Thursday, May 26, 2011

Nuclear Energy

Fundamentals of Nuclear Reactions
This is quick explanation of the structure of an atom

NUCLEAR FISSION is a reaction where the atom of an element splits on smaller elements and produce energy, i.e. Uranium splits most of the time in Kripton and Barium.

 
NUCLEAR FUSION is a reaction where small element atoms "join" together to create a new bigger element releasing energy, i.e. 2 Atoms of Hydrogen "fuse" into 1 atom of Helium.
 Nuclear Fission Reactor

Uranium, many must recall this element in action movies, where the good guy has to find the bad guy that stole uranium; but why it is so important about this element.
Well Uranium is used in Nuclear Energy Facilities, it generates HEAT by nuclear fission. Big uranium atoms are split into smaller atoms. That generates heat plus neutrons (one of the particles that forms an atom). When the neutron hits another uranium atom, that splits, generating more neutrons and so on. That is called the nuclear chain reaction.
This chain reaction can quickly become unstable but the nuclear fuel (uranium) in a reactor can never cause a nuclear explosion the type of a nuclear bomb (A nuclear bomb is quite difficult to build). In Chernobyl, the explosion was caused by excessive pressure buildup, hydrogen explosion and rupture of all containments, propelling molten core material into the environment.

In order to control the nuclear chain reaction, the reactor operators use so-called “control rods”. The control rods absorb the neutrons and kill the chain reaction instantaneously. A nuclear reactor is built in such a way, that when operating normally, you take out all the control rods. The coolant water then takes away the heat (and converts it into steam and electricity) at the same rate as the core produces it so you have ENERGY.

In the pic: Energy of the Nuclear Reaction is removed by water heating it up, that hot water then generates Steam that moves the turbine generating electricity.

10 comments:

Xenototh said...

And suddenly I know why damaging those rods is a really bad thing.

Alexis said...

Wow great post, very informative. This is one things that I've never completely understood...I do now!

Unknown said...

That's pretty good food for the brain, lol thanks for the info.

Dejch said...

when i read this.. i feel like i am dumb cos i didn't know it :D

Mikko said...

wow I actually learnt more than my chemistry class!

Jay Reid said...

Thanks!

Genj0 said...

I dont have a clue of what you are talking about but i still cant stop reading it haha

BojanCo said...

Nice read m8... Keep it up!

Anonymous said...

Very tasty colors mmmm

Feynman said...

Though Nuclear Energy, is very prospective. Thorium Reaction technology is certainly the way to go, with little to no radio active waste and no contaminiation if a meltdown would to occure. Though with Thorium it roughly behaves the same as Generic Nuclear reactions anyway.

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