IS NUCLEAR FUEL A POLLUTANT?

By GN • SCIENCE • 8 Mar 2013
Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons

In my Fuel course, were assigned to write scientific paper. We elaborated the arguments for pros and cons of our assigned energy, decided which side we will be defending, refined the data to support our defense, and included proper citation. The purpose of this action project was to arrive at a conclusion about the impact of E-producing resources, based on mathematical equations & scientific facts.

Please read my scientific paper below.

Nuclear fuel is like a double edged- machete with both sides razor sharp.
The purpose of this paper will be to formally address the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear fuel in relation with carbon footprint.

There is much more energy results and less damage to the environment with nuclear fuels than there is with fossil fuels. Nuclear fuels generates a large amount of energy, it is very cost effective, and does not contribute to air pollution. Nuclear fuel is obtained from fission or fusion. Fission the splitting of the nuclei and Fusion is the combination of the nuclei.
For example, in a nuclear fuel, this is a type of reaction
two basic equations are :-
235U + 1 neutron = 2 neutrons + 92Kr + 142Ba + ENERGY
235U + 1 neutron = 2 neutrons + 92Sr + 140Xe + ENERGY

In each of the above reactions, 1 neutron splits the atom. When the atom is split, 1 additional neutron is released. This is how a chain reaction works. If more 235U is present, those 2 neutrons can cause 2 more atoms to split. Each of those atoms releases 1 more neutron bringing the total neutrons to 4. Those 4 neutrons can strike 4 more 235U atoms, releasing even more neutrons. The chain reaction will continue until all the 235U fuel is spent. This is roughly what happens in an atomic bomb. It is called a runaway nuclear reaction.

Nuclear fission is where a larger atom is split into a smaller atoms, this is achieved when an atom is bombarded with neutrons, by change a neutron may hit the nucleus of the atom and cause it to become unstable so therefore it breaks down into smaller atoms with the release of huge amount of energy in the electromagnetic spectrum.

A good typical example is the fission of uranium-235.

235-URANIUM + NEUTRON => 3 NEUTRONS + 142-BARIUM + 91-KRYTON.

This reaction can be used an as alternative to burning fossil fuels as it does not cause greenhouse gas production also a small amount such as a gram is powerful to provide enough energy to power half of England it can be used as an alternative energy source.

Currently, most of our energy we use at home come from nuclear fuel. According to the EPA online calculator, the average carbon footprint for a household of a five is 103,750 lbs CO2/ year.
Carbon footprint# is the  amount of CO2 we each emit  year round. While navigating through the EPA site, I calculated the amount of carbon dioxide my family emits every year. My family emits 58,745 CO2/ year. In order to perform this calculator, you will need to include your household mileages.

Nuclear fuel has its pros and cons. There is much more energy results and less damage to the environment with nuclear fuels than there is with fossil fuels. However, there has been debates on how to store the radioactive waste safely without the risk of a dangerous accident or terrorist attack to the nuclear power plant. Environmentally, Nuclear fuel’s impact is very little. Radiation, which can be spread by winds, is dangerous to humans and animals alike and can contaminate large areas. After a reactor melts it stays in an area for many years and that radioactivity also remains. Since nuclear power plants can be constructed anywhere it is hard to find communities that will allow them there considering the dangers. Despite the inexpensive electricity, employment opportunities, and tax incentives, many communities do not want a plant in their community. Communities do not want another Chernyobal. Furthermore there are many risks and dangers with nuclear power (Green energy).

There are many different categories of nuclear fuels. Nuclear fuels creates more energy and less pollution in the environment. It creates high level of radioactive waste. Depending on the design of the disposal facility, the nuclear fuel may be recovered if needed again, or permanently stored. Personally, I disagree with the use of nuclear fuels, because its unstable and we are unable to store it without avoiding accident.

WORK CITED

  • Wikipedia contributors. “Nuclear fuel.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 6 Mar. 2013. Web. 6 Mar. 2013.
  • “Nuclear Fission Basics.” – For Dummies. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2013.

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