> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://daniel-soto.gitbook.io/ets/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://daniel-soto.gitbook.io/ets/energy-production/nuclear-energy.md). # Nuclear Energy ## Nuclear energy * Nuclear energy used for electricity * Very similar to fossil fuel plants ## Electricity Flow Nuclear energy is mainly used for electricity. ![](https://3554776031-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LmGGORDQh7HH9qQoHfr%2F-Lq7-zXWeby2s7fB0-9L%2F-Lq70-H-1TwfP0gUsoLP%2Felectricity-flow.jpg?generation=1569945029515443\&alt=media) More data can be found at the [EIA](https://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/annual/) ## Fusion vs Fission * Fusion joins atomic nuclei * Sun is a fusion reaction * Fission splits atomic nuclei * Nuclear energy is a fission reaction ## Fission ![](https://3554776031-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LmGGORDQh7HH9qQoHfr%2F-Lq7-zXWeby2s7fB0-9L%2F-Lq70-H1ZykiAkL6YDeQ%2Ffission.jpg?generation=1569945029277811\&alt=media) ## Electronic vs Nuclear Energy Levels * Mass Energy Equivalence * $E = mc^2$ * The very high binding energy in the nucleus allows for small amounts of fuel to release large amounts of energy * 3 million times more electricity per kg than coal ## Nuclear Decay * Elements become other elements (the goal of alchemists) * Iron most stable ## Nuclear Fuel ## Uranium Metal ![](https://3554776031-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LmGGORDQh7HH9qQoHfr%2F-Lq7-zXWeby2s7fB0-9L%2F-Lq70-H3gMz_a9usLc4l%2Furanium_metal.jpg?generation=1569945029482547\&alt=media) ## Uranium Mine ![](https://3554776031-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LmGGORDQh7HH9qQoHfr%2F-Lq7-zXWeby2s7fB0-9L%2F-Lq70-H5XvS_h29s36d2%2Furanium_mine.jpg?generation=1569945029414574\&alt=media) ## Uranium Ore ![](https://3554776031-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LmGGORDQh7HH9qQoHfr%2F-Lq7-zXWeby2s7fB0-9L%2F-Lq70-H7IZOAWquSJWkh%2Furanium_ore.jpg?generation=1569945029303489\&alt=media) ## Uranium Yellowcake ![](https://3554776031-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LmGGORDQh7HH9qQoHfr%2F-Lq7-zXWeby2s7fB0-9L%2F-Lq70-H9sHdlKWv30ywb%2Fyellowcake.jpg?generation=1569945029377097\&alt=media) ## Nuclear Fuel Rods ![](https://3554776031-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LmGGORDQh7HH9qQoHfr%2F-Lq7-zXWeby2s7fB0-9L%2F-Lq70-HBzi_855zcfskY%2Fnuclear_fuel_rods.jpg?generation=1569945029536201\&alt=media) ## Nuclear Reactor Core ![](https://3554776031-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LmGGORDQh7HH9qQoHfr%2F-Lq7-zXWeby2s7fB0-9L%2F-Lq70-HD8_JJj4Zp8orw%2Fnuclear_reactor_core.jpg?generation=1569945029463031\&alt=media) ## Nuclear Reactor Diagram ![](https://3554776031-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LmGGORDQh7HH9qQoHfr%2F-Lq7-zXWeby2s7fB0-9L%2F-Lq70-HFibfSXDvKlI3e%2Fnuclear_reactor_diagram.jpg?generation=1569945029747691\&alt=media) ## Nuclear Waste Disposal ## Half Life * Definition * Relation to carbon dating * Relevance to end of life * Plutonium 239 half life of 2400 years ## Half Life ![](https://3554776031-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LmGGORDQh7HH9qQoHfr%2F-Lq7-zXWeby2s7fB0-9L%2F-Lq70-HH_gA2XWNWs4XI%2Fhalflife.jpg?generation=1569945029313220\&alt=media) ## Water Fuel Storage ![](https://3554776031-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LmGGORDQh7HH9qQoHfr%2F-Lq7-zXWeby2s7fB0-9L%2F-Lq70-HJRBVUUTI3Ou7k%2Fspent_fuel_storage.jpg?generation=1569945029365320\&alt=media) ## Above Ground Fuel Storage ![](https://3554776031-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LmGGORDQh7HH9qQoHfr%2F-Lq7-zXWeby2s7fB0-9L%2F-Lq70-HLUbekV-S7M3B9%2Furanium_storage.jpg?generation=1569945029383989\&alt=media) ## Electricity Death Rates $$\textrm{Death Rate} = \frac {\textrm{Number of Deaths}} {\textrm{Electrical Energy Delivered}}$$ ## Electricity Death Rates | Source | Deaths per TWh | | ------- | -------------- | | Coal | 161 | | Solar | 0.44 | | Nuclear | 0.04 | Source: nextbigfuture.com based on WHO data ## Nuclear energy * Over 430 nuclear reactors * 370 GW of capacity * 70 reactors under construction * About 10% of world electricity production ## Nuclear Electricity Production ![](https://3554776031-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LmGGORDQh7HH9qQoHfr%2F-Lq7-zXWeby2s7fB0-9L%2F-Lq70-HN6afp_bLUmErN%2Fnuclear-electricity-production.png?generation=1569945029457411\&alt=media) ## Nuclear Installed Capacity ![](https://3554776031-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LmGGORDQh7HH9qQoHfr%2F-Lq7-zXWeby2s7fB0-9L%2F-Lq70-HPCne-mmFgsX4x%2Fnuclear-installed-capacity.jpg?generation=1569945029354789\&alt=media) ## Capacity vs Delivered Electricity * US Nuclear Capacity * US Nuclear Energy Production ## Lifetime cost of nuclear electricity * Cost is seen as a key weakness for nuclear electricity * Plant construction * Fixed operation and maintenance * Variable operation and maintenance * Decommissioning cost * Waste disposal ## Lifetime cost of nuclear electricity * cost of construction 83.4 USD/MWh * fixed operation and maintenance 11.6 USD/MWh * variable operation and maintenance (fuel) 12.3 USD/MWh * total 108.4 USD/MWh * compare to coal (65.7, 4.1, 29.2, 100.1) * compare to natural gas (17.4, 2.0, 45.0, 67.1)