E+Block+-+Uranium

MASON AND NAOMI

Nuclear energy works by harnessing the thermal energy produced in nuclear fission, and using this energy to power steam turbines, which produce electricity.
 * SCIENCE**

In a nuclear reactor, fissionable material is placed in the reactor core, where is undergoes fission. The gamma radiation produced by the reaction is absorbed as thermal energy by the core. To prevent a critical state, control rods made of a “neutron poison” (a material which absorbs neutrons) are present in the core to absorb excess neutrons. When the energy yield must be reduced, the rods are moved deeper into the core; when it must be increased, they are moved further away. While an unchained reaction will produce the most energy, these control rods are needed to keep the process at a manageable rate- slow enough to allow intervention in an emergency, but fast enough to maximize safe energy output. The reactor uses a coolant to absorb the heat from the core, which can be then used to produce steam. While reactors typically run the coolant past the core to absorb heat and then produce steam in a separate location, some reactors submerge the core directly in coolant, and the steam is produced on the spot. Typical coolants are materials with high specific heats, so as to transfer the most energy with the least material: such coolants include water and molten salt, various gasses, and molten metals. Occasionally the coolant will also function as a neutron poison, but this must then be constantly cycled to maintain the effectiveness of the poison.

In the event of a meltdown, nuclear reactors keep large amounts of neutron poison- typically boric acid, for the purposes of emergency management- on hand at all time. In the event of an emergency, the control rods are fully deployed, a large quantity of poison is released into the reactor chamber. This may occur automatically due to system protocols, or manually at the discretion of the staff. Due to the dangerous nature of nuclear fission, this protocol is engaged with even the slightest anticipation of malfunction.

Nuclear reactors are subject to xenon poisoning, also referred to as “the iodine pit”. Fission produces the neutron-poisoning xenon-135, which necessitates a high power output by the reactor to destroy the xenon as soon as it is produced. Iodine-135 is also produced by fission, which decays into xenon-135. This buildup of poison is known as “the iodine pit” and makes running the reactor a challenge for several days after being unused (which is the cause of the iodine pit). When the self-sustaining reaction has ended, a neutron howitzer is used to bombard the core to restart the reaction. After being reactivated in the iodine pit, xenon-135 can become xenon-136, which is NOT a poison- this necessitates further use of the control rods to substitute the now missing poison. Failing to manage the control rods in coordination with the levels of xenon and other poisons can bring about horrible results- the infamous Chernobyl disaster occurred due to improper management of this very situation.

Sadly, nuclear energy is victim to the same predicament as all other powerful new technologies- its primary initial application was the government production of weapons. Historically, violence takes precedent over advancement whenever new technology shows its head. Submarines launched torpedoes long before they explored the depths of the oceans; rockets delivered explosive payloads long before they were applied in the sciences for research; and nuclear power created the atom bomb long before it produced power for peaceful purposes.
 * BACKGROUND**

The neutron was discovered in the early 20th century, and shortly afterwards a Hungarian scientist by the name of Leo Szilard imagined a method of using this discovery to produce energy. However, the scientists of the time had no knowledge of nuclear fission as a source of neutrons for chain-reactions, so Szilard’s creation proved impossible. Upon the discovery of Meitner, Oppenheimer, and Hahn that bombarding uranium with neutrons produced barium, as well as the emission of neutrons, interest in nuclear science was rekindled. However, they found no support for their research until Albert Einstein wrote a letter to Eisenhower regarding the military applications of nuclear energy. Shortly after this, Enrico Fermi completed Chicago Pile-1, which went critical on December 2nd, 1942, at 3:25 PM. This began the Manhattan project, which built several nuclear reactors- however; the purpose of these reactors was to produce weapons-grade plutonium. Nuclear reactors used for commercial, domestic production of energy did not begin until the 1950s in the Soviet Union, after which the rest of the world super-powers followed suit. This rise in nuclear power continued steadily until the Chernobyl disaster and Three Mile Island, which induced paranoia and distrust in the population. Support for nuclear energy is again rising, but disasters such as the meltdown at Fukushima still dissuade mass-support.


 * Uranium Mining in New Mexico**


 * ADVANTAGES**:
 * Does not create greenhouse gases
 * Doesn't use a valuable resource - hydrocarbons
 * Less other pollution
 * More efficient energy source
 * Reliable source of energy; reactors spend little down time
 * Cost effective when a standardized reactor design is used
 * Produces little waste
 * New reactor designs make it a renewable resource: breeder reactors
 * Reactor technology is now well developed




 * DISADVANTAGES**:
 * Safety issues and the public perceptions of nuclear energy
 * Possibility of accidents
 * Too many reactor designs (for example in the US) make training safety personnel and plant employees more difficult and emergency response problematic
 * General safety issue
 * Spent fuel storage and disposal
 * High price of construction
 * Mining & refining uranium can create environmental and health problems
 * Transportation safety of nuclear wastes
 * Life span of current reactors (~60 years)
 * The amount of time it takes to get a nuclear power plant from planning to producing electricity


 * NOTE: While nuclear accidents receive far more publicity, nuclear energy is by far the safest in terms of worker death

geoinfo.nmt.edu/resources/uranium/home.html newmexicoindependent.com/26823/abandoned-uranium-mines-pose-health-risk-to-new mexicans
 * LITERATURE CITED**
 * Ulmer-Scholle, Dana S. (2008). Uranium Resources of New Mexico and Nuclear Energy.
 * Childress, Marjorie. (2009). Abandoned Uranium Mines Pose Health Risk to New Mexicans.