nuclear power
Should nuclear power be used? Nuclear power stations use uranium -235 to create heat which is used to heat up water, the steam from the water is used to turn a turbine which powers a generator which creates electricity. Susie believes nuclear power is clean energy with very little effect on the environment. However Alan believes nuclear power is dangerous because it is unsafe and could damage the environment and be dangerous to humans. What Susie has said is true; nuclear power is clean energy because it does not release any pollutants or toxic gases. This is because the energy created in a nuclear power station is done by using the power of the atom to create heat energy. Although it doesn't release pollutants in the air it releases radiation. This however does not get release outside of the container which is lined with lead to stop any radiation escaping. This allows the area surrounding the nuclear power station to be safe. The area can be contaminated if the protective dome of the container becomes damaged or cracked. This would allow radiation from the station to escape. This is but a small issue as all nuclear power stations are fully maintained to prevent any harm to the environment. There is a vast amount of uranium so uranium -235 would be a fuel that could be used for years to come. This is a huge benefit because supplies of fossil fuels are quickly running out.
Nuclear Power
The benefits and drawbacks of Nuclear Power Nuclear Power is power that is generated by a controlled chain-reaction from nuclear fission in which a uranium-235 atom splits up into two daughter nuclei (Krypton-91 and Barium-143); the uranium also releases three neutrons when it splits. In nuclear reactors these neutrons are controlled by boron control rods so that only one neutron can get through to the next enriched uranium rod and initiate further nuclear fission, this process is called a chain reaction. In a nuclear power plant the vast amount of heat energy that is released from a chain reaction is carried to the heat exchanger, where the heat will be transferred into a water pipe, turning the water into steam (there are variations but the diagram above shows the major system). As in coal powered power stations this steam is then used to turn a turbine which in turn will turn a generator so an electrical current can be induced. Currently in the UK there are only 19 operational nuclear reactors generating 11852 megawatts of electricity, however the government wants to expand the UK's nuclear program so they can meet the targets set by the Kyoto Protocol of reducing the carbon emissions to 40% by 2050, nevertheless people are unsure about the environmental and social impacts of nuclear power. This report will explain the benefits and drawbacks of nuclear power using the
