Nuclear Reactors
Many of the first nuclear reactors were built in the 1940s. They were primarily used for the making and refining of uranium and plutonium. It wasn’t until 1957 that the first reactor was built for commercial use in the United States. There are many types of reactors, such as the Magnox, PWR, and RBMK reactors, but all have the same basic layout. Within each of these reactors, there is a core, or fuel rods, that are filled with uranium and surrounded by water. Next, the uranium in the core is used to cause a fission reaction. When there is enough heat and energy to create steam, from the water, a moderator slows down the neutrons, so they don’t waste all the fuel and cause a huge explosion. Most reactors use graphite and water as the moderator, or heavy water. Once steam is produced, it goes to spin a turbine, where it then produces electricity. Then the steam is condescended and sent through the process all over again.
Nuclear reactors don’t release toxic gases or carbon dioxide into the air, unlike fossil fuel plants, but they do create waste. This waste is a sticking point for many people who view nuclear reactors as a bad alternative to fossil fuels. But what they forget is that most waste created by nuclear power plants has low radioactive levels. Low-level waste and medium-level waste account for 97% of all waste but only 5% of all radioactivity. The high-level waste, only accounts for 3% of the total waste created. This is the type of waste that needs to be locked away for thousands of years, but can and is done safely every year. With nuclear power plants, they don't have to be refueled every week with a train load of fuel, they only need to be refueled every 12-24 months. Furthermore, it takes one kilogram of Uranium 235 to produce just under 45,000 watts of electricity. The equivalent in coal to it is about 15,000 kilograms. There are some drawbacks to these advantages though. According to Stanford University, some of the environmental impacts of nuclear reactors is that they need a large space, and preferably be near a large body of water. Forests need to be cut down for this, causing the ecological system in the area to be disrupted. There is also the chance of a nuclear meltdown, where a reactor explodes and releases radioactive chemicals into the air. One such event happened on April 26, 1986 when the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine exploded. It was classified as the worst accident ever. Furthermore, the nearby city of Pripyat, was not evacuated until the next day. When it happened, people living there were completely oblivious to what had just happened. Many that day started falling ill, reporting severe headaches, with uncontrollable coughing and vomiting. The accident spread radiation all over Europe, and ended up killing thousands of people in the years to come. In September 2005, the International Atomic Energy Agency said this, "The first lesson that emerged from Chernobyl was the direct relevance of international cooperation to nuclear safety. The accident revealed a sharp disparity in nuclear design and operational safety standards. It also made clear that nuclear and radiological risks transcend national borders — that "an accident anywhere is an accident everywhere." This means that nuclear reactors must be put under strict safety procedures, because if a nuclear accident happens, the radiological risks can spread to a lot of countries. Yet despite having drawbacks, nuclear reactors can be safely used and in the long run are better than the alternative fossil fuels.
Nuclear reactors don’t release toxic gases or carbon dioxide into the air, unlike fossil fuel plants, but they do create waste. This waste is a sticking point for many people who view nuclear reactors as a bad alternative to fossil fuels. But what they forget is that most waste created by nuclear power plants has low radioactive levels. Low-level waste and medium-level waste account for 97% of all waste but only 5% of all radioactivity. The high-level waste, only accounts for 3% of the total waste created. This is the type of waste that needs to be locked away for thousands of years, but can and is done safely every year. With nuclear power plants, they don't have to be refueled every week with a train load of fuel, they only need to be refueled every 12-24 months. Furthermore, it takes one kilogram of Uranium 235 to produce just under 45,000 watts of electricity. The equivalent in coal to it is about 15,000 kilograms. There are some drawbacks to these advantages though. According to Stanford University, some of the environmental impacts of nuclear reactors is that they need a large space, and preferably be near a large body of water. Forests need to be cut down for this, causing the ecological system in the area to be disrupted. There is also the chance of a nuclear meltdown, where a reactor explodes and releases radioactive chemicals into the air. One such event happened on April 26, 1986 when the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine exploded. It was classified as the worst accident ever. Furthermore, the nearby city of Pripyat, was not evacuated until the next day. When it happened, people living there were completely oblivious to what had just happened. Many that day started falling ill, reporting severe headaches, with uncontrollable coughing and vomiting. The accident spread radiation all over Europe, and ended up killing thousands of people in the years to come. In September 2005, the International Atomic Energy Agency said this, "The first lesson that emerged from Chernobyl was the direct relevance of international cooperation to nuclear safety. The accident revealed a sharp disparity in nuclear design and operational safety standards. It also made clear that nuclear and radiological risks transcend national borders — that "an accident anywhere is an accident everywhere." This means that nuclear reactors must be put under strict safety procedures, because if a nuclear accident happens, the radiological risks can spread to a lot of countries. Yet despite having drawbacks, nuclear reactors can be safely used and in the long run are better than the alternative fossil fuels.