Alex Mantey
Nuclear Power
Nuclear energy provides electricity for 14% of the world. The energy crisis
that is going on was thought to be solved with nuclear power, however it has
major flaws. Nuclear power has been a large part of modern history and is a
major electrical provider but can be dangerous to operate and maintain.
Nuclear energy has been around for a long time, but recently it has
become part of civilian life and not just for military purposes. Nuclear weapons
were the only use of nuclear energy initially, until researchers found a productive
use such as electricity (Gilman). Overall, research for atomic uses of nuclear
energy began in the 1890’s (“Nuclear Energy”). German researchers developed
the first controlled nuclear fission in 1938 (“Nuclear Energy”). In 1954, the United
States allowed private ownership of nuclear power plants in Dwight D
Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” initiative (“Nuclear Power.” American Decades).
Also in 1954, around the world enough nuclear energy was produced in useful
quantities for the first time (Gilman). An increase in American nuclear energy for
civilians began in the 1960’s (“Nuclear Energy”). Due to an oil embargo in the
Middle East in 1973, support for more nuclear power plants increased (“Nuclear
Power.” American Decades). North America and Europe are the major
supporters of nuclear energy. As of 2007, there are 440 nuclear power plants in
30 countries located in these regions (Gilman). Nuclear energy is a very complex
system that slowly developed throughout this history.
Producing nuclear energy requires an understanding of many
essential components. Nuclear power generates a nuclear fission causing the
production of heat energy that is harnessed, which then generates electricity
(Greenberg). Nuclear energy is created due to the collision of neutrons and
nuclei of the same element but different atoms (“Nuclear Power.” The Gale
Encyclopedia of Science). Uranium and plutonium are the most common
elements used to produce nuclear energy (“Nuclear Power.” The Gale
Encyclopedia of Science). This collision of atoms is what creates the nuclear
fission. A nuclear fission is simply the impact of two particles that releases an
extreme amount of energy (“Nuclear Power.” The Gale Encyclopedia of Science).
Essentially, the particles are the “fuel” of a nuclear power plant. Due to the
extreme heat that nuclear fission causes, there is a constant threat of a nuclear
meltdown. A nuclear meltdown is an uncontrollable breakdown of a reactor
core due to excessive heat to a point where nothing can contain it (“Nuclear
Power.” American Decades). Due to the collision of these atoms, there is a
byproduct that is highly radioactive, which is a problem that countries with
operational nuclear power plants are trying to solve (“Nuclear Energy.”). Because
of the extensive research and the complexity of causing a nuclear fission, the
power plants that are constructed are extremely expensive, but produce a great
amount of electricity (Gilman). Not only are the components of nuclear power
complex, but also the nuclear power plant that is dedicated to creating this
energy is also intricate.
Nuclear power plants are the buildings or complexes that produce the
electricity from the nuclear fissions; however there are more complex parts of the
plant. Nuclear power is generated into electricity in a nuclear power plant by
causing a nuclear fission in the broadest terms (“Nuclear power.” The Gale
Encyclopedia of Science). Every nuclear power plant contains four essential
parts: a reactor, a coolant, an electrical generating unit , and a safety system.
(“Nuclear Power.” The Gale Encyclopedia). Nuclear fission takes place in the
nuclear reactor, creating a supply of nuclear energy (“Nuclear Power.” The Gale
Encyclopedia of Science). Then the coolant transports the energy to the electrical
generating unit (“Nuclear Power.” The Gale Encyclopedia of Science). The
nuclear coolant also absorbs the heat created in the reactor (“Nuclear
power.” The Gale Encyclopedia of Science). Nuclear fission creates new
elements and free neutrons (“Nuclear Power.” The Gale Encyclopedia of
Science). Nuclear power plants also do not have carbon dioxide as a by-product,
but they create radioactive waste (Greenberg). Overall the intricate buildings
used to produce nuclear energy are very complex and provide many benefits.
Nuclear energy comes with many benefits that have developed over time.
Some environmentalists even said that the construction of nuclear power plants
needs to increase in order to solve the climate change (Gilman). Also, water can
be purified in a nuclear reactor for irrigation and other purposes with less fuel
than fossil fuels (“Nuclear Power” Science and its Times). Some people may
argue that exposure to radiation is harmful, however supporters of nuclear power
plants say that some exposure will not cause harm and that some people are
living in radioactive areas and are not harmed (“Nuclear Power” Science and its
Times). Also some may say that a nuclear reactor could explode and release
radiation but researchers solved that the nuclear fuel is not concentrated enough
to cause an explosion (“Nuclear Energy” Science and its Times). Isotopes that
are created in nuclear power plants can be used for research in branches of
geology, biology, engineering, and other fields (“Nuclear Power” Science and its
Times). Isotopes can also be used for medical procedures and scientific research
(“Nuclear Power” Science and its Times). 20% of electricity in the United States
is generated through nuclear power and if nuclear power plants were out of
commission this would call for more greenhouse gases to be used causing the
global warming crisis to increase in severity (“For Safer Nuclear Power”). Nuclear
power provides many benefits but the main benefit is the fact that it could be
considered “green” energy.
