Safe and Reliable Nuclear Energy. Creating the next generation of mathematicians, scientists, and engineers for America s future

Transcription

1 Safe and Reliable Nuclear Energy Creating the next generation of mathematicians, scientists, and engineers for America s future

2 How We Use Electricity T

3 Electricity: The Engine That Runs the Country Other 3% (Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Biomass) Oil 2% Hydro 7% Nuclear 19% Natural Gas 20% Coal 49% T

4 Introduction What has shaped your views about nuclear energy? Do you have any fears or hesitations about the use of nuclear energy? T

5 Introduction Radiation Nuclear Energy Challenges and Benefits Opportunities T

6 Radiation Radiation is energy traveling in the form of particles or waves Natural phenomenon Since beginning of the universe Natural and ever-present Sun, earth, and all living things emit radiation Radiation is all around us T

7 Energy Spectrum T

8 Ionizing radiation Energy in the form of waves or particles that has enough force to remove electrons from atoms. T

9 What is Radiation? Radioactivity is a natural and spontaneous process by which the unstable atoms of an element emit or radiate excess energy Radiation is the result Alpha Decay - Alpha decay occurs when the nucleus spontaneously ejects an ά particle. An ά particle is really 2 protons and 2 neutrons, or an Helium nucleus. Alpha Decay of a Uranium-238 Nucleus Parent Nucleus U Decay Event Th 4 2 He Emitted α Particle Daughter Nucleus Key Proton Neutron T

10 Decay Products Beta Decay - An excess of neutrons in an atom's nucleus will make it unstable, and a neutron is converted into a proton to change this ratio. During this process, a ß particle is released, Gamma rays (y) are electromagnetic waves, rather like X rays and radio waves. After a nucleus has emitted an α particle or a ß particle, it may still have too much energy: we say it is in an excited state. It can get rid of this energy by emitting a pulse of very high frequency electromagnetic radiation, called gamma ray. Gamma ray emission usually occurs with a α and ß emission. Gamma rays have no charge, so their emission doesn t change the chemical composition of the atom. Instead, it results in a loss of radiant energy. Gamma ray emission occurs because the nucleus is often unstable after α and ß. T

11 Decay Product Penetration T

12 Sources of Radiation Man Made Radiation Sources 18% Medical X Rays Nuclear Medicine Consumer Products Other Natural Radiation Sources 82% Radon Internal Terrestrial Cosmic Consumer Products 3% Medical 14% Cosmic 8% Terrestrial 8% Internal 11% Other 1% Radon 55% Annual background radiation doses for Americans National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Report No. 93, Ionizing Radiation Exposure of the Population of the United States, 1987 T

13 How to Detect Radiation Geiger counter Senses extremely tiny electrical impulses caused by radiation T

14 We Protect Ourselves from Radiation Exposure by: Reducing Exposure TIME Increasing DISTANCE SHIELDING T

15 Beneficial Uses of Radiation Medical Procedures Ionizing X-Ray CT Scan Computed Tomography Nuclear Medicine Non-Ionizing Ultrasound MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging T

16 Beneficial Uses of Radiation Museums and archeologists rely on radiation detection to verify the authenticity or age of art objects or archeological finds Radiocarbon decays at a known rate. Paleontologists are able to determine the age of a fossil by measuring the amount of C-14 it contains. Stable C-12 Fossil Living organisms absorb C-14 (radiocarbon) during their lifetimes A small piece of the fossil is burned and converted to carbon dioxide gas. Nitrogen Unstable C-14 Electron C-14 decays into N-14 emitting an electron A radiation counter records the number of electrons emitted T

17 Beneficial Uses of Radiation Smoke detectors rely on a tiny radioactive source to sound an alarm when smoke is present Food sterilization and preservation T

18 What is Nuclear Energy? Nuclear energy is the energy released by reactions within atomic nuclei, such as nuclear fission or nuclear fusion In 1955, Arco Idaho was the first city to be powered by electricity produced from these nuclear reactions 18% of the world s electricity comes from nuclear energy (World Nuclear Association) The U.S. has 104 reactors that provide 20% of nation s electricity (Energy Information Association) T

19 Energy Production Energy is produced when: A turbine is turned Electricity is generated T

20 Nuclear Energy Production Nuclear energy is produced when: Steam turns the turbine generating electricity T

21 Producing Electricity has Safety Issues Coal Petroleum Hydroelectric Wind Nuclear T

22 Nuclear Energy Opportunities Waste Security Education Perception of Safety Nuclear Energy Benefits Greener Environmental Impact Dependable Safety T

23 Did You Know? Three Mile Island Middletown, PA 1979 Only major commercial nuclear accident in U.S. history No deaths or injuries No evidence of long term health effects Designed safety systems and procedures worked Chernobyl Ukraine 1986 Worst reactor accident in history 31 people died from radiation exposure with 9 additional from residual effects No containment Safety process was compromised T

24 Security Protection of Nuclear Facilities Physical Barriers Intrusion Detection Graded Armed Response Protection of Material in Transit Rugged Containment Casks Escorts when necessary Planning and Secrecy T

25 Opportunities High-Level Waste Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage? Yucca Mountain, NV Disposal? Recycle? T

26 Opportunities Low-Level Radioactive Waste Non-Fuel Items Clothing, tools, filters, equipment Storage Minimize T

27 Nuclear Energy has a Positive Environmental Impact Clean Air Clean Water Habitat Friendly T

28 Nuclear Energy Clean Air Not carbon based Low Greenhouse gases No emissions causing smog or acid rain T

29 Nuclear Energy Clean Water No harmful pollutants Meets regulatory standards for temperature designed to protect aquatic life Cooling water does not have contact with radioactive materials T

30 Nuclear Energy Safe Habitats Low land use Environmentally safe T

31 Highly Regulated NRC, DOT, OSHA, EPA, DOE Regulatory compliance is required for facilities Design Construction Operation Closure Decommissioning Regulatory compliance in Transportation Packaging Mode of transport Driver qualifications Security T

32 The Future of Nuclear Energy A bright energy future starts with Energy conservation Energy efficiency Sound energy policy has a variety of resources and technologies Oil and gas Clean coal Nuclear Renewables wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal New technologies Ground source heat pumps Biofuels algae, corn, manure, switchgrass Growing energy demands National Security Global warming International cooperation T

33 Nuclear Energy Careers? Engineers Nuclear, Electrical, Chemical, Mechanical, Structural Professionals Health Physics, Industrial Safety, Information Tech, Training, Skilled Workers Electricians, Welders, Pipe Fitters, Machinists T

34 References Energy Information Association World Nuclear Association Nuclear Regulatory Commission Nuclear Engineering Institute Radiology Information - Maps DOE Energy, Efficiency and Renewable Energy American Nuclear Society Renewable Resource Data Center T

35 Creating the next generation of mathematicians, scientists, and engineers for America s future T