What is Nuclear Energy?

What is nuclear energy? Nuclear energy is the internal energy in the atomic
nucleus, that is, the central part of an atom. Atoms are the smallest particles in
which a material can be divided. The nucleus of an atom is composed of two
subparticles: neutrons and protons. These subparticles are held together due to
energy links. At the moment in which these bonds are modified, a large amount
of thermal energy is released in the form of heat.
Nuclear technology deals with the use of this internal energy for a wide variety of
applications. The most well-known application of nuclear energy is the generation
of electric power in nuclear power plants.
Nuclear power plants are installations where heat is obtained causing nuclear
reactions in the nuclear reactor with which later, through thermodynamic and
mechanical transformations, electric power will be obtained.

Ways of harnessing nuclear energy

In order to take advantage of the nuclear energy present in the nucleus of atoms,
it can be done in two ways: splitting the nucleus of an atom or fusing the nucleus
of two atoms. In the first case we call it nuclear fission and in the second nuclear
fusion.
When one of these two physical reactions occurs ( nuclear fission or nuclear
fusion) the atoms experience a slight loss of mass. This mass that is lost becomes
a large amount of heat energy as Albert Einstein discovered with his famous
equation E = mc2.
What is nuclear fission?
After knowing what is nuclear energy we can make us a more especific question:
what is nuclear fission? Nuclear fission is the division of the nucleus of
an atom into different smaller particles. This type of reactions generates a large
amount of heat energy that can later be used in different ways.
One of the important characteristics of nuclear fission is that it is generated by
bombarding an unstable atom with a neutron. Once the nucleus has been fissured,
in addition to particles one or two more neutrons remain free that can collide with
another atom and generate more chain fissions.
Currently, nuclear fission is the type of nuclear reaction that is used in all types
of nuclear power reactors.

Which is nuclear fusion?

Nuclear fusion is the reverse process. The objective of the fusion is to submit the
nucleus of two atoms to physical conditions in which the nuclei are fused between
them obtaining a single atom. A large amount of energy is also obtained by this
type of reaction.
The energy produced by the Sun, for example, comes from nuclear
fusion reactions.
The use of nuclear fusion would be much more beneficial than the use of nuclear
fission (more sustainable for the environment, better performance,
etc.). Unfortunately, currently reproducing nuclear fusion reactions artificially
and sustainably is still not feasible so that all nuclear reactors are fission.
What is nuclear fuel?
We refer to nuclear fuel to the material that is used to generate the nuclear
reactions. As we have said, nuclear power reactors generate nuclear fission
reactions. Therefore, for this type of reactions you need a material, an atom, that
is very unstable; that is so unstable that with colliding with a single neutron it
breaks.
The vast majority of nuclear power reactors use enriched uranium as a nuclear
fuel. Uranium is a very unstable element that occurs naturally. In spite of being
unstable, it undergoes an enrichment process that makes it even more unstable and,
therefore, more efficient for nuclear power plants. that following a certain process
is enriched to make it more unstable.
The uranium reserves of the planet are not considered unlimited, so nuclear energy
is not considered a renewable energy such as solar or wind energy.
In the case of nuclear fusion, the most optimal material is that which has a
simpleratomic structure, that is, a lower number of protons. In this way, it is easier
to combine with another atom.