Another major benefit of nuclear power is the “green” byproduct
created. Nuclear power plants do not produce greenhouse gases that harm and
affect the environment (Gilman). A coal burning plant not only produces tons of
ash, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, but also produces harmful chemicals that
contribute to acid rain (“Nuclear Energy”). Nuclear power plants do not produce
any ash, or harmful gases; nuclear plants release water vapor and radioactive
material (Gilman). Also coal mining is very dangerous and causes 10,000
premature deaths a year, while nuclear power plant workers are generally in safe
conditions (“For Safer Nuclear Power”). Recently there has been a major
reduction in pollutants around the world, and many believe this is due to the
increase of nuclear power plants (“Nuclear Power” Science and its Times).
Nuclear power plants are very efficient and can produce a lot of energy with very
little fuel unlike fossil fuel burning electricity plants (“Nuclear Energy”). The
burning of coal affects the overall global climate and is not good for the “long run”
while nuclear energy has very little pollution and is extremely efficient (“Nuclear
Energy”). Overall nuclear energy can be seen as a solution to the global warming
issue, but it does have some flaws and downsides.
One major downside of nuclear power plants is the safety debate
that has arisen from previous examples such as the Three Mile Island crisis
in Pennsylvania. In March of 1979, the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant
encountered a mechanical error in the cooling safety system (“Nuclear Power”
American Decades). The operators in the plant did not notice the problem and
ended up shutting off the water to the reactor, causing it to overheat and then a
meltdown (“Nuclear Power” American Decades). Due to this meltdown, radiation
spread into the environment, and within the plant the operators could die in
minutes from high levels of radiation (“Nuclear Power” American Decades). The
severity of this meltdown caused the surrounding population to evacuate the area
within two days enforced by officials (“Nuclear Power” American Decades). After
9 days, officials of the city deemed the area safe and the plant stable to allow
citizens to return to their homes (“Nuclear Power” American Decades). In the
end, the Three Mile Island crisis did not last long but could have been more
severe due to the other risks of nuclear power plants.
Nuclear power plant critics’ major argument is the safety of these
plants in multiple situations. In some countries this is debated frequently in
politics (Gilman). One issue talked about in politics is that the construction of
nuclear power plants makes nuclear weapons easier to obtain due to the
radioactive material in the plants (“For Safer Nuclear Power”). Another issue is
the disposal of the nuclear waste since it is highly radioactive and can remain
radioactive for thousands of years (“Nuclear Energy”). Critics also claim that a
nuclear meltdown could cause an explosion or it would release dangerous
amounts of radiation into the air (“Nuclear Energy”). To avoid this problem new
expensive power plants must be built to keep the surrounding area safe (“For
Safer Nuclear Power”). Another area of concern is protecting the plants from
terrorist attack since it could also release radioactivity into the atmosphere that
way (“For Safer Nuclear Power”). Nuclear power plant safety is still developing
and evolving, hopefully solving many issues that still exist.
Short life span, efficiency and expensive prices are more major set backs
for nuclear power plants. Nuclear power plants can only operate safely within
their first 26 years of operation before they must close (Schneider). By 2020, the
United States is planning to invest 18.5 billion in nuclear power plants in order to
reduce the greenhouse gases (“Nuclear Power” Science and its Times).
Obviously the production of nuclear power plants is not cheap and many argue it
is not worth the initial cost for the amount of electricity it produces (“Nuclear
Energy”). Nuclear power is currently not producing as much electricity as other
renewable energy sources and some may ask if its worth the risk and investment
and if the money should be invested in other renewable energy sources (“For
Safer Nuclear Power”). Nuclear power may not be the most efficient, and safe
renewable source but at the time, it does supply much of the world with
electricity.
Overall, nuclear power provides an essential amount of electricity that
would be hard to fulfill with other means. However, it is dangerous and can harm
the local environment. It also is not the most efficient way to obtain electricity, but
it is more efficient than previous ways. Nuclear power’s products may not
balance out with the extremely high risks. To gain my support of nuclear power,
researchers must solve some major safety issues and increase the efficiency to
provide more energy with the risks. In conclusion nuclear energy is an important
energy provider but must advance farther for continuing the use.
Works Cited
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Mar. 2011. Global Issues In Context. Web. 5 Feb. 2014.
Gilman, Larry. "Nuclear Power." Climate Change: In Context. Ed. Brenda Wilmoth
Lerner and K. Lee Lerner. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2008. 676-680. In Context Series. Gale
Virtual Reference Library. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
Greenberg, Phillip A., and Karen N. Kähler. "Nuclear power." Encyclopedia of
Environmental Issues, Rev. ed. Ed. Craig W. Allin. Vol. 3. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press,
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Wilmoth Lerner. 4th ed. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Student Resources in Context. Web. 24 Jan.
2014.
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Detroit: Gale, 2010. Science in Context. Web. 3 Feb. 2014.
Schneider, Mycle, Julie Hazemann, and Antony Froggatt. "The Steady Decline of the
Nuclear Industry Demonstrates That Nuclear Power Is Not a Viable Alternative Energy
Source." Nuclear Power. Ed. Lynn M. Zott and Helga Schier. Detroit: Greenhaven Press,
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