The Return of Nuclear Power

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The Return of Nuclear Power

• By Mark Treat

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Outline

• Benefits of Nuclear Power Production
• Features Of Generation III Reactors
• What to do with nuclear waste

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Benefits of Nuclear Power

• The energy provided by one Uranium Fuel pellet
  (about the size of your little finger) is
  equivalent to 1780 lbs of coal, or 17000cf of
  natural gas
• Air pollution associated with coal fired and
  natural gas plants is non-existent
• Nuclear Plant operation cost is roughly 50-80
  less than other sources
• Through the use of Breeder Reactors electricity
  could be generated at current levels for 1000
  years
• There have been no fatalities as a result of
  operating nuclear reactors in the U.S. in the
  last 40 years

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Generation III Reactors

• Pebble Bed Modular Reactors
• Westinghouse AP1000

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Pebble Bed Modular Reactor

• Fueled with Uranium contained in pebbles
  composed of graphite, pyrolitic carbon and
  silicon carbide
• Uses Helium to drive the gas turbine. Helium is
  incombustible and can not become radioactive
• The PBMR is incapable of going into meltdown
• Each PBMR produces 168MWe and has start up costs
  of 1000/kW in clusters of 8

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Pebble Bed Reactor
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Westinghouse AP1000

• The AP600 is a simplified, more robust version of
  a generation II steam turbine nuclear plant
• Safety systems are designed to reduce reliance on
  point failure sources such as pumps, fans, diesel
  motors and chillers by using natural forces
• The AP600 will produce 600MWe and has start up
  costs of 1200/kW

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Simplification In The AP600
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Westinghouse AP1000
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The Big ProblemRadioactive Waste

• There are many options for disposal and reduction
  of nuclear waste
• The proposed Yucca Mountain facility
• Disposal in the ocean at a subduction fault
• Disposal in the arctic ice cap
• Reprocessing to recover fissionable material and
  reduce waste which must be disposed.

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Yucca Mountain

• Stainless steel and Nickel alloy 22 will be used
  to insure long life
• Waste containers and tunnels are designed to
  handle punishment
• Yucca Mountains dry climate and natural
  geological makeup slow the travel of radioactive
  particles

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Summary

• Nuclear Power is a viable source of electricity
• It is economically more sound than other forms of
  energy production
• It is environmentally friendly
• New designs are making Nuclear Power safer and
  more efficient
• There are multiple options for nuclear waste
  disposal

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Works Cited

• http//pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8208/8208coal.h
  tml
• http//www.uic.com.au/nip16.htm
• http//www.pbmr.com/
• http//www.westinghousenuclear.com/D6c.asp
• http//library.thinkquest.org/17940/texts/nuclear_
  waste_future/nuclear_waste_future.html
• http//www.personal.psu.edu/users/r/a/ram332/nwdo.
  htm