producing electrical energy from nuclear power
Producing electrical energy from nuclear fuel
Introduction
Obtaining electricity from nuclear fuel has its base on the radioactive decay. Radioactive decay occurs when an isotope (element with a different number of neutrons in the nucleus) is radioactive, because its nucleus is unstable. In time it decays and emits alpha or beta particles, they collide with surrounding atoms and make them move faster, that provokes thermal energy. That thermal energy released is around a million times bigger than from a chemical change. But the rate of decay is usually very slow. So what Nuclear power plants do is to bombard the nucleus with neutrons, to make it more unstable and so the Radioactive decay may occur faster. Nuclear Reaction starts whenever a particle penetrates and changes a nucleus. (‘’Complete Physics for IGCSE’’)
Fission
Fission is the process in which a neutron strikes and penetrates a nucleus of uranium-235, then the nuclei becomes highly unstable and it splits into 2 smaller nuclei, shooting out 2 or 3 neutrons that hit other nuclei, forming a chain reaction. When the nucleus splits and shoots out the neutrons, is when the energy is being released. (‘’Complete Physics for IGCSE’’)
Nuclear Reactor
The thermal energy provoked by the fission is used to evaporate water to create steam, the steam works as in any other power station with the turbine.
In the reactor, the rate of reaction can be controlled with the control rods, that contain boron or cadmium; materials that absorb neutrons. (‘’Complete Physics for IGCSE’’)
Nuclear Waste
The fission leaves residues that don’t have a practical proposal but since they are radioactive, they cannot be released into the environment because they are hazardous to life. The radioactivity of these nuclear wastes will last for thousands of years. So they have to be stored in nuclear waste stations very safely.
Introduction
Obtaining electricity from nuclear fuel has its base on the radioactive decay. Radioactive decay occurs when an isotope (element with a different number of neutrons in the nucleus) is radioactive, because its nucleus is unstable. In time it decays and emits alpha or beta particles, they collide with surrounding atoms and make them move faster, that provokes thermal energy. That thermal energy released is around a million times bigger than from a chemical change. But the rate of decay is usually very slow. So what Nuclear power plants do is to bombard the nucleus with neutrons, to make it more unstable and so the Radioactive decay may occur faster. Nuclear Reaction starts whenever a particle penetrates and changes a nucleus. (‘’Complete Physics for IGCSE’’)
Fission
Fission is the process in which a neutron strikes and penetrates a nucleus of uranium-235, then the nuclei becomes highly unstable and it splits into 2 smaller nuclei, shooting out 2 or 3 neutrons that hit other nuclei, forming a chain reaction. When the nucleus splits and shoots out the neutrons, is when the energy is being released. (‘’Complete Physics for IGCSE’’)
Nuclear Reactor
The thermal energy provoked by the fission is used to evaporate water to create steam, the steam works as in any other power station with the turbine.
In the reactor, the rate of reaction can be controlled with the control rods, that contain boron or cadmium; materials that absorb neutrons. (‘’Complete Physics for IGCSE’’)
Nuclear Waste
The fission leaves residues that don’t have a practical proposal but since they are radioactive, they cannot be released into the environment because they are hazardous to life. The radioactivity of these nuclear wastes will last for thousands of years. So they have to be stored in nuclear waste stations very safely.
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