Electric Power Generation and the Environment

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Electric Power Generation and the Environment

• Health Physics Society
• Power Reactor Section

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History Of Electricity

• Static Electricity Ancient Greeks
• Franklin Invents Lightning Rods - 1752
• Faraday Discovers Electromagnetic Induction
  early 1800s
• Edison Invents the Light Bulb and Generating
  Stations in NYC 1882
• Tesla Invents Alternating Current Motor for
  Westinghouse - 1888

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Faradays Law

• Moving a magnet through a wire loop produces an
  electric current.
• Called electromagnetic induction.

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Generator

• A generator converts mechanical energy into
  electrical energy

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North America At Night
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Earth At Night
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U.S. Sources Today
(2002)
Source EIA - Updated 11/03
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Future Energy Need
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Sources Tomorrow
(2025)
?
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Energy Policy Goals

• Increase energy supply
• Optimize available resources
• Develop new technology
• Limiting environmental impact

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A Question Of Balance
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Pros Cons

• COAL
• HYDRO
• NATURAL GAS
• SOLAR WIND

• cheap and abundant
• but source of greenhouse gases
• clean
• but seasonal and no new sources
• cleaner than coal
• but limited supply
• renewable
• but expensive, low energy density, and
  intermittent

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Pros Cons

• high energy density
• no air pollution
• reliable fuel supply
• but what about safety, security, and waste?

• NUCLEAR

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High Energy Density

• Each person in the United States uses either
• 4 tons of coal or
• a few ounces of uranium
• 1 pellet 150 gallons gasoline
• 1780 pounds coal
• 16,000 ft3 natural gas
• 2.5 tons wood

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No Air Pollution
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Global Nuclear Power

• 442 Nuclear Plants Worldwide
• 25 in the United States
• Strong growth internationally, China is the
  fastest growing maket
• Source International Atomic Energy Agency

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103 Nuclear Power Reactors
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But What About Safety, Security, and Waste?

• Designed, Constructed, and Operated for Safety
• Robust Security
• Used Fuel Storage at Yucca Mountain

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Safety By Design Low Enrichment

• Fission chain reaction E m c2
• U-235 atoms fission. 5 in fuel, 95 in bombs.

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Safety By Design Fuel Rods

• The uranium fuel is made of solid ceramic
  pellets.
• The fuel pellets are sealed inside zirconium
  alloy rods that are about 13 long.
• 236 rods in each assembly
• 200 assemblies in the reactor core

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Safety By Design Reactor Vessel

• Typical values
• Weight 400 tons
• Thickness 8 inches

Fuel Assemblies (Core)
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Safety By Design PWR Containment
Initial Construction
Completed Concrete Dome
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Multiple Layers of Protection
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Nuclear Plant Security Areas
Owner Controlled Area
Protected Area
Vital Area
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Active Vehicle Barrier System
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Intrusion Detection

• CCTV on poles
• Delay Fence
• Intrusion Detection
• Perimeter checks
• Roving Patrols

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Defensive Fighting Position
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Fuel Assemblies Cool In Pools
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Temporary Dry Storage On Site
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Yucca Mountain Site
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Careers in Nuclear

• Design
• Next Generation Power Plants
• Equipment Reliability
• Transportation Casks
• Engineering
• Electrical and Mechanical
• Instrumentation and Control
• Nuclear

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Careers in Nuclear

• Health Physics
• Environmental
• Operations
• Regulations
• Chemistry
• Corrosion Protection

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Websites

• Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• www.nrc.gov
• Nuclear Energy Institute
• www.nei.org
• Health Physics Society
• www.hps.org

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Thanks

• for your interest and patience !