I think of most interest to a TED audience would be the new generation of reactors that are very small, down around 10 to 125 megawatts. This is one from Toshiba. Here's one the Russians are already building that floats on a barge. And that would be very interesting in the developing world. Typically, these things are put in the ground.
Pushing ahead with nuclear power will mean we really know where all of the fissile material is, and we can move toward zero weapons left, once we know all that. CA: Mark, 30 seconds, either on that or on anything Stewart said.
Now if you consider the fact that nuclear weapons proliferation is associated with nuclear energy proliferation, because we know for example, India and Pakistan developed nuclear weapons secretly by enriching uranium in nuclear energy facilities. North Korea did that to some extent. Iran is doing that right now.
A guy who's added it up all this very well is David Mackay, a physicist in England, and in his wonderful book, "Sustainable Energy," among other things, he says, "I'm not trying to be pro-nuclear. I'm just pro-arithmetic." In terms of weapons, the best disarmament tool so far is nuclear energy.
There is controversy over whether nuclear power is sustainable, in part due to concerns around nuclear waste, nuclear weapon proliferation, and accidents. Radioactive nuclear waste must be managed for thousands of years and nuclear power plants create fissile material that can be used for weapons.
The nuclear power debate is a long-running controversy about the risks and the benefits of using nuclear reactors to generate electricity for civilian purposes. The debate peaked during the 1970s and 1980s.
2:358:07How do nuclear power plants work? - MV Ramana and Sajan SainiYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUsing control rods made of elements that capture excess neutrons and keep their number in check withMoreUsing control rods made of elements that capture excess neutrons and keep their number in check with a controlled chain reaction a reactor draws power steadily.
Barriers to and risks associated with an increasing use of nuclear energy include operational risks and the associated safety concerns, uranium mining risks, financial and regulatory risks, unresolved waste management issues, nuclear weapons proliferation concerns, and adverse public opinion.
Environment. Climate change has become a core argument in favour of nuclear energy. A replacement nuclear programme would provide a low-carbon electricity output capable of operating at high load factors and providing a continuous supply.
3 Reasons Why Nuclear is Clean and SustainableNuclear is a zero-emission clean energy source. ... Despite producing massive amounts of carbon-free power, nuclear energy produces more electricity on less land than any other clean-air source. ... Nuclear fuel is extremely dense.
In nuclear power plants, neutrons collide with uranium atoms, splitting them. This split releases neutrons from the uranium that in turn collide with other atoms, causing a chain reaction. This chain reaction is controlled with "control rods" that absorb neutrons.
Nuclear power plants heat water to produce steam. The steam is used to spin large turbines that generate electricity. Nuclear power plants use heat produced during nuclear fission to heat water. In nuclear fission, atoms are split apart to form smaller atoms, releasing energy.
1:472:51Nuclear Power - How it works - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMade from ordinary water is transported through pipes to a large turbine. Where it pushes the bladesMoreMade from ordinary water is transported through pipes to a large turbine. Where it pushes the blades. And turns the shaft connected to a large rotor in the generator causing the rotor to spin.
Nuclear power is presently a sustainable energy source, but could become completely renewable if the source of uranium changed from mined ore to seawater. Since U extracted is continuously replenished through geologic processes, nuclear would become as endless as solar.
Briefly describe the processes. The two processes by which nuclear energy is released are nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. Nuclear fusion occurs when two smaller atoms are combined into a larger atom. Nuclear fission occurs when a larger atom is split into two smaller atoms.
What is the main purpose of nuclear energy? Explanation: Nuclear energy was developed by man as an alternate source of clean and cheap energy when compared to fossil fuels.