SCI 1910E - Energy
Chapter Objectives - Chapter 14: Nuclear Power: Fission
Lesson notes:
During this lesson we will discuss applications of the fission interaction introduced in the last chapter of the text. You should review that section of chapter 13 before reading chapter 14.
Objectives:
1. Be able to discuss advantages and disadvantages of the production of electricity using the nuclear power plants that utilize fission as their energy source.
2. Be able to explain fission chain reactions.
3. Be able to discuss the components of a light water nuclear reactor.
4. Be able to discuss the differences between pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs).
5. Be able discuss the stages in the nuclear fuel cycle.
6. Be able to distinguish between high-level and low-level nuclear waste.
7. Be able to discuss the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl nuclear reactor accidents.
8. Be able to decribe the concept of inherently safe reactors.
Vocabulary:
thermal and fast neutrons
coolant
reaction cross section
control rods
critical mass
containment vessel
moderator
CANDU heavy water reactor
cladding
enrichment
gaseous diffusion
emergency core cooling system (ECCS)
centrifuge
loss of coolant accident (LOCA)
laser isotope separation
China syndrome
reprocessing
nuclear proliferation
Yucca Mountain
Homework:
Text errata:
Page 465, paragraph with the word "centrifuge" in bold: The centrifuge method for enriching uranium uses uranium hexafluoride (a gas), not uranium dioxide as stated in the text.
Page 479, 1st sentence of last paragraph: Radiation exposure standards for radiation workers and the general public are not set by the Environmental Protection Agency. They are set by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The Environmental Protection Agency does regulate emission of radioactive materials into the air.
Page 479, next to last line of last paragraph: Change "170" to "100." The NRC limits all licensees in the handling and use of radioactive materials such that no member of the public will receive a radiation dose of 2 millirems in any hour from external radiation sources, or 100 millirems in a calendar year from both external and internal sources of radiation. The regulatory standards are found in Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20 (10 CFR 20). Licensees are also required by 10 CFR Part 20 to keep radiation exposure as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).
Page 480, 3rd line of text: Change "5 mrem/yr" to "50 mrem/yr." 10 CFR 20 requires that if an individual were continuously present in an unrestricted area, the dose from external sources would not exceed 0.002 rem (0.02 mSv) in an hour and 0.05 rem (0.5 mSv) in a year. The EPA does regulate emission of radioactive materials into the air. Section 112 of the Clean Air Act, Subpart I, limits radionuclide emissions to ambient air from certain U.S. Nuclear Regulatory licensed facilities to that amount which would cause any member of the public to receive in any year an effective dose equivalent no greater than 10 mrem of which no more than 3 mrem may be from radioiodine.
Additional sources of information:
Joseph Gonyeau maintains The Virtual Nuclear Tourist site which provides information on nuclear power plants around the world.
The Nuclear Energy Institute provides a very pro-nuclear site designed to convince you of the benefits of nuclear power.
Greenpeace provides a very anti-nuclear site with a great detail of information designed to convince you of the dangers of nuclear power.
Frontline of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) provides a site titled "Why Do Americans Fear Nuclear Power?".
The United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC), a government corporation that performs uranium enrichment provides a page on that topic.
USEC also provides a Web-based overview of its gaseous diffusion plant at Paducah, Kentucky.
The Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management maintains a site that provides information on the Yucca Mountain project.
Scott Johnson maintains the Inside TMI site which provides a detailed minute-by-minute description of the accident at Three Mile Island.
National Geographic provides a description of the aftermath of the Chernobyl (or Chornobyl) accident.
The details of the accident at Chernobyl Unit 4 on 26 April 1986 are provided in The Accident at Chernobyl.
A visit to the Chernobyl sarcophagus is provided by UK Horizons.
Last update: April 28, 2009