The nuclear energy It is a topic that has captured the interest of many countries for decades. Since its use in war; fear that has become valid today more than ever with the war between Russia and Ukraine, as in power generation, it has always been considered a mysterious and dangerous technology.
Despite this, in recent years and despite the existing fear, many people have set their sights on nuclear power, replacing the fear of the past with their need for the future. In this article you will learn What is the nuclear energyhow it is produced, its characteristics, uses and some other things that will interest you.
What is the nuclear energy?
We call nuclear energy form of energy released by splitting or fusing the nucleus of an atom, which is made up of protons and neutrons. This powerful source of energy can be generated in two ways: Through fission, the nucleus of the atoms is divided, and through fusion, the nuclei are managed to fuse.
The nuclear energy that is currently used throughout the planet to generate electricity is through nuclear fission. The technology to generate electricity from nuclear fusion is still in the development phase.
How does nuclear energy work and how is it produced?
Nuclear energy is given from atomswhich are tiny elements that are found forming everything that surrounds us. Atoms are made up of other positively and negatively charged elements revolving around their nucleus, called protons and electrons.
The protons contain a positive electrical charge and attract electrons that carry a negative charge. Electrons and protons orbit the nucleus, just like the planets orbit the sun.
Electrons closest to protons have the strongest attraction, and electrons farthest from protons have significantly weaker attraction.
Electrons with weaker attraction can be released from their orbit, and when a force is applied to them they can be sent to another atom. When this exchange of electrons occurs, the electrons create electricity.
The links that unite the particles of the nucleus are carriers of an immense charge of energy. This link, when broken through nuclear fission, it splits the atom, releasing nuclear energywhich is used to generate electricity.
What is nuclear fission?
Nuclear fission is a reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, producing a reaction that releases energy.. When, for example, the nucleus of a uranium-235 atom is struck by a neutron, it splits into two smaller nuclei.
These two or three additional neutrons hit other uranium-235 atoms, which also it will cause their nuclei to divide and generate additional neutrons in a multiplier effect, which will generate a chain reaction in a fraction of a second.
When this reaction occurs, energy is released in the form of heat and radiation. The heat is converted into electricity in a nuclear power plant, similar to how heat from the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil is used to generate electricity.
How does a nuclear power reactor work?
The nuclear reactor is the machine that is responsible for controlling nuclear fission and nuclear chain reactions that occur in a nuclear power station. Inside these reactors is where these processes are generated. As usual, the method used to sustain the chain reaction produced by nuclear fission to generate energy is the use of uranium as nuclear fuel.
The uranium is compressed into pellets and stored in fuel rods. A single pellet of enriched uranium can produce roughly the same amount of electricity generated by one ton of coal.. These rods are then assigned to a fuel assembly, a group of 200 fuel rods or more.
A typical nuclear reactor allows for the containment of hundreds of fuel elements. Inside the reactor compartment called the reactor vessel, the fuel rods are immersed in cooling water and moderation.
Water moderates the repeated production of neutrons resulting from fission, while control rods are inserted and withdrawn to reduce or increase reaction rates. At the same time, the heat produced by the fission transforms the water into the steam that a turbine needs to operate.
for what is the nuclear power use?
Nuclear power produces heat, and this heat is used to create steam. This nuclear-produced steam is then used to drive a turbine that generates electricity as it rotates. The heat produced by nuclear fission and steam power are used to generate electricity..
Nuclear power is also the world’s second largest source of low-carbon electricity after hydropower.. It is the main source of electrical energy that does not emit when producing energy, which represents more than 70% of the energy free of greenhouse gases.
Unlike wind power and solar power, nuclear power production can occur regardless of wind patterns or time of day.
Environmental benefits of nuclear power
Nuclear power offers much of the same benefits as hydropower. It has the added benefit that building a nuclear reactor need not destroy the habitats that hydropower requires.
Nuclear reactors do not pollute the air or produce greenhouse gases like other fossil fuel power sources or coal. It is relatively more profitable, since it has a reference energy production regardless of variables such as wind or sun exposure.
These are some of the reasons why the use of nuclear energy has increased in the world and more and more nuclear power plants are being built.
