Nuclear Power

Nuclear power is energy released in large amounts by the splitting or formation of atomic nuclei. The light and heat of the sun and other stars are examples of naturally occurring nuclear energy. Artificially produced nuclear energy can be released in a steady, controllable manner in devices called nuclear reactors.

In nuclear power plants, the fuel used is uranium, which undergoes a fission reaction, or atom splitting, that produces tremendous quantities of heat. Water circulated through a reactor carries the heat away, in the form of steam under very high pressure, through pipes to drive the turbines that produce electricity in the same way as a conventional power plant. Advanced nuclear reactors typically use a coolant other than water—such as sodium—to operate the reactor at higher temperatures, but lower pressures. Such reactors can operate with significantly enhanced safety, produce smaller amount of nuclear waste, and are more efficient compared to traditional light-water nuclear reactors, among other benefits. In Wyoming, TerraPower (a nuclear reactor design and development engineering company that was founded by Bill Gates) is currently prepping a construction site for a next-generation nuclear power plant. It is currently awaiting approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a permit to actually build the reactor. “This is a big step toward safe, abundant, zero-carbon energy,” Gates said at the groundbreaking ceremony for the site. “And it’s important for the future of this country that projects like this succeed.” The NRC says that the Wyoming project is the first time in approximately 40 years that a corporation has sought to construct an advanced nuclear reactor as a commercial power plant in the United States.

The reactor also includes channels through which cooling water circulates and other empty spaces where control rods can be inserted. A control rod contains material that absorbs the released neutrons, thus preventing some fission reactions from occurring. When control rods are inserted into the reactor, they reduce the number of atoms being split, causing the reactor to cool down and generate less heat. When the control rods are withdrawn, the reaction rate speeds up and the reactor gets hot and generates more heat. Thus, the power in a nuclear-fueled electrical power plant is controlled by moving the control rods in and out of the reactor.

The area of the reactor where the fission takes place is called the core, and it is contained within the reactor vessel, lined by a thick inner shell of steel to keep the heat in the system and under control. This internal shield is surrounded in turn by several feet of concrete insulation that serves as a nuclear radiation shield to protect personnel and the surrounding area from radiation. The radiation is very harmful to the human body when absorbed in sufficient quantities.

In addition to the immediate radiation produced by fission, the fission process and the bombardment of materials by neutrons create a variety of both gaseous and solid radioactive materials. Some of these materials emit intense radiation, and some remain radioactive for a very long time. Most reactors are housed in a steel-lined concrete structure called the containment building, whose purpose is to contain radioactive materials should an accident release them from the reactor.

A serious problem associated with the use of nuclear energy is the handling, treatment, and disposal of the solid, liquid, and gaseous radioactive waste products it creates. Several methods for the long-term disposal of highly radioactive wastes have been developed and studied. The most widely accepted plan consists of binding the wastes in a glass-like or ceramic substance that is resistant to corrosion. This waste material would be placed deep underground in stable geological formations where it would remain undisturbed. Meanwhile, until long-term plans are agreed on, radioactive wastes are being held in temporary storage, typically in containers held in pools of water near nuclear plants. The water carries away the heat produced by radioactive decay and serves as a shield against the radiation they emit.

The nuclear power industry employs skilled and highly trained workers to maintain and assure the operating safety of nuclear facilities, including facility operators, engineers, and technicians. The Nuclear Energy Institute says that 500 to 800 workers are employed at each nuclear power plant and for every 100 nuclear power plant jobs, 250 additional jobs are created in the United States. At peak construction of a nuclear reactor, there are up to 9,000 workers on the job. 

Nuclear engineers research and design the different processes and equipment used in nuclear systems. They also often monitor nuclear power facilities to assure the equipment is operating properly and that practices implemented adhere to strict federal safety regulations and laws. Civil, mechanical, and chemical engineers also work in the nuclear industry.

Nuclear technicians assist engineers and other professionals in nuclear research and production. Technicians fall into two categories: operating technicians, who monitor the performance of nuclear power plants under the supervision of nuclear reactor operators and engineers; and radiation protection technicians, who monitor radiation levels at nuclear power plants to protect employees, the facilities, and the surrounding area form radiation contamination. Some technicians work in nuclear waste management and treatment facilities and perform duties similar to those of radiation protection technicians at power plants, but they monitor the disposal, recycling and storage of nuclear waste materials.

Nuclear power reactor operators manage nuclear facilities by adjusting control rods, which affects how much electricity a reactor generates. In addition, they monitor reactors, turbines, generators, and cooling systems, making adjustments to controls as necessary. They monitor all facility operations, watching for problems and should any arise, determining the cause and solutions. Reactor operators must be licensed by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, pass regular medical testing, may undergo testing for drugs and alcohol use, and must complete continuing education programs to keep their skills up to date.

Nuclear physics is the study of the nucleus, or center, of the atom and of the forces that hold the nucleus together  High-energy physics, or particle physics, is the study of the production of subatomic particles from other particles and energy. The characteristics of these various particles are studied using particle accelerators, popularly called atom smashers. Physicists in this field are concerned with the generation of thermonuclear power.