Nuclear Power VS Fossil Fuel (Part 2)

What is nuclear energy? How it generates power?

Nuclear energy is the energy stored in the nucleus of an atom. The energy originates from the splitting of uranium atoms in a process called fission. At the power plant, the fission process is used to generate heat for producing steam, which is used by a turbine to generate electricity. Nuclear energy is cleaner while generating electricity. Nuclear fission provides energy without releasing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. Since nuclear power plants use so little fuel, the volume of nuclear waste is much smaller  the volume of waste from fossil fuel power plants.  Eventhough nuclear waste is highly radioactive, its small volume enables safe isolation from society. 

What is the disadvantage of using Nuclear Energy?

• Nuclear power has some disadvantages worthy of attention: Nuclear power plants have dangerously high radioactive levels.  The radioactivity is entirely contained within the plant, but the possibility exists that some of it might leak to the outside environment during an accident.  Over time, new designs, stricter regulations and better  technology are reducing the risk of radioactive leaks
• Waste produced by the power plant must be disposed somewhere, but it remains intensely  radioactive for long periods of time.  Therefore, nuclear waste must be permanently isolated from society in special facilities.  Building suitable facilities requires a lot of time and money to ensure complete isolation
• New nuclear power plant designs take a long time to implement.  This time delay is due to multiple regulatory agencies and boards of approval that the nuclear industry must satisfy
• At the end of their lifetimes, usually about 40 years of operation, nuclear power plants must be decommissioned.  Plant materials remain fairly radioactive for many years after operation has ceased, so disassembly cannot occur until the levels return to a safe range.  This waiting period usually takes about 20 years
• Anti-nuclear activists believe that the nuclear industry greatly increases the chance of plutonium theft.  Conceivably, terrorists could steal stores of plutonium and attempt to make a nuclear weapon.  To deter such an endeavor, plutonium is weighed before and after shipment.  Furthermore, constructing a nuclear weapon requires extreme expertise.  Still, the possibility does exist.

These disadvantages include some serious issues that cannot be ignored.  Equally important, though, are the advantages that nuclear power offers.  Unlike some of the disadvantages, the positive aspects of nuclear power are based upon facts rather than slim probabilities. 

What is the major advantage of using Nuclear Energy?

• Nuclear power plants emit far fewer atmospheric pollutants than the competition.  They do not emit any sodium dioxide, nitrogen oxide or dust from burning fuel.
• Nuclear power plants do not emit any carbon dioxide, the gas widely believed to be the  primary contributor to the greenhouse effect.  The greenhouse effect, of course, causes global warming.  In the United States, coal-fired power plants release approximately 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year.  However, the limit and even the existence of global warming is still the subject of much debate.
• Nuclear power plants only need refueling once every year to 18 months.  The new store of fuel constitutes about 2 metric tons, or 6 truckloads of uranium.  Coal power plants require a new trainload of about 100 tons of coal every day
• According to PBS Online, US nuclear power is not responsible for any deaths in its entire history. Due to mining accidents and respiratory complications, over 30 thousand deaths have been attributed to US coal mining since the 1930's
• Since nuclear power plants use so little fuel, the volume of nuclear waste is much smaller than the volume of waste from fossil fuel power plants.  Even though nuclear waste is highly radioactive, its small volume enables safe isolation from society
• Nuclear power is economically competitive with coal, and generally considered much cheaper than oil or natural gas.  In one joint study by several agencies and independent groups, 11 out of 19 counties found nuclear power to be at least 10% cheaper than coal- fired power.  7 more of the countries found the prices to be nearly equivalent

Source: http://128.143.168.25/classes/200R/Projects/Fall_1997/NuclearPower

Nuclear Power VS Fossil Fuel (Part 1)

This post will explain briefly the advantages and disadvantages of fossil fuel as the main current energy source today and nuclear power as the potential alternative energy in the future.

What is Fossil Fuel? How it generates power?

Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons that are formed from the remains of dead plants and animals. Examples of fossil fuels are coal, fuel oil and natural gas. Fossil fuels, primarily coal are by far the largest source of electricity in the world today. In fossil fuel power plant, power generated from burning the fossil fuel to generate heat, and then the heat will be used to generate steam. This steam drives turbines, which powers generators to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy.

What is the advantage of using Fossil Fuel?

A major advantage of fossil fuels is their capacity to generate huge amounts of electricity in just a single location.

• Fossil fuels are very easy to find. 
• When coal is used in power plants, they are very cost effective. Coal is also in abundant supply. 
• Transporting oil and gas to the power stations can be made through the use of pipes making it an easy task. 
• Power plants that utilize gas are very efficient. 
• Power stations that make use of fossil fuel can be constructed in almost any location. This is possible as long as large quantities of fuel can be easily brought to the power plants. 

What are the disadvantages of using Fossil Fuels?

