Breeder Reactors: A Foreseeable Option? Abstract: Fission of nuclear particles has the potential to produce massive amounts of energy and electricity to help mankind. Breeder reactors bring forth modern technology at its finest; mankind is becoming more and more creative to make reactors which can be optimally efficient and cost-effective at the same time. By being able to harness plutonium-239 with a blanket of uranium and start chain reactions consistently, breeders seem to be a viable option to help produce electricity for a bigger population. However, maintenance and operation costs are big problems to deal with, and these are some of the ramifications that factors into the decision of realizing if breeders could potentially be our next alternative energy source. Introduction: Non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels have been used up by society on a daily basis and have forced the world to find a new, clean energy source. The rising price of oil and the constant emission of carbon dioxide are proof that in the future our lives will be much harder to live. One answer to this problem is nuclear power, which has shown its efficiency during the times of World War II but has not been used commercially due to the challenges of dealing with nuclear waste and proliferation. In today?s modern era, nuclear power has been used in liquid metal fast breeder reactors, reactors that use uranium-238 to produce plutonium-239. Historical Background: Nuclear energy was first achieved through Enrico Fermi?s experiment of nuclear fission where he and his team shot neutrons towards uranium atoms, which confirmed Albert Einstein?s theory of relativity that mass could be converted into energy. The first nuclear reactor was built by... ... middle of paper ... ... 2008 . 11. "Plutonium for Everybody." Plutonium obtained from nuclear waste can be used. 28 July 2008 . 12. Gagnon, Steve, ed. "Jefferson Lab." It's Elemental. 28 July 2008 13. "JAEA R&D Review." Ideal Fuel Cladding Materials for Fast Breeder Reactor Irradiated at Highest Temperature in the World. 28 July 2008 http://http://jolisfukyu.tokai-sc.jaea.go.jp/fukyu/mirai-en/2007/1_2.html 14. "Plutonium End Game." Chapter 2: A Brief History of Commercial Plutonium. Jan. 2001. 28 July 2008 . 15. www.cameco.com/common/pdfs/media_gateway/factsheets_publications/nuclear_facts-canada.pdf) 16. http://www.fas.org/nuke/intro/nuke/plutonium.htm0
The development of nuclear industry has been a cornerstone for the world's technological revolution. Since the discovery of fission more than a half century ago, nuclear power has become a major source of the world's electricity supply. By 1989, 416 nuclear power plants were in operation, thus providing approximately seventeen percent of the world's electricity (Waczewski, 1997). With more than one hundred nuclear operating plants, the United States easily gains the title as having the world's largest nuclear energy program.
Now in our modern society we have a big need for energy and are trying to find alternative types of energy power plants. Nuclear power plants are used in more than 30 countries all around the world (World nuclear association, n.d. para.3). These power plants are able to generate electricity continuously for many months at a time without interruption (World nuclear association, n.d.para.2). Nuclear power plants produce electricity by going through the process of fission. They have pros and cons as well, they can bring more jobs helping out the economy but also the radiation waste that is given off of the plants can harm many people’s health.
Our world today is growing every day every year and there will be a time where more and more energy will be needed to sustain human life. The demand for electricity and its value is increasing rapidly and will only continue to do so. The world will need greatly increased energy supply in the next 20 years, especially clean generated electricity [WNA, 2014]. Fourteen percent of the world’s electricity comes from nuclear energy to use. The use and demand for electricity will increase in 2030 by eighty one percent. Therefore, nuclear power plants need to rise to fulfill the demands and needs for the growth of the population. Since the demand for electricity is increasing and with many resources to get electricity from, the use of nuclear energy without constant support will probably decline to around 9 percent or less by 2035. At least two factors will make this quite difficult for nuclear energy to gain a bigger m...
Nuclear power has grown to be a big percentage of the world’s energy. As of January 18, 2013 in 31 countries 437 nuclear power plant units with an installed electric net capacity of about 372 GW are in operation and 68 plants with an installed capacity of 65 GW are in 15 countries under construction. As of end 2011 the total electricity production since 1951 amounts to 69,760 billion kWh. The cumulative operating experience amounted to 15, 15,080 years by end of 2012. (European Nuclear Society) The change that nuclear power has brought to the world has led to benefits in today’s energy’s usage.
Around 1894, scientists discovered that by bombarding a radioactive substance with neutrons, a highly powerful energy could be produced. This is ionizing radiation, which is strong enough to rip the electrons from the nucleus of an atom, hence the name “nuclear energy.” over a century later, nuclear substances are harnessed in order to provide energy. However, nuclear energy is not only discussed amongst scientists, but anyone fearing the safety and future of the environments surrounding the area where a nuclear power plant is implemented.
Nuclear fission is going to become more and more useful in worldwide power production for the foreseeable future. The reasons are numerous, but can be summarized by the relative ease of reliable power production that is provided. This does not go without having many disadvantages. But it is the fact that nuclear fission provides a massive amount of reliable electrical energy at a relatively low cost that has many countries investigating the possibilities of nuclear power generation. To understand why nuclear power would be the only option (at this time) for an alternative to fossil fuel burning for energy production is to understand its history, the world’s current power production from nuclear power, and where it is going in the foreseeable future.
Today’s world faces many problems. Hunger, war and pollution are some common problems that come to mind. Nuclear energy however, should not have to be one of these problems. Nuclear energy has been around since the early 1950s. Over the years, many have debated whether nuclear-produced energy is any better than other energies such as coal-produced energy. While both sides have their pros and cons, nuclear energy, is the overall worst out of the all the energies being produced.
Compare to the renewable energy, the nuclear powers are used widely for decades with mature and applicable technology. Overall, more than 400 nuclear power plants operating in 30 countries, produced 2620 billion kWh, which supply 13.5% of the world’s electricity in year 2010 (T.N.&T.S., 2012). China decided to turn to nuclear power instead of natural gas and fossil fuel to meet the national electricity expansion – “mainland China has 20 nuclear power reactors in operation, 28 under construction, and more about to start construction”, says World Nuclear Association (2014).
Nuclear Energy is a method of creating electricity by heating water from nuclear reactions. The process allows for large quantities of electricity to be created from very little nuclear fuel. Nuclear Energy creates only a fraction of the world’s energy production; this is because many people are fearful of the possibility of a meltdown or any other form of a nuclear disaster. However, even with all the disadvantages and hazards Nuclear Energy creates, it could become the most beneficial form of energy in the future.
A breeder reactor is defined as a reactor that both consumes and produces fissionable fuel. Generally breeder reactors produce more fuel than they consume. Breeding is the process by which new fissionable material is created by capturing neutrons from fissions in fertile materials.
For almost one hundred years, nuclear energy has powered the world with little to no consequences. These consequences though, can be monumental. Nuclear energy is the costliest power system to start up, and due to its strict safety procedures, it is very expensive to keep reactors in safe operating condition. (Buzz) This potential danger has been the death of millions of people over the century, with the single most deadly being the Chernobyl incident of 1986. Nuclear energy may have its good side, but with its high cost, potential for catastrophe, and its impractical waste, it is not good for any type of consistent energy production.
Nuclear power is a technology that has enormous benefits for humankind. As the demand for energy is only continuing to grow, it has become important to develop energy technology that has good yield and minimal negative side effects. After the harnessing of the atom for use in nuclear weapons, the knowledge of how to exploit the atom became incorporated in nuclear power plants (Corradini 1). These use uranium fuel in a process that releases tremendous amounts of energy to be captured, but also that creates minimal waste and other byproducts. Despite these, the benefits of nuclear energy outweigh any disadvantages, as seen by its high energy output, reliability, and minimal environmental impact when compared to energy sources such as fossil fuels.
Just like everything in this world, nuclear energy has both advantages as well as disadvantages. Some of the nuclear power disadvantages are: Radioactive Waste. The nuclear waste gives off radiation, radiation which can change the DNA in cells, which leads to il...
... usage is currently generated from. Unfortunately, fossil fuels are not sustainable, and are estimated to diminish in the 2080s. Therefore, it is necessary to make the transition to at least one other source of energy in order to maintain our ever increasing energy demand. One of the possibilities lies in nuclear energy, which splits into two main categories, nuclear fission and fusion. The former is also not sustainable, but is capable of meeting our power needs for about a hundred and sixty millenniums. The latter is considered sustainable, and if made possible, it may be the solution to the initial problem of finding an everlasting, clean source of energy. However, nuclear power is facing difficulties in getting accepted by the public. Finally, shifting from fossil fuels will have a positive impact on the environment through the reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Nuclear power is the usage of nuclear reactions that releases nuclear energy which is especially used to generate electricity. It is considered to be a sustainable source of energy source that reduces the global emissions of greenhouse gases profoundly. Nuclear power stations have begun their operations in the 1950s and to date provides over 11% of the world’s electricity supply. Nuclear technology is mainly used in the production of electricity in nuclear power plants in order for the necessary transformation to the 21st century energy-supply system.