PHYSICS PROJECT

NUCLEAR ENERGY

Name: Arush Kada

Class: XII – ‘C’
Roll No: 15
Subject: Physics
School: Timpany Senior Secondary School
 TIMPANY SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL
[MANAGED -BY
ETASI]
VISAKHAPATNAM

CERTIFICATE
DEPARTMENT OF
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REG NO………………………………….
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Thisis to certify that …………………………

………………….
of class XII has preparedthe reporton the projectentitled
“……………………
……………………………
…………………
….”.
The work the result of his/her efforts & endeavors. The following
work is not submitted anywhere else for any
roject
type
. He/she
of p
has preparedthe report under my guidanceduring the
year ……….. and ….............

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In the accomplishment of this project successfully, many people have best
owned upon me their blessings and the heart pledged support. I take this
time to thank all the people who have been concerned with this project.
Then I would like to thank my PRINCIPAL MRS VANDANA
ABRAHAM and My PHYSICS TEACHER MR.M V MOHAN
KISHORE, whose valuable guidance has been the one’s that helped me patch
this project and make it full proof success his suggestions and his
instructions has served as the major contributor towards the completion of
the project.
Then I would like to thank my parents and my friends who have
helped me with their valuable suggestions and guidance has been helpful in
various phases of the completion of the project.

Last but not least I would to like to thank my CLASS TEACHER and
COORDINATOR who have helped me a lot.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Index
Sno Side Heