Nuclear energy

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Nuclear energy is being proposed by some people as a partial solution to global warming. These claims need to be seriously moderated concerning the life cycle of the nuclear process.

Nuclear power is a type of nuclear technology involving the controlled use of nuclear fission to release energy for work including propulsion, heat, and the generation of electricity.

Nuclear power production makes use of nuclear Fission reactions that release the Binding energy of Uranium atoms. In order to be used in the nuclear fuel cycle the Uranium 235 in natural uranium must be concentrated. Depleted uranium is a by-product of the concentration process. The primary type of nuclear power system used is a Boiling water reactor.

Contents 1 Types of Radiation 2 The advantages are 3 The disadvantages are: 4 Addressing criticisms of nuclear energy 4.1 Thorium 5 Suggested projects 6 Notes

[edit] Types of Radiation

1. Alpha radiation
2. Beta radiation
3. Gamma radiation

[edit] The advantages are

• Lower emissions of many pollutants:
  • Less greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels -- although a recent study found that to both replace fossil-fuel-energy use (to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions) and meet the future energy demands, nuclear energy production would have to increase at such a large growth rate that a "cannibalistic" effect becomes important (i.e. nuclear energy must be used to supply the energy for future nuclear power plants.) ^[1]
  • Possibly less uranium emissions than coal,^{[verification needed]} which contains traces of radioactive material, released into the atmosphere when burnt.

[edit] The disadvantages are:

• Security issues:
  • Nuclear material cannot be, and has not been, kept safe from those who want it for violent and illegal purposes. Having more such material being transported, stored and handled, will inevitably increase that risk.
  • Transport and power generation activities are targets for terrorist attacks.
• Environmental issues:
  • Accidents and emissions cannot be completely eliminated such as Three Mile Island. It is recommended that those that live in the area of a nuclear reactor keepincludes ideas supplies of Potassium Iodide
  • Mining inevitably releases radioactive materials into the environment.
  • Decommissioning

[edit] Addressing criticisms of nuclear energy

This is an attempt to engage with some of the issues, addressing some of the criticisms made of nuclear energy:

• The idea that there is only 60 years of Uranium left is geologically debatable. Further, it is possible to expand the supply of uranium through the use of breeder reactors and "fourth generation" nuclear reactors.
• Radioactive waste can be stored effectively, particularly using means like the Australian Synroc. Further, the radioactivity of the waste does not persist for hundreds of thousands of years - more like thousands - and claims about its radioactivity represent fundamental misunderstandings about the nature of radioactive decay.
• It's unfair to claim that pro-nuclear people have vested interests. Some do. Some don't. Some anti-nuclear people are running solar cell firms, or have jobs which depend on their viewpoint. But logically you can be both right and have a vested interest. Accusations of vested interest should be made with care, lest they reflect back on you.
• Construction - putting things in place, wiring them up and testing, is not a particularly CO2 intensive process. The mere fact that a nuclear power plant takes some time to construct does not mean its CO2 load is particularly high. Calculations do point to the CO2 effectiveness of power plants, and wind farms use more metal to fabricate than a nuclear plant able to generate the same power would need.
• We do other things which generate CO2 than just produce energy, and nuclear plants do take some time to come on line. Certainly, we should do other things to reduce global CO2. But that does not stop nuclear power from having a part to play.
• Hot rocks and burning garbage are important potential energy sources. Just as we might point to nuclear power distracting us from other options, we can point to wind and solar distracting us from these other important renewable energy sources.
• We do need to consider the steps needed to make a technology viable, be it fourth generation nuclear reactors, clean coal, wind, solar and other renewables, even fusion power.
• The Australian political scene, with Howard promoting Nuclear Power, is more complex than would first appear. Howard did, for example, implement changes to the Building Code of Australia which controlled energy usage.
• Nuclear reactors may be difficult to insure, but this could be because they are not standardised. Further, it is interesting that many anti-nuclear activists challenge market operation in other areas, but assume the insurance market is perfect at assessing risk.
• If we (in Australia) were to export uranium and store the resultant nuclear waste, we could prevent weapon proliferation. Further, ethically it is strange to be happy to sell something with significant consequences in its use but take no responsibility for them.

This section includes ideas based on Thoughts on Nuclear Power by JohnAugust.

==Types of nuclear reactor ==

[edit] Thorium

"I reckon we do need one small reactor on each continent to provide isotopes for diagnostics, but there are three main problems with conventional nuclear power: there’s the risk of meltdown; the problem of radioactive waste … and reactors produce [nuclear] weapons fuel.

"I’m in favour of some types of nuclear power which don’t have these problems. Unfortunately political leaders aren’t interested in [these alternative designs, i.e. thorium] because they want the nuclear weapons." - Karl Kruszelnicki^[2]

[edit] Suggested projects

• How does nuclear energy compare with renewable energy sources for total financial cost to the community (i.e. if no subsidies or equal subsidies were given to all forms of energy production)?^{suggested project.}
• How does nuclear energy compare with renewable energy sources for total greenhouse gas emission? All energy should be assessed, including energy used in accessing the raw materials (e.g. uranium for nuclear power and silica for solar cells) and making the energy producing devices (nuclear power plants, solar cell arrays, wind turbines).^{suggested project.}
• How does modern nuclear power compare with coal for the release of radioactive material into the environment? Consider all aspects, including mining and power generation.^{suggested project.}

[edit] Notes

1. ↑ Pearce, J. M. “Thermodynamic Limitations to Nuclear Energy Deployment as a Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Technology”, International Journal of Nuclear Governance, Economy and Ecology 2(1), pp. 113-130, 2008. http://www.inderscience.com/search/index.php?action=record&rec_id=17358&prevQuery=&ps=10&m=or
2. ↑ Dr Karl Kruszelnicki,^WP Australian Climate Change Coalition candidate, Dr Karl: 'Keep trying on all fronts', interview with Green Left Weekly, 19 November 2007.