• Pollution is a major disadvantage of fossil fuels. This is because they give off carbon dioxide when burned thereby causing a greenhouse effect. This is also the main contributory factor to the global warming experienced by the earth today.
• Coal also produces carbon dioxide when burned compared to burning oil or gas. Additionally, it gives off sulphur dioxide, a kind of gas that creates acid rain.
• Environmentally, the mining of coal results in the destruction of wide areas of land. Mining this fossil fuel is also difficult and may endanger the lives of miners. Coal mining is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
• Power stations that utilize coal need large amounts of fuel. In other words, they not only need truckloads but trainloads of coal on a regular basis to continue operating and generating electricity. This only means that coal-fired power plants should have reserves of coal in a large area near the plant’s location.
• Use of natural gas can cause unpleasant odors and some problems especially with transportation.
• Use of crude oil causes pollution and poses environmental hazards such as oil spills when oil tankers, for instance, experience leaks or drown deep under the sea. Crude oil contains toxic chemicals which cause air pollutants when combusted. 
• Fossil fuel sources are gradually depleting, thus it might lead to shortage of energy in the future.

Source/Reference: http://www.ecology.com, http://thegreenstep.com

Nuclear Power Plant Safety | Tomorrow Today

Many countries are relying on nuclear power as a vital part of their energy mix. At least 60 new nuclear power stations are being built or planned world-wide. The disaster in Japan has raised awareness of the risks posed by the technology. The situation shows that even today, after decades of operation atomic power plants, unforeseen events can cause problems that have not been anticipated in safety plans. Scientists at the Institute of Energy and Climate Research in Julich have long been exploring the issues surrounding nuclear safety. One thing they have done is simulate the synthesis of hydrogen within reactors. It is a risk that became a reality at the Fukushima power plant.

The Way of the Nuclear, or The Way of Renewables?

Advances in technology has conspired to award us with the outstanding influence of renewable energy. No doubt, this renewable energy, which many claim to be the savior of mankind to face energy woes, is a very interesting prospect to secure energy security!

Renewable energy has the uncanny fact to be as its name says, renewable! Which means it is a resource which is undepletable! As a bonus, its operation is friendly to the environment with no adverse side-effects.

However, is it practical for renewable energy to replace all other forms of energy production as a whole? Lets take a look at the table below:

 From the table, we can examine that renewable energy sources (green) uses massive amounts of resources! Imagine constructing 100 km square of land area just to produce 1 MWe for 1 year when the same 1MWe can be produced by just 30 tonnes of uranium? From here, it is just not feasible to sustain the earth's resources by pooling all our investments in renewable energy. Although renewable energy has very good prospects for future use and when the technology allows it, right now, it is not able to compete competitively with nuclear energy.

Furthermore, the resources used from developing extensive renewable energy projects can be used to alleviate current world crises such as famine, homeless citizens and no jobs.

So now, nuclear energy or renewable energy?


note: Picture taken from;
http://www.clipartof.com/portfolio/a-papantoniou/illustration/collection-of-green-energy-icons-of-renewable-energy-solar-power-biofuel-water-factory-wind-turbine-green-home-electricity-recycling-and-environment-21602.html

Being Clear about Nuclear!

Greetings ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure, as it is an honour, to have you pleasantly scrolling through this blog. Before we march to the bottom of this post, allow me to introduce myself;
I am Lamni, an engineering student in Malaysia,

And I am here to present to you the solution to the world's energy crisis,
NUCLEAR ENERGY!



For many decades, nuclear energy has been the subject of many debates.Although it has an extremely high potential for generating energy, it also has the the potential to be a source of destruction. Sceptics argue that it is just not worth the risk to harness nuclear energy. Their argument revolves around nuclear accidents, the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and a multitude of other negative nuclear effects. However, we fail to forget that nuclear energy is just as a tool, wield it perfectly and it will fulfill its destiny, missuse it and it shall bring calamities. And with around 440 nuclear reactors worldwide, we will definitely need to wield this resource very cautiously.

We do not need to look far to observe the reason of nuclear energy's stubborn advances into human civilisation. In Malaysia itself, we are faced with mounting energy problems.

Did you know;

• More than 55% of Malaysia's electricity is generated from gas, which supply is getting ever depleted and prices ever higher?
• Coal that Malaysia uses for electricity generation are 100% imported from other countries?
• Malaysia's energy demand is ever rising and supply is probarbly unable to keep up?

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

We need a solution to the problem, a cure to the malady, a guiding light in these darkened times!

In future posts, I will spread before you the facts about the importance of implementation of nuclear power on a much wider scale. However, I am not here to propagate lies about nuclear power, but the true facts, the pros and the cons, in an argumentative manner. And remember, the path forward for meeting the world's energy demands, is in your hands.

Till then, have a brighter day ahead!