Should we use Nuclear power in the UK

From here, the mechanics of a steam power plant take over. The steam pushes on turbines, which force coils of wire to interact with a magnetic field. This generates an electric current. This is shown in the flow chart below:

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Burn                 Heat water                    Steam                    Turbines turn             Electrical

Fuel                  To make steam            turbines                 generators                 Power

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Diagram: How a nuclear power station works

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Atoms

Nuclear energy is from energy the nucleus (core) of an atom. Atoms are tiny particles that make up every object in the universe. There is enormous energy in the bonds that hold atoms together. Nuclear energy can be used to make electricity. But first the energy must be realeaed. It can be released from atoms in two ways: nuclear fusion and nuclear fission

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Nuclear fission

During nuclear fission a small particle called a neutron hits the uranium atom and splits it, releasing a great amount of energy as heat and radiation. More neutrons are also released. These neutrons go on to bombard other uranium atoms, and process repeats itself over and over again. This is called a chain reaction. Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission to produce electricity

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The fuel most widely used by nuclear plants for nuclear fission is uranium. Uranium is non-renewable, though it is common metal found in rocks all over the world. Nuclear plants use a certain kind of uranium (U-235) as fuel because its atoms are easily split apart though uranium is quiet common than, U-235 is relatively rare. Once uranium is mined the U-235 must be extracted and proceed before it can be used as a fuel for nuclear reactors.

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Recycling

This diagram demonstrates the nuclear fuel cycle hand how it can be recycled

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1. Uranium is mined, enriched and manufactured to nuclear fuel, which is delivered to a nuclear power plant

2. After usage in the power plant the spent fuel is delivered to a reprocessing plant.

3. Or to final repository for permanent storage in a safe place, such as inside rock.

4. In reprocessing, 95% of spent fuel can be recycled  to be returned to usage in a power plant

Safety

The spent fuel also takes a lot of effort to dispose of; they are stored in shielded basins of water (spent fuel pools), usually located on – site. The water provides both cooling for the still decaying fission products, and shielding from the continuing radioactivity. After a few decades some on-site storage involves moving the now controller, less radioactive fuel to a dry-storage facility or dry cask storage, where the fuel is stored in steel and concrete containers until its radioactivity decreases naturally decays to levels safe enough for other processing. Still, this is a temporary storage system, while suitable permanent disposable methods are being discussed

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Production

The US, France and Japan together generates 56% of nuclear generated electricity, in 2007 the IAFE (International atomic energy agency) reported there are 439 nuclear power stations around the world operating in 31 countries.

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This map shows us most of the MEDC (more economically developed countries) already have or building a nuclear power plants, this could mean it creates a sufficient amount of energy enough for the countries, or it could mean it’s not affordable to LEDC’s (because most of the money is spent on safety) in 2004 nuclear power provided 6.5% of the worlds energy and 15.7% of the world electricity, this is a small figure compared to the others but it doesn’t mean it’s not a good energy source.

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Dicussion

Although nuclear power is very cheap and very large electricity is generated however the cost of building a nuclear power station is very expensive also the cost for all the safety measures are just as bad if we look back at the  Chernobyl disaster where the nuclear reactor accident happened resulted in a severe release of radioactivity into the environment following a massive power excursion which destroyed the reactor. Two people died in the initial steam explosion, but most deaths from the accident were attributed to radiation. Also disposing the waste is also very dangerous as it must be sealed up and buried for many years to allow the radio activity to die away. And it cost a lot for this process on the other hand transporting nuclear waste can be very tricky and very expensive yet if a accident does happen this will result in a big disaster and cost a lot to fix  although accident are actually quite rare. I think although nuclear power is very expensive we should give the go ahead.

Advantages

The advantages are it cost the same amount as coal so it’s not expensive to make and it produces Very large amounts of electricity can be generated from small amounts of fuel also it does not produce smoke or carbon dioxide, so it does not contribute to the greenhouse effect. Instead it produces harmless steam that isn’t contaminated by radioactivity;   Reference: () it also produces small amounts of waste. It will also make the U.K. less dependent on other countries for importing power, as it now unfortunately is. Our current dependence on imported energy makes us vulnerable to the demands of other countries and most importantly nuclear power is reliable.

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Disadvantages

The disadvantage of nuclear power is that although not much waste it produces, it is very dangerous. It must be sealed up and buried for many years to allow the radio activity to die away. Nuclear power is reliable, but a lot of money has to be spent for safety – if it does go wrong, a nuclear accident can be a major disaster. People are increasingly concerned about this – in the 1990’s nuclear power was the fastest growing source of power in much of the world. In 2005 it was the second slowest-growing.Reference :(  In addition to that mining uranium has not traditionally been very clean. Waste from the power plants is toxic also transporting nuclear fuel can be risky In 2003 the united states had accumulated about 49,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel from nuclear reactors that will take 10,000 years of radioactive decay to no longer pose a threat to public health a safety, I think this takes too long and they shouldn’t use this method of energy production or think of a safer and quicker way of disposing the waste. And  finally nuclear energy from uranium and used it, there won’t be any more left.

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Quotation

London Mayor Ken Livingstone: "It is a colossal mistake to head off down the nuclear path once again. We need a solution to the climate change that protects the environment rather than threatens it, and one that does not literally cost the earth."

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Nuclear waste is given different categories:  

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Is it renewable?

Nuclear energy from Uranium is not renewable. Once we've dug up all the Earth's uranium and used it, there isn't any more. 

Conclusion?

So, the Disadvantages outweigh the Advantages, nuclear power be given the go ahead, I think although nuclear power is a good source of energy, it will run out some day, so we need to use more of our renewable energy such as biomass, water (hydropower) Geothermal, wind or solar power.

Bibliography

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(TWENTY FIRSTCENTUREY SCIENECE GCSE Science Higher)- Book

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