Nuclear energy meets about 17% of today's electricity needs. Some countries produce a large proportion of their energies from nuclear power plants. For example, according to the French International Atomic Energy Agency data, it provides 75% of the electrical energy from nuclear energy. In America, 15% of its energy is welcomed here, but in some parts the power plants are producing more intensively. There are more than 400 nuclear plants worldwide, and more than 100 of them are located only in America.
How do nuclear power plants work?
To build a nuclear power plant, enriched uranium is needed. These types of uranium are mainly U-235, U-233, U-238 and plutonium; P-239 and P-241. A very high amount of energy emerges as a result of dividing the uranium into a fission reaction. For this division, the neutrons hit the nucleus of the uranium element at a high rate. This collision causes the nucleus to become unstable and subsequently react to a massive energy-exposing fission. As a result of the first fission reaction, neutrons are emitted into the environment. These neutrons multiply into other uranium nuclei and continue until the physics of the elemental is performed in every atomic nucleus. If the resulting energy is not controlled, it is in deadly proportions. There are units that hold excess neutrons in the reactors to control it and prevent it from reacting. In this way, a controlled fission reaction chain is provided.
When we look at the internal structure of the nuclear power plant, the energy generated by the introduction of the physical reaction of uranium allows the water vapor to be heated to very high temperatures. This high-temperature steam is supplied to the turbines connected to the power generator. High-energy vapor in contact with turbine blades rotates the turbine shaft in a known way and ensures that the generator produces electrical energy. The electricity generated in the generator is sent to the place where it is used with conductive wires called transmission lines. The pressure and temperature dropped from the turbine will go to the condenser for reuse, and after it becomes water, it is heated and evaporated with the energy that comes out of the division and the cycle continues.
What are the problems of nuclear power plants?
A well-built nuclear power plant has significant advantages in the production of electricity. It is much cleaner compared to the power plants that use the charcoal and leaves less radioactive waste to the atmosphere. Tons of carbon, sulfur and other elements from the stone coal to the atmosphere constitute a much greater amount of pollutant impact than a well-functioning nuclear power plant. In this regard, nuclear energy can be considered extremely clean when it is well done in energy production. There are also some problems.
The major obstacles and problems that need to be underlined in nuclear power generation include:
In the process of removing uranium and later enrichment, the refining work causes enormous quantities of radioactive contamination.
Nuclear power plants that do not work properly can cause major problems. As an example, the Chernobyl catastrophe could be given and tons of radioactive waste were left in the atmosphere in this catastrophe.
The fission reactions on the power plant require very good control and the fault tolerance is minimal. No nuclear power plant can be said to be completely safe and must be manufactured by expert teams and by keeping the safety coefficient high. This increases the risk of serious problems for countries that want to take new steps to build nuclear power plants like us.
The resulting radioactive waste must be transported in a way that does not harm nature and should be stored safely for many years under surveillance.