NUCLEAR ENERGY
JUNE 26, 2021
Nuclear Power Plants In Modern Civilization
Nuclear power plants in modern civilization have important roles in providing power for growing demands of new technology and residential needs.
Nuclear power technology uses the energy released by splitting the atoms. The power plants split uranium atoms in a process called fission. The heat is generated to produce steam that spins a turbine to generate electricity.
The world’s first nuclear power station is the Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant that produced electricity for a power grid. It started to operate on June 27, 1954 in Obninsk, in the Soviet Union.
While the power station in Calder Hall, United Kingdom was the world’s first full scale power station, opened on October 17, 1956.
According to World Nuclear Association, nuclear is the world’s second largest source of low-carbon power (29% of the total in 2018). Nuclear power energy now provides about 10% of the world’s electricity from about 440 power reactors.
Generally, there are five classes of nuclear power plants : generation I, II, III, III+, and IV. Typically the type of reactor in nuclear power plants is Light Water Reactor (LWR).
There are two types of LWRs : A boiling water reactor (BWR) and a pressurized water reactor (PWR).
Nuclear power plants have no carbon monoxide emissions, no sulfur dioxide and nuclear power stations occupy a small area. The overall environmental pollution is lower than fossil fuels.
However, nuclear energy is not entirely a source of clean energy because these power plants release small amounts of greenhouse emissions.
Another important environmental problem related to nuclear energy is the radioactive waste that can remain radioactive and dangerous to living creatures. The hazardous waste could last for thousands of years.
Nuclear power plants are complex and expensive to build, but relatively cheap to operate. The first commercial nuclear power stations started their operations in the 1950’s.
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