(NCM) Nuclear Power Generation Lesson
Nuclear Power Generation
The generation of electricity is critical for the operation of businesses, health care delivery, schools, homes, and other areas requiring the use of electrical power. According to 2011 statistics, coal is used for 42% of the total power generated, with natural gas being employed for another 25%. Nuclear power plants are employed in about 19% of the cases, with renewable energy sources supplying the last 13%. All of these fuels are used to heat water to generate steam. The steam then turns a turbine to generate electricity.
The diagram below shows the layout of a typical nuclear power plant. The radioactive rods are in the red container along with water, which is heated to steam. The energy for this heat comes from fission reactions of uranium. The steam passes through the turbine and causes the turbine to spin, generating electricity. As the steam condenses, it is run through a cooling tower to lower its temperature. The water then recirculates through the reactor core to be used again.
Nuclear Power Plant description Links to an external site.
The control rods play an important role in the modulation of the nuclear chain reaction (usually a collision of a neutron with uranium). Each collision produces more neutrons than were present initially. If left unsupervised, the reaction would soon get out of control. Rods are commonly made of boron or a number of metals and metal alloys. The purpose of the control rods is to absorb neutrons to regulate the rate of the chain reaction so that the water does not overheat and destroy the reactor.
Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy
In the U.S., the majority of electricity is produced by burning coal or other fossil fuels. This causes air pollution that harms the health of living things. Air pollution also causes acid rain and contributes to global warming. In addition, fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources, so if we keep using them, they will eventually run out. The main advantage of nuclear energy is that it doesn't release air pollution or cause other environmental problems associated with the burning of fossil fuels. On the other other hand, radioactive elements are nonrenewable like fossil fuels and could eventually be used up.
The main concern over the use of nuclear energy is the risk of radiation. Accidents at nuclear power plants can release harmful radiation that endangers people and other living things. Even without accidents, the used fuel that is left after nuclear fission reactions is still radioactive and very dangerous. It takes thousands of years for it to decay until it no longer releases harmful radiation. Therefore, used fuel must be stored securely to protect people and other living things.
For brief information on a nuclear meltdown, watch the video segment below adapted from FRONTLINE which describes the series of events that led to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. By watching the video, you will hear answers to the following questions:
- What is the potential danger from a nuclear reactor, according to this video resource?
- What is a meltdown?
- What were some problems with the design of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant?
- Why is the fluid system so important in a nuclear power plant?
- Do we have any construction materials that are capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures, such as those that occur in a meltdown? If so, what are they?
Nuclear Energy in Georgia
Did you know that Georgia currently has two operational nuclear power plants with two additional plants to be finished in 2023 and 2024? One of the plants in operation (Plant Vogtle) currently provides enough power to serve over 600,000 homes while the other plant (Plant Hatch) provides electricity to more than two million Georgians in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.
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