Geo Chp2.4

Created by

Ella

Cards (7)

Why use nuclear power?
Current situation about usage
Generation
Advantages
Current situation about usage 
2019, nuclear power accounted for 4% of world's energy consumption
In HK, nuclear power accounted for 15%, fully imported from Daya Bay
Currently, 50 nuclear power plants under construction, mostly in Asia, especially China and India
Generation
1. Uranium is the major fuel
2. Uranium is refined into nuclear fuel rods and placed in nuclear reactor
3. Nuclear fission of uranium in the nuclear reactor produces large amounts of heat energy
4. The heat energy boils water inside and creates steam
5. The steam turns the turbine in the generator to produce electricity
Advantages of nuclear power
Cleanliness: relatively clean, produces no air pollutants and greenhouse effect
Efficiency: very small amount of uranium can produce massive power
Cost: low running cost, although set up is expensive
Reliability: can generate electricity non-stop in a stable way
Problems with nuclear power 
Fuel supply: finite, will run out one day
Safety: risk of radioactive leakage and radiation hazards, areas with radiation will be uninhabitable and require evacuation, radiation can contaminate land and water affecting farming and fishing
Environmental impact (Waste disposal): very difficult to dispose of nuclear waste e.g. fuel rods as they remain radioactive for hundreds of years
Environmental impact (Pollution): nuclear power plants release hot water leading to thermal pollution and coral bleaching, mining and transporting uranium may cause land and air pollution
Cost: high build and maintenance cost, costly to maintain strict safety standards
Many scientists are testing nuclear fusion (colliding and combining atoms under extremely high temperature) as an alternative to the negatives of nuclear fission
Positives of nuclear fusion
Generate more than 4 times the power
Fuel has infinite supply as they are widely available in water
Produce less radioactive waste