Nuclear Energy: How It Works - Coursework Example

Introduction Certainly, nuclear energy is one of the most controversial forms of fuel available to mankind. For some, it evokes the horrors of the atomic bomb that brought Japan to its knees as well as the impact of the Chernobyl catastrophe. There are, however, those who promote its use mainly because of its efficiency, cost and impact to the environment. This controversy has bearing on how it is used today. According to Benjamin Sovacool (2010), nuclear energy stands on the border between greatest hopes and deepest fears of humanity for the future. Whichever side holds the more legitimate position is a matter for yet another debate. What is clear at this juncture is the need to understand nuclear energy in order for people to form the correct opinion and perspective on the issue. This is important particularly in the area policymaking that could affect the trajectory of nuclear energy’s development and use in the future. Brief History Ionizing radiation was discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Rontgen when he produced continuous X-rays that passed an electric current through an evacuated glass. Subsequent progressive steps were built on this development until Henri Becquerel discovered radiation in 1896. Six years later, Ernest Rutherford showed that radioactivity created a different element by emitting an alpha (2 neutrons and 2 protons) or a beta particle (an electron) from the nucleus. Nuclear scientists started manipulating energy produced by nucleus fission and began using it in nuclear reactors. In 1951, the Experimental Breeder Reactor proved that electric power could be generated from a nuclear source. This also illustrated that the water in reactor could be left to boil eventually generating steam directly (John, 1996). How it Works Nuclear energy accounts for at least 15% of the world’s energy output (Gilani, n.d.). It is produced when a part of the energy of an atomic nucleus is released by radioactive decay, fusion or fission. This harnessed as nuclear power with the use of sustained nuclear fission for the purpose of generating heat or electricity. The most common material used for this process is uranium. It comes in small ceramic pellets arranged into long rods that are bundled together in a huge basin of water (Nuclear Power Cycle, n.d.). Control rods are placed in the bundles in order to control heat in the reactor (Nuclear Power Cycle). In the process of fission the nucleus of an atom is split resulting into a chain reaction that produces immense heat, which is then transferred into the water (Asaravala, 2005). The steam that is produced in the process powers huge turbines that force coils of wire to interact with a magnetic field, which spin big electric generators. (Asaravala). Today, there are 3 types of nuclear energy sources: fission, fusion and radioisotopic energy, which produces very high energy at 100W. Advantages There are two main advantages to nuclear energy: cost and impact to the environment. Considered cheaper than other conventional sources of power, nuclear energy could generate from a single pellet of fuel the power that is produced from 1,700 cubic feet of natural gas, 1,780 pounds of coal, or 149 gallons of oil (Tsoulfanidis, 2012, pp. 2). It is for this reason why nuclear power is considerably cheaper than any of energy derived from fossil fuel. It also costs less than half to build a nuclear power plant compared to a wind farm (Reynolds). Also, once the construction is finished, the two components that drive electrical power generation is cheaper in nuclear plants than in fossil fuel plants (Tsoulfanidis, pp. 2). The second advantage involves nuclear energy’s low environment impact. There is a misconception that if something goes wrong, nuclear plants would simply explode or radioactive contamination would ensue. This is not case: a nuclear power plant could not go off like a bomb in the same way it could not contaminate or pollute the environment. Plants use controlled nuclear fission in order to produce steam and there are mechanisms that prevent meltdowns (Miller, 2008, pp. 202). Safe, efficient and viable nuclear industries have enabled countries such as Japan and France to generate far less CO per capita. Indeed, nuclear power has no greenhouse footprint as opposed to the exorbitant amount of gases emitted by burning fossil fuels (Olhoff, 2010, pp. 10). If one is to calculate the adverse impact of greenhouse gases to the environment, the economic cost of using fossil fuels further increases. The disadvantages of nuclear energy Safety remains the most critical disadvantage in nuclear energy. Nuclear meltdowns such as the Chernobyl disaster and the more recent incident in Fukushima Daiichi, Japan come to mind. It is quite impossible for experts to predict or to prevent such events because the meltdowns have varying causes such as natural calamities and accidents. The high radioactivity in the power plants could expose people to risk of cancer and alterations to the DNA make-up (Cardis, 2006; Cresswell, 2011). There is also the issue of waste. As fuel, such as uranium, is used up, it leaves a radioactive waste product that is difficult to dispose. Security risks like the threat of sabotage and terrorism also highlight the gravity of this issue further. These variables prompted Germany to the conclusion that nuclear power is dangerous, leading its government to shut down all of their nuclear power plants (Power, 2012). Another setback of nuclear energy is the economic cost throughout its lifecycle. It utilizes huge quantities of fossil fuel at various stages, particularly in the mining, milling and transportation of the uranium. This is aggravated by the fact that the supply of uranium has been estimated to last for approximately 30-60 more years only (Pros and cons of nuclear power). High cost is also incurred in the maintenance of nuclear plants because of the need to maintain control and safety mechanisms. Conclusion The future of nuclear energy depends largely on its acceptance both on the public and policy spheres because it will determine the trajectory of decision making that would ensure its development and use. These stakeholders, for their part, are influenced by the public discourse on the issue. It seems, therefore, that the only way to move things toward greater nuclear energy use is to eliminate or reduce the disadvantages. For example, there is the study and potential use of thorium, an alternative and more abundant nuclear fuel to uranium. Many scientists believe that it is less radioactive and could yield less waste (World Nuclear Association, 2014). It is also safe to say that nuclear energy is experiencing a fresh resurgence presently as the world scrambles for alternatives to fossil fuels amidst the onslaught of global warming. This development has made the public and many governments view nuclear power in less antagonistic perspectives. This variable is, therefore, expected to positively impact future trends in the nuclear energy development. References Asaravala, A., n.d.. How Nuclear Power Works. Wired. [online]. Available at: http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2005/07/68074? [Accessed 14 November 2014]. Cardis, E., Krewski, D., Boniol, M., Drozdovitch, V., Darby, S., Gilbert, E., Akiba, S., et al., 2006. Estimates of the cancer burden in Europe from radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident. International Journal of Cancer, 119(6), pp. 1224–1235. Cresswell, A., 2011. Stealthy, silent destroyer of DNA. The Australian. Gilani., n.d.. Positive uses of nuclear energy. eHow. [online]. Available at: http://www.ehow.com/list_6470769_positive-uses-nuclear-energy.html. [Accessed 14 November 2014]. Miller, G., 2008. Cengage Advantage Books: Sustaining the Earth. New York: Cengage Learning. Nuclear Power Cycle., n.d. Azadini. [online]. Available at: http://www.eng.fsu.edu/~azadini/group/website. [Accessed 14 November 2014]. Olhoff, J., 2010. Nuclear Energy. North Manakato, MN: ABDO Publishing. Pros and cons of nuclear power., n.d. Time for Change. [online]. Available at: http://timeforchange.org/pros-and-cons-of-nuclear-power-and-sustainability. [Accessed 13 November 2014]. Reynolds, L., n.d. Is nuclear energy cost effective? eHow. [online]. Available at: http://www.ehow.com/about_4614577_nuclear-energy-cost-effective.html. [Accessed 13 November 2014]. Thorium, 2014. World Nuclear Association. Available from: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Current-and-Future-Generation/Thorium/. Tsoulfanidis, N., 2012. Nuclear Energy: Selected Entries from the Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology. Berlin: Springer. Read More