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The Return of Nuclear The Return of Nuclear PowerPowerBy Mark TreatBy Mark Treat
OutlineOutline
Benefits of Nuclear Benefits of Nuclear Power ProductionPower Production
Features Of Features Of Generation III Generation III ReactorsReactors
What to do with What to do with nuclear wastenuclear waste
Benefits of Nuclear PowerBenefits of Nuclear Power
The energy provided by one Uranium Fuel pellet The energy provided by one Uranium Fuel pellet (about the size of your little finger) is equivalent to (about the size of your little finger) is equivalent to 1780 lbs of coal, or 17000cf of natural gas1780 lbs of coal, or 17000cf of natural gas
Air pollution associated with coal fired and natural Air pollution associated with coal fired and natural gas plants is non-existentgas plants is non-existent
Nuclear Plant operation cost is roughly 50-80% Nuclear Plant operation cost is roughly 50-80% less than other sourcesless than other sources
Through the use of “Breeder Reactors” electricity Through the use of “Breeder Reactors” electricity could be generated at current levels for 1000 yearscould be generated at current levels for 1000 years
There have been no fatalities as a result of There have been no fatalities as a result of operating nuclear reactors in the U.S. in the last operating nuclear reactors in the U.S. in the last 40 years40 years
Generation III ReactorsGeneration III Reactors
Pebble Bed Modular ReactorsPebble Bed Modular Reactors Westinghouse AP1000Westinghouse AP1000
Pebble Bed Modular Pebble Bed Modular ReactorReactor
Fueled with Uranium contained in Fueled with Uranium contained in “pebbles” composed of graphite, pyrolitic “pebbles” composed of graphite, pyrolitic carbon and silicon carbidecarbon and silicon carbide
Uses Helium to drive the gas turbine. Uses Helium to drive the gas turbine. Helium is incombustible and can not Helium is incombustible and can not become radioactivebecome radioactive
The PBMR is incapable of going into The PBMR is incapable of going into meltdownmeltdown
Each PBMR produces 168MWe and has Each PBMR produces 168MWe and has start up costs of $1000/kW in clusters of 8start up costs of $1000/kW in clusters of 8
Pebble Bed ReactorPebble Bed Reactor
Westinghouse AP1000Westinghouse AP1000
The AP600 is a simplified, more The AP600 is a simplified, more robust version of a generation II robust version of a generation II steam turbine nuclear plantsteam turbine nuclear plant
Safety systems are designed to reduce Safety systems are designed to reduce reliance on point failure sources such reliance on point failure sources such as pumps, fans, diesel motors and as pumps, fans, diesel motors and chillers by using natural forceschillers by using natural forces
The AP600 will produce 600MWe and The AP600 will produce 600MWe and has start up costs of $1200/kWhas start up costs of $1200/kW
Simplification In The Simplification In The AP600AP600
Westinghouse AP1000Westinghouse AP1000
The Big ProblemThe Big ProblemRadioactive WasteRadioactive Waste
There are many options for disposal and There are many options for disposal and reduction of nuclear wastereduction of nuclear waste
The proposed Yucca Mountain facility The proposed Yucca Mountain facility Disposal in the ocean at a subduction Disposal in the ocean at a subduction
faultfault Disposal in the arctic ice capDisposal in the arctic ice cap Reprocessing to recover fissionable Reprocessing to recover fissionable
material and reduce waste which must material and reduce waste which must be disposed.be disposed.
Yucca MountainYucca Mountain Stainless steel and Stainless steel and
Nickel alloy 22 will Nickel alloy 22 will be used to insure be used to insure long lifelong life
Waste containers and Waste containers and tunnels are designed tunnels are designed to handle punishmentto handle punishment
Yucca Mountain’s dry Yucca Mountain’s dry climate and natural climate and natural geological makeup geological makeup slow the travel of slow the travel of radioactive particlesradioactive particles
SummarySummary
Nuclear Power is a viable source of Nuclear Power is a viable source of electricityelectricity
It is economically more sound than It is economically more sound than other forms of energy productionother forms of energy production
It is environmentally friendlyIt is environmentally friendly New designs are making Nuclear New designs are making Nuclear
Power safer and more efficientPower safer and more efficient There are multiple options for nuclear There are multiple options for nuclear
waste disposalwaste disposal
Works CitedWorks Cited http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8208/http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8208/
8208coal.html8208coal.html http://www.uic.com.au/nip16.htmhttp://www.uic.com.au/nip16.htm http://www.pbmr.com/http://www.pbmr.com/ http://www.westinghousenuclear.com/http://www.westinghousenuclear.com/
D6c.aspD6c.asp http://library.thinkquest.org/17940/http://library.thinkquest.org/17940/
texts/nuclear_waste_future/texts/nuclear_waste_future/nuclear_waste_future.htmlnuclear_waste_future.html
http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/r/a/http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/r/a/ram332/nwdo.htmram332/nwdo.htm