Nuclear Power - A Brief, Unbiased Introduction
Quick Links:
The origins of nuclear power can be traced back to the first achievement of nuclear fission in 1934 by Italian physicist Enrico Fermi. Over the years it has been refined and harnessed, and today it is a highly efficient as well as controversial method of creating energy with a demand that is steadily increasing.
Worldwide, the United States produces the most nuclear energy, comprising 19% of the total energy used. The energy system of France is by far the most dependent on nuclear energy, with 78% of its energy coming from nuclear reactors. Policies governing the usage of nuclear power differ throughout the European Union. Some countries do without nuclear energy altogether (such as Austria, Ireland, and Poland). Many military ships use nuclear marine propulsion as fuel, which essentially means that they are powered by nuclear reactors. A few Soviet/Russian ships have had accidents related to their nuclear reactors. Some of their nuclear marine propelled ships have been sunk, and their nuclear reactors still remain at the bottom of the Atlantic. Since the 1950s, there have been several civilian ships built that used nuclear technology, but most proved to be inefficient or too expensive to maintain.
Due to the dangers and negative environmental impact of nuclear power, there is much debate as to whether it should be widely used, or even used at all. However, the World Nuclear Association has stated that natural energy sources such as the sun, wind, and tides cannot independently sustain a consistent output of energy necessary to provide suitable base-load or peak-load power. Because of this problem, these types of energy can usually only be responsible for at most 10-20% of an electricity grid’s capacity. Opponents of nuclear power argue that pumped-hydro storage systems could provide an environmentally friendly alternative.
At a time when the dangers of global warming are becoming more and more apparent, supporters of nuclear power point out that it makes no contribution to global warming since it emits no carbon dioxide. While this may be true, there are several other dangers of nuclear power that should be taken into account. We are still learning about the dangers of radiation, and science has proven that its effects sometimes take many years to surface. Although accidents at nuclear plants are somewhat rare, their consequences can be catastrophic (for instance, Chernobyl). The primary waste product of nuclear power plants is spent fuel rods, which remain in a toxic state for what is estimated to be thousands of years. To date, there has not been an effective method developed to properly dispose of them.
Although reducing carbon-dioxide emissions is important now more than ever, the risks of using nuclear power may not justify the reward. A nuclear plant meltdown can have a devastating impact on its environment, rendering it unlivable. It also causes the affected area to remain in a state of toxicity for many years, and there is still new information being discovered about the effects of that toxicity, and much that we do not know.
The Likelihood of a Nuclear Meltdown
Nuclear power is something that has been used all over the world for decades. To date there are only two serious nuclear accidents- Chernobyl, and to a much lesser extent, Three Mile Island. Whether you support nuclear power or are against it there is no denying that it has proven itself to be a safe and reliable means of power generation.
That being said, no technology is without its faults (again, as Chernobyl has taught us). A nuclear meltdown is definitely something that is possible with every nuclear reactor, regardless of what safeguards are put in place. To some, the only acceptable preventative measure to ensure that there is no possibility of a meltdown is the avoidance of using nuclear power.
So, that begs the question: how likely is a reactor to meltdown, anyway?
To be blunt, it’s not. In fact, it would take a series of random and nearly impossible events to cause a meltdown. Chernobyl, for example, was caused due to the negligence and ignorance of the staff that manned it at the time. Proper training would have ensured proper responses to the various warning systems that were in place.
A nuclear reactor is regulated by several safety measures:
- Reaction control rods. These rods inhibit a reaction and are inserted as required. This is the primary means by which a nuclear reactor is kept under control.
- Coolant systems. These systems, which primarily use water as an inhibitor, rob the reactor of its ability to continue to sustain a reaction.
- Emergency shutdown equipment. Modern reactors are constantly monitored by highly-calibrated equipment, all of which is capable of shutting down the reactor on a moments notice if need be. These systems utilize reaction-inhibiting devices to ensure that the reaction remains under control at all times.
The bottom line is that a nuclear reactor is safe. However, as Chernobyl has shown us, anything can happen.
Comments
Leave a Reply