The Sustainability Of Current Energy Resources Exploitation Flashcards
Where does nuclear energy come from?
The splitting or joining of atomic nuclei
Is nuclear energy dense?
Yes as little matter needed to produce a lot of energy
What are the two types of nuclear energy production?
Nuclear fission
Nuclear fusion
What isotopes are typically used for nuclear fission?
Uranium or plutonium
What is the difference between fission and fusion?
Fission- splitting
Fusion- joining
Does nuclear energy production releases carbon?
As no chemical burning occurs it generates base load energy with no carbon output making it better for climate change issue
What is capacity factor?
A measure of what percentage of the time a power plant actually produces energy
Does nuclear have a higher capacity factor then renewables?
Yes it is much higher
How much is 1 kg of uranium equal to in coal?
13 tonnes
How much pure uranium will power your home for a day?
3g
What does having a high energy density mean for nuclear?
Impacts of transporting fuels is reduced
Flexible in where they can be built
Does nuclear power have a high nuclear output to the environment?
Nuclears out put to the environment is less then any other major energy source (coal is the worst)
Are nuclear power plants expensive?
Yes as the complex technology makes manufacturing of plants expensive (less developed countries can’t afford it)
Is nuclear energy renewable?
Technically non-renewable but it is used at a very slow rate and there is a plentiful supply
What is the problem with the supply of radioactive isotopes?
Most deposits are low grade
What does the low grade deposits mean for extraction of nuclear?
Extraction expensive making electricity expensive
How do nuclear power plants affect the local habitat?
The power plants take up a large amount of space so the habitats in that area have to be cleared
How does the mining for radioactive isotopes affect the environment?
Will cause habitat damage
And may produce hazardous waste
What is embodied energy?
the sum of all the energy required to produce any goods or services, considered as if that energy was incorporated or ‘embodied’ in the product itself. (Nuclear stations use a lot)
What risks are associated with nuclear power stations?
Risk of nuclear failure
Risk of leakage form waste disposal (spent energy)
What are some examples of nuclear disasters?
Chernobyl
Fukushima power plant
What is an example of where people have been against a nuclear power plant?
Protests by anti-nuclear activists in New Hampshire in 1977
How long will it take for nuclear waste to reduce to background levels?
Several hundred years
What is the most common way of storing nuclear waste?
Geological disposal facility (underground facility)
How is nuclear waste kept in geological disposal facilities?
Waste in solid glass form
Metal waste container
Clay buffer
Rock
What is polymer absorption?
Extracting uranium from seawater
The dissolved uranium sticks to certain polymers
Uranium is extracted using acids
What is phosphate mining?
Uranium is found in phosphate deposits so can be mined at the same time as phosphates
What is coal ash?
Extracting small amounts of triuranium a uranium compound
0.4 pounds per metric ton
Why are they creating plutonium reactors?
Most reactors use uranium-235 (only 0.7% of what’s mined)
Uranium 328 (what’s left) isn’t fissile
U-328 can be converted into plutonium- 239 which can be split
Allows more energy to be harnessed
What is a thorium reactor?
Thorium is not fissile but it can be converted into U-233 which makes it fissile (splittable)
Thorium rods bred to make uranium 233 with neutron bombardment
Why bother with thorium reactors?
Thorium is 3x more abundant then uranium
Thorium waste is less radioactive
Less likely to be propagated for nuclear weapons
Slow and expensive (negative)
What is nuclear fusion?
Two or more atomic nuclei join together to make a new larger nucleus releasing energy
What is the one set back form nuclear fusion?
Still in experimental phase (far from complete)
35 countries as working in France to make it reality
What are the two potential options for fusion?
Toroidal reactors
Laser fusion
Why is the risk of a melt down non-existent with fusion?
As if the specific criteria for the reaction to take place aren’t met then the reaction wont take place
What is the name of the large organisation reaserching nuclear fusion?
International thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER)
What is the positive of toroidal reactors?
Very efficient 500Mw output form 50Mw input
What atoms are used in fusion?
Two hydrogen atoms combine to form helium the hydrogen is converted into energy
What happens during laser fusion?
Small pellets of deuterium- tritium (DT) isotopes are introduced into blast chamber where pellets are compressed to high densities by an intense laser
What are the positives of laser fusion?
Carbon free with practically unlimited fuel supply
No active intervention required (cooling or reprocessing) when shut down
Doesn’t have high nuclear waste
Why is laser fusion still in development?
High powered lasers are key but present lasers are relatively inefficient converting electrical energy into beam energy
