Spent nuclear fuel stored underwater and uncapped at the Hanford site in Washington, USA.
Fuel is my integrated math and science course. My fuel course focuses on physics and chemistry, integrating science and math. The purpose of this project is to explain how nuclear power is created.
THE PROCESS
1. MINING AND MILLING
Uranium recovery to extract (or mine) uranium are, and concentrate (or mill) the ore. Formula U3O8.
2. ENRICHMENT/ CONVERSION
In this step, the Uranium is crushed and processed. The refining and the conversion of the concentrated Uranium into either Uranium Dioxide (UO2) for heavy water reactors or gaseous Uranium Hexafluoride (UF6) for light water reactors.
3. FUEL FABRICATION
Fuel manufacture is where the Uranium is manufactured into fuel pellets.
4. REACTORS
Electricity generation is where nuclear fuel is loaded into a reactor and nuclear reactions generate electricity. After fuel is consumed, it is removed from the reactor and stored on-site for a number of years while its radioactivity and heat subside.The electricity generated from the reactor is transmitted and distributed through electric wires, and is used to power electric appliances, electronics, and many more items.
5. Optional chemical reprocessing. After a period of storage, residual uranium or a by-product, plutonium, both of which are still useful sources of energy, are recovered from the spent fuel while its radioactivity and heat subside.
STORAGE/ WASTE
Final disposal (disposition) of high level waste. Depending on the design of the disposal facility, the nuclear fuel may be recovered if needed again, or permanently stored.
WORK CITED
Carried on by Cameco and others, wed <www.cameco.com>