Nuclear Power Plants in the U.S.
As of 2011, the 104 nuclear power facilities in the United States produce more nuclear energy than any other nation. Many conventional power plants burn coal or other substances to heat water to turn it to steam, which is then used to drive electric turbines to produce electricity. A nuclear power facility uses steam in the same way --- it is the manner in which water is heated that makes nuclear facilities different from conventional power-generating plants.
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History
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Nuclear power was first used to produce usable electricity in 1951, as engineers in Arco, Idaho, produced enough power to light four light bulbs. In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace Program" was established to promote commercial use of nuclear power, and by 1957, a fully functional nuclear power plant began operation in Shippingport, Pennsylvania. In the late 1960s, programs to increase the construction of nuclear power plants began, which continued until the accident at Three Mile Island nuclear facility in Pennsylvania in 1979. Even though only a small amount of radiation was released and the exposure danger was considered minimal, the events at Three Mile Island caused public concern in the U.S. about the safety of nuclear power. As a result, the construction of new facilities slowed down significantly.
How They Work
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Certain elements, such as uranium, contain atoms. When these are bombarded with neutrons, the atoms split and release energy as heat. This process is called fission. As each atom splits, it also releases additional neutrons that collide with other atoms, creating a chain reaction. Under the proper conditions, when particular amounts of uranium are brought together, this chain reaction goes on continuously, creating heat. Fission takes place inside a nuclear power plant's reactor. Uranium is placed inside tubes called fuel rods, which are bound together and positioned inside the reactor. Certain other elements are then used to begin the fission and create the chain reaction. To regulate the amount of fission, and thus avoid destroying the reactor from too much heat, control rods are also placed in the reactor. Control rods are made of special materials that absorb the excess neutrons created from fission, allowing operators to regulate the amount of heat being generated.
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Regulation
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The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is the government agency charged with oversight and licensing of reactors at nuclear power plants. The commission regulates safety procedures, conducts inspections, enforces laws pertaining to nuclear power generation and provides guidance to companies operating nuclear facilities. The NRC also regulates a power plant's certification renewal and reserves the right to modify the license in accordance with any activities affecting the reactor. Furthermore, the commission maintains an oversight system incorporating an array of procedures that evaluate the performance of a nuclear power plant's safety activities.
Benefits and Drawbacks
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Nuclear power facilities do not release harmful toxic gasses, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. The costs associated with producing nuclear power are nearly the same as those for generating electricity by burning coal. Additionally, nuclear power plants generate a large amount of energy by using small sums of fuel and produce small amounts of waste material. However, the waste that is produced is highly dangerous because it is radioactive. Nuclear waste must be sealed and buried for thousands of years until its radioactivity decreases to safe levels. Costs associated with safety at a nuclear facility are high because an accident can result in a major disaster.
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References
- World Nuclear Association: Nuclear Power Reactors (First 3 paragraphs & Components of a nuclear reactor)
- World Nuclear Association: Nuclear Power in the USA (Bullet Points & Background to nuclear power)
- Great Achievements: Nuclear Technologies History Part 5 -- Power Plants
- U.S. Department of Energy: The History of Nuclear Energy (Part ii -- The History of Nuclear Energy)
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Operating Reactors
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Operating Reactor Licensing
Resources
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