Safe and Reliable Nuclear Energy Radiation and Energy

Safe and Reliable Nuclear Energy Radiation and Energy Just the Facts 1

How We Use Electricity 2

Electricity: The Engine That Runs the Country Other 3% (Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Biomass) Oil 2% Hydro 7% Natural Gas Nuclear 20% Coal 49% 19% WWW. eia. doe. gov 3

Introduction • What has shaped your views about nuclear energy? • Do you have any fears or hesitations about the use of nuclear energy? 4

Radiation • Radiation is energy traveling in the form of particles or waves • Natural phenomenon – Since beginning of the universe – Natural and ever-present – Sun, earth, and all living things emit radiation – Radiation is all around us 5

Energy Spectrum 6

Ionizing radiation Energy in the form of waves or particles that has enough force to remove electrons from atoms. 7

What is Radiation? • Radioactivity is a natural and spontaneous process by which the unstable atoms of an element emit or radiate excess energy • Radiation is the result • Alpha Decay - Alpha decay occurs when the nucleus spontaneously ejects an ά particle. An ά particle is really 2 protons and 2 neutrons, or an Helium nucleus. Alpha Decay of a Uranium-238 Nucleus 4 He 2 Parent Nucleus Emitted Particle 238 U 92 Decay Event 234 90 Th Key Proton Neutron Daughter Nucleus 8

Sources of Radiation Made Radiation Sources – 18% • • Natural Radiation Sources – 82% • • Medical X Rays Nuclear Medicine Consumer Products Other Consumer Products 3% Medical 14% Cosmic 8% Radon Internal Terrestrial Cosmic Terrestrial 8% Internal 11% Other 1% Radon 55% Annual background radiation doses for Americans National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Report No. 93, “Ionizing Radiation Exposure of the Population of the United States, “ 1987 9

Beneficial Uses of Radiation Medical Procedures Ionizing • X-Ray • CT Scan – Computed Tomography • Nuclear Medicine Non-Ionizing • Ultrasound • MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging 10

What is Nuclear Energy? • Nuclear energy is the energy released by reactions within atomic nuclei, such as nuclear fission or nuclear fusion • In 1955, Arco Idaho was the first city to be powered by electricity produced from these nuclear reactions • 18% of the world’s electricity comes from nuclear energy (World Nuclear Association) • The U. S. has 104 reactors that provide 20% of nation’s electricity (Energy Information Association) 11

Nuclear Energy Production • Energy is produced when: – Steam turns the turbine generating electricity • Nuclear energy is produced when: – Fission energy is used to generate steam 12

Nuclear - Environmental • Pro – Low land use – No global warming or acid rain emissions – Waste is small • Con – Disposition of waste, low/high level DOE OCRW 13

Nuclear Energy has a Positive Environmental Impact • Clean Air • Clean Water • Habitat Friendly 14

Nuclear Energy – Clean Air • Not carbon based • Low Greenhouse gases • No emissions causing smog or acid rain 15

Nuclear Energy – Safe Habitats • Low land use • Environmentally safe 16

References • • Energy Information Association – www. eia. doe. gov World Nuclear Association – www. world-nuclear. org Nuclear Regulatory Commission – www. nrc. gov Nuclear Energy Institute – www. nei. org Radiology Information - www. radiologyinfo. org Maps – www. nationatlas. gov DOE Energy, Efficiency and Renewable Energy – www. eere. energy. gov • American Nuclear Society – http: //local. ans. org • Renewable Resource Data Center – http: rredc. nrel. gov 17