Nuclear Notes

Nuclear energy is a way of creating heat through the fission process of atoms. All power plants change heat into electricity by using steam. The heat that produces the steam is created by fission, which occurs when atoms split apart. This process also creates energy in the form of heat. The neutrons that are released repeats the process making more nuclear energy. This process is called a chain reaction. The heat from the fission boils the water and creates steam to turn a turbine. The turbine then spins and the generator turn causing the magnetic field to produce electricity. The advantage of nuclear energy is that there is little air pollution compared to coal. Coal emits more radiation than one nuclear power plant. Nuclear power plants are also more reliable than coal because they use less fuel and also are not affected by strikes or natural disasters. It is important to use less fuel because the world’s supply of fossil fuel is running out. Last, but not least nuclear energy is safer because barriers separates the radiation and the heat of the reactor core from the outside. The reactor core is enclosed in a 9-inch thick steel pressure container. The pressure container is then surrounded by a thick concrete wall and stays inside a sealed steel containment, which is inside a steel-reinforced concrete dome four feet thick. The dome is designed to withstand natural disasters or a potential threat. There are also many sensors that pick up on the increases in radiation or humidity. An increase in radiation or humidity could mean there is a leak, so there are systems that control or stop the chain reaction if necessary. There is also an Emergency Core Cooling System for an accident that has enough cooling water to cool the reactor. The disadvantage of nuclear energy is that if there ever is a loss of coolant water in a fission reactor the rods