4
Hydropower Quiz: Label and write out the function of the missing parts
Name:___________
Nuclear Power (AKA Atomic Power)
Where does it come from: Heat which converts water to steam. Steam
is then used to drive the turbines which drives the generator. Electric
energy comes the. The heat comes from the energy of the radioactive
decay of uranium. (From Science 10)
Summarize:
Radioactive decay  Heat produces  Steam spins  Turbine spins
produces heat
steam
turbine
generator
Nuclear Power (AKA Atomic Power)
Where does it come from: Heat and electric energy comes from the
nuclear energy harnessed during the radioactive decay of uranium.
(From Science 10)
Summarize:
Radioactive decay  Heat produces  Steam spins  Turbine spins
produces heat
steam
turbine
generator
Ways nuclear power is used:
- Warfare (Nuclear bomb)
- Power plants for household and industrial energy
- On ships, submarines and other isolated areas (Icebreakers)
- Possible uses in space exploration in the future
Who Uses it?
Mainly used: US, Europe (France), India, East
Asia (10% of the worlds energy)
Lifecycle
Lifecycle of Nuclear Power:
1) Mining uranium
2) Uranium ore is compacted and stablized into a form
called yellowcake
Lifecycle
Lifecycle of Nuclear Power:
1) Mining uranium
2) Uranium ore is compacted and stablized into a form
called yellowcake
3) Yellow cake is safer to transport then ore
4) Yellowcake must be converted to Uranium
hexafluoride
Lifecycle
Lifecycle of Nuclear Power:
1) Mining uranium
2) Uranium ore is compacted and stablized into a form
called yellowcake
3) Yellow cake is safer to transport then ore
4) Yellowcake must be converted to Uranium
hexafluoride
5) This form of uranium is used to generate power
6) After 6 years the uranium must be placed into a waste
system for 5 years and then into long term radioactive
waste storage
Lifecycle
Lifecycle of Nuclear Power:
1) Mining uranium
2) Uranium ore is compacted and stablized into a form
called yellowcake
3) Yellow cake is safer to transport then ore
4) Yellowcake must be converted to Uranium
hexafluoride
5) This form of uranium is used to generate power
Lifecycle
Lifecycle of Nuclear Power:
1) Mining uranium
2) Uranium ore is compacted and stablized into a form
called yellowcake
3) Yellowcake is safer to transport then ore
4) Yellowcake must be converted to Uranium
hexafluoride
5) This form of uranium is used to generate power
6) After 6 years the uranium must be placed into a waste
system for 5 years and then into long term radioactive
waste storage
Nuclear Power Plant
N
Parts of the Nuclear Power Plant
Pros
• Produces no emissions
Pros
• Produces no emissions:
– Smoke leaving the stacks is actually water vapor
• There is a large supply of uranium available
Cons
• Uranium is only useful for 6 years
• Must be stored for long period of time
– 5 years pool storage (too hot for dry storage)
– Long term dry storage
• Nuclear disasters:
-Chernobyl (1986)
-Fukushima (2011)
Cons
• Nuclear Explosions
Three nuclear explosions
Chernobyl disaster (1986),
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster (2011)
Three Mile Island accident (1979)
• Waste products
– Toxic (radioactive)
– Breakdown slowly
– Need to be secured
Assignment
Nuclear Disaster Research
Next class: Cons of nuclear power
Zero Hour: Disaster at Chernobyl (Discovery
Channel) (2004)