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ELECTRICITY
FROM NUCLEAR
ENERGY
Contents
Introduction
Steps to producing electricity from nuclear energy
Advantages and disadvantages to producing
energy from nuclear fuel
Video
UK and other EU country perspectives on Nuclear
Energy
Introduction
A nuclear power station turns nuclear energy in
atoms into electrical energy. Commonly used
atoms:
Uranium-235
Plutonium-239
Producing Electricity
from Nuclear Energy
1. Reactor Vessel
Steel Capsule
Sealed metal
cylinders
Chain reaction
produced heats
vessel to approx.
300C
Nuclear energy
converted to heat
energy
The Future
Nuclear Fusion
Joining of two hydrogen isotopes
Nuclei join together in the reaction
Results in Helium nucleus
2. Pressurised Water
Reactor
4. Steam Generator
Water under less pressure causes water to boil
into steam
5. Turbines
Steam passes through turbines
Turbines spin
Conversion of heat energy into mechanical energy
Shaft connects turbines to generator
Turbine spins causing generator to spin
Generator uses electromagnetic field
Converts mechanical energy to electrical energy
6 and 7. Electricity
Transmission
Transformers converts electrical energy from the
generator to high voltage
National grid transmits electricity through power
lines to homes and businesses
8. Cooling
Steam passing
back to water
Water piped back to
steam generator to
be reused
Advantages
Do not contribute to carbon emissions
No acid rain
No geographical limitations
Reliable independent on weather
Controllable output
Small volume of waste
Disadvantages
Non-renewable energy resource
In an accident large amounts of radioactive
material could be released
Chernobyl Disaster http://youtu.be/-NlP2-Sbl9w
Nuclear waste remains radioactive for thousands
of years
Expensive and time consuming decommissioning
Cost
In comparison to
other fuels, nuclear
production cost is
one of the cheapest
Hydropower is
cheaper renewable
energy
European Perspective
Country
Countries
relying on
Nuclear
Power/Intend
to phase in
No of
Reactors
in
Operatio
n
Nuclear share
of overall
electricity
supply (%)
Future
development
Sweden
10
42.6
Government
reconsidering role
of nuclear power
UK
16
28.8
1 reactor in
planning
73.6
1 reactor in
construction/shar
e reduction to
50%
France
54
Switzerlan
Phase out by
5
36.4
Reference: London
national, regional?
d School of Economics, October 27 2014, S. Strunz, Energy policy: European,2034
Countries
Intending to
phase out
Belgium
52.1
Germany
15.4
Phase out by
2025
Phase out by
Summary
Using nuclear energy in atoms to produce heat
energy through nuclear fission
Heat energy transferred to mechanical energy to
electrical energy
Advantages and disadvantages determined
European Perspectives on Nuclear Energy