Nuclear power
The main nuclear fuels are uranium and plutonium.
In a nuclear power station, nuclear energy is converted to heat energy:
- heat is used to change water into steam in the boiler;
- the steam drives the Revolving machine with blades that are turned by wind, water or steam. Turbines in a power station turn the generators. (heat \(\rightarrow\)Energy which an object possesses by being in motion. );
- this drives the generator to produce electricity (kinetic energy \(\rightarrow\) electrical energy.)
Cross-section of a nuclear reactor
Nuclear and Energy from the heat of the Earth. energy are the only energy resources that do not come from the Sun.
Advantages
- Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear fuels do not emit The gases responsible for global warming and climate change - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). such as carbon dioxide.
- Nuclear fuels do not emit gasses such as sulphur dioxide which cause Rain that contains dissolved acidic gases such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide..
- 1 kg of nuclear fuel produces millions of times more energy than 1 kg of coal.
Disadvantages
- Like fossil fuels, nuclear fuels used for The splitting of a large nucleus to produce two smaller ones. , such as uranium ore, are non-renewable energy resources since supplies will not last forever.
- Although modern reactor designs are extremely safe, if there is an accident, large amounts of radioactive material could be released into the environment.
- Nuclear waste remains radioactive and is hazardous to health for thousands of years, so it must be stored safely.
- To deactivate or remove in a safe manner. a nuclear power plant is extremely expensive.