Nuclear Power :: essays research papers

Nuclear PowerProducing energy from a nuclear power plant is real complicated. The process ofnuclear energy involves the fission of atoms, the release of energy from fissionas heat, and the transfer of heat to electricity in power plants.The process of ripping the atom is called nuclear fission. Fission cannister takeplace in many different kinds of atoms. This explanation uses Uranium - 235,the atom most commonly use in nuclear reactors. The Uranium atom has manyprotons, thus making it unstable. Since the nucleus of the atom is so unstableit wants to split itself apart, causing a unprompted fission. When the nucleiof a Uranium atom splits apart, it splits into two atoms. Commonly the nucleussplits into Barium and Krypton however, it can split into any two atoms as longas the number of protons equals the original amount of the protons found in theUranium. In addition, a mass amount of energy is released along with two orthree neutrons. It is these neutrons that can begin a chain response, eachneutron that is given rancid could collide with an other(a) Uranium atom splitting itapart. Each of these fissioning atoms releases a very galactic amount of energy,and some more neutrons.This process continues causing a chain reaction withut any outside assistance,and the Uranium has "gone critical"(Martindale, 794-195). This chain reactionis the basis for how nuclear power is made.The amount of the energy that is given off in nuclear fission is astronomical.To equal the amount of energy given off when splitting some uranium the size ofa golf ball, one would have to burn approximately twenty-five train cars full ofcoal. Presently, the planet contains twenty-five times more nuclear terminatecompargond to fossil fuel. On average, an atomic power plant can produce half amillion kilowatts of power. As a comparison, a hair dryer takes about onekilowatt (Jenny, 1-2).The producing of energy from nuclear fission is very similar to using a verycommon fossil fuel bo iler. The difference lies in the reactor, where the heatis generated by fissioning material. The most common of reactors is thepressurized water reactor however, there are many other types.The pressurized water reactor is the most common reactor in the United States.The reactor of a nuclear power plant is where the fissioning takes place. TheUranium is contained in fuel rods, each rod is sealed so no contamination occurs.Many of these rods are then contained in a fuel assembly. All the fuelassemblies are separated by control rods. The control rods limit the amount of