Nuclear Power and Energy
Nuclear power is the source of energy formed by nuclear reactions in a nuclear power reactor for the generation of electricity. The use of nuclear power increases due to the increasing demand for electrical energy in the world. This type of electrical energy is generated by the controlled chain reaction in the reactor of the nuclear power plant and is used for generating electric power for mankind. Therefore, nuclear power plants are alternative sources of electric or thermal energy in the United States, Canada, Germany, Russia, Japan, etc. Nuclear fusion reactions are generally going through the evolution of a large amount of nuclear energy due to the conversion of mass into energy. The future hope of mankind lies in the ability of scientists and engineers to produce reactors capable of giving fissionable isotopes from the abundant periodic table elements like lead thorium and mercury.
Nuclear fusion energy is produced in the sun and stars by fusing hydrogen atoms to produce helium. The loss of mass converted a huge amount of energy. It has been calculated that during energy output, the sun loses four million tonnes of mass per second.
Even with such a fantastic rate of mass loss, our sun will continue to bless us with good earth for over thirty billion years.
Nuclear Power Reactor
Scientists have succeeded in controlling nuclear fission or chain reaction in generating electricity for mankind. Today variety of nuclear reactors operate in different parts of the world. The nuclear power generator has the following basic components,
Nuclear Fuel
Natural uranium enriches with isotope uranium-235 and plutonium-239 is used in the form of plates alloyed with aluminum for fuel. These plates are separated from each other by neutron-moderating reagents like graphite.
Fuel Rods in Nuclear Reactor
Cadmium or boron can be used as a fuel rod in nuclear reactors. These metals are used because they are good absorbers of neutrons. Therefore, the rate of nuclear fission reactions is controlled by pushing or pulling this rod in a reactor.
Moderator in Nuclear Power Plant
When the chain reactions are not controlled by fuel rods we use moderators to reduce the speed of the reactions. Generally, graphite, water, and deuterium oxides are good moderators in nuclear power plants.
Coolant in Nuclear Reactor
Coolant is the substance that conducts heat away to a heat exchanger. The energy produced in rectors is given as specific heat. Usually, deuterium oxide, water, or even a molten mixture of sodium and potassium uses as the coolant in the world.
The most common use of coolant in the USA is water. In electrical energy generation, this heat is utilized to generate steam which drives to turbines produce electricity.
Shielding in Nuclear Reactor
For environmental conservation, we use shielding substances to protect life from harmful electromagnetic radiation. Therefore, the high radiation produced in the interior of the reactors is protected by the use of water, concrete, or both. But for better protection lead shielding is used in the nuclear power plant to protect gamma rays.
Why Nuclear Energy is Good?
With increasing the demand for electricity and decreasing sources of fossil fuels, we mostly use atomic and renewable energy (solar, geothermal, and wind energy) as an alternative source for the electric power generation process.
- Nuclear power reactors go through the fission process which splits uranium atoms to produce energy.
- The heat liberated by fission is utilized to generate steam which turns to drive the turbine to produce electricity without any toxic substances that are produced during the burning of fossil fuels.
Fossil fuel is responsible for the greenhouse effect or different types of environmental pollution. Today almost about 440 reactors operate in the world in 30 countries.
Nuclear Power Plants in India
The nuclear power plant for electrical energy generation sources was first established in India by Tarapur near Bombay in 1969. Next on Ranapratpnagar in Rajasthan in 1973. The atomic power plant was also set up at Kalapakkam in Tamil Nadu in 1983 and Narora in Uttar Pradesh in 1990.
Nuclear power plants play a key role in electricity generation in the United States. If the reactions in the atomic plant go beyond control tragedies like Chornobyl (Russia) and Fukushima (Japan) will befall the world.
