricity Flow

Conversions and Losses25.81 Btu or 63.4 %

U.S. Capacity Brought Online by Fuel Type

Fifteen Ways to Stabilize CO2 EmissionsOf the 15 methods (wedges) proposed by a Princeton

University study,13 of them relate energy use. Implementation of any 7

wouldaccomplish the goal of stabilizing emissions.

1. Efficient vehicles2. Reduced use of vehicles3. Efficient buildings4. Efficient coal power plants5. Gas instead of coal power plants6. Capture CO2 at base load power plant7. Nuclear power for coal power8. Wind power for coal power9. Photovoltaic power for coal power10. Capture CO2 at H2 plant11. Capture CO2 at coal-to-synfuels plant12. Wind H2 in fuel-cell car for gasoline in hybrid car13. Biomass fuel for fossil fuel

Aerial View of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant

• http://www.tva.gov/power/nuclear/wattsbar_howworks.htm

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Nuclear Reactor Facts – Watts Bar

• Containment Building 210’ – 250’ Tall, 130’ – 175’ diameter.

• Control Rods:45 – 92 per assembly• Fuel Pellets:1/3” dia, ½” long, less than1/3 oz. =

1600 lbs of coal, 3.5 brls of oil, 15K cf gas• 314 – 350 pellets per rod• Fuel rods made from Zircaloy (metal alloy),

pellets and helium.• Fuel rod assembly =176- 236 rods, 13’8” long,

8x8 rods sqr., 1300 lbs• Reactor will hold 157-217 fuel rod assemblies =

32k – 52k rods = 10,048,000 – 18.2 million pellets per reactor

Spent Fuel Pool

ContainmentContainment

Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Facts

• Last new commercial nuclear power plant in US

• Came online in May 1996• Generates 1170 Megawatts of electricity• Produced >112 billion kwhs of electricity• About 620 TVA employees, annual payroll

of ~$66 million • Unit 2 expected complete in 2013• 2300 contractors and 250 additional

permanent jobs

Three Mile Island-2 (TMI-2)

Chernobyl April 26, 1986

Cross Section of Chernobyl

Post Accident•31 immediate fatalities (all but one due to radiation exposure)•>200 people hospitalized due to exposure•135,000 people evacuated (though none immediately)•~50 million curies of radioactive material released

• Any of the first 5 would have prevented accident