While most people may not realize it, a significant amount (nearly 17%) of the electricity produced for the world's needs is generated by nuclear power. In some countries, the majority of the electricity comes from nuclear energy. The promise of a low-cost alternative to fossil fuels is attractive. And while are current reserves of fossil fuels are becoming exhausted, uranium (necessary for nuclear fission) is plentiful.
Creating electricity from nuclear energy is not without inherent risks, of course. But, managing those risks is possible and provides an opportunity to leverage a sustainable energy source. In this article, you'll learn how nuclear energy is converted into electricity. You'll also discover what's inside a typical nuclear power plant.
Basics Of Conversion
In order to transform nuclear energy into electricity, atoms must be split. This process is known as nuclear fission. A Uranium-235 nucleus is split by a neutron. This event results in 2 new atoms and multiple free neutrons. When the atom splits, heat is produced. The heat is then used to create steam which powers turbines. The turbines operate generators which produce and help distribute electricity. The process of nuclear fission continues as atoms are split by isolated neutrons.
How The Components Of A Nuclear Power Plant Work
There are several critical pieces of a nuclear power plant. Each component plays an important role not only in the production of electricity, but also to help regulate the integrity of the process. Enriched uranium is collected into bundles that are immersed in water. Control rods are used to normalize the heat of the bundles. Housed within a containment structure, the heat turns water into steam.
The steam that is generated from the heat in the containment structure is transferred through a steam line into a turbine. This turbine includes a cooling water condensor that helps normalize the power provided to the generator. The condensor is also connected to a cooling tower that aids the normalization process. Upon receiving power from the turbine, the generator begins spinning to produce electricity.
Potential Drawbacks And Hazards
Typically, nuclear power plants are built cleanly by design. This allows efficient and environmentally friendly power generation. In fact, nuclear facilities emit significantly less radioactivity, carbon and sulfur than conventional coal plants. That being said, nuclear plants have a few disadvantages.
First, using uranium is not a clean process. Mining, purification and nuclear fission produces substantial toxic waste. This waste remains toxic for centuries so extreme care must be used in its disposal. Second, nuclear power is not a renewable energy source. That is, once the world's supply of uranium is depleted, it cannot be replenished. Third, a poorly-designed nuclear facility imposes extreme risk to the environment and the people who live within close proximity to it.
In recent years, there has been increased interest in using nuclear energy to generate electricity. Production of power plants slowed after the Chernobyl catastrophe. However, experts in nuclear power realize that the Chernobyl accident occurred largely because of poor design of the facility. Though risks exist, they can be managed. The motivation to find an alternative energy source has never been greater. As a result, new nuclear facilities will likely be erected in the near future.
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