Nuclear Energy Disasters

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Recommended: The importance of nuclear power generation

Nuclear energy is one of the most important sources of energy to our country. It is the number one generation process used in the United States. With the creation of atomic energy, the world has been freed from the grips of fossil fuel dependence. However, the word “nuclear” often brings to mind thoughts of meltdowns and the disasters such as Chernobyl and Three Mile Island and more recently the Fukushima Daiichi meltdown in 2011 (NEI). Nuclear energy is one of the cleanest methods for generating electricity (EPA). This happens through an exothermic nuclear process where a nuclear reaction boils water into steam which spins a turbine to generate electricity (HowStuffWorks). Despite popular opinions on whether nuclear energy is good or bad, there is no debating that is it is a vital source of energy and that the world would not be where it is today if it did not exist. If atomic energy had not been created, there is no doubt that our environment would be in much worse shape do to other more polluting energy sources. Nuclear power generation is a very delicate and complex process. For the process to operate smoothly detailed planning, careful operation and constant monitoring is required. The process basically works by boiling water to create steam which in turn spins a turbine connected to a generator. In reality it is a bit more complicated. Here is how a nuclear reactor actually works. Deep inside the large concrete domes which can be seen at a power station, is the reactor core. Inside the core there is a uranium bundle which is radioactive. The uranium bundle heats water into steam. The water inside of the core also cools the radioactive material and prevents it from overheating and melting down. As the steam travels up it is... ... middle of paper ... ...e Nuclear Debate." The Nuclear Debate. N.p., 1 June 2013. Web. 6 May 2014. (NEI) Tverberg, Gail. "What The End Of Nuclear Power Would Actually Mean For The World." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 16 Mar. 2011. Web. 6 May 2014. (Business Insider) "Nuclear Energy." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 22 Oct. 2013. Web. 6 May 2014. (EPA) Brain, Marshall, and Robert Lamb. "How Nuclear Power Works." HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, 9 Oct. 2000. Web. 6 May 2014. (HowStuffWorks) "Outline History of Nuclear Energy." History of Nuclear Energy. World Nuclear Association, 1 Mar. 2014. Web. 6 May 2014. (WNA) "Operating Nuclear Power Reactors (by Location or Name)." NRC:. United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, n.d. Web. 6 May 2014. (NRC) "10 Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power : Discovery Channel." Discovery Channel. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 May 2014. (Discovery)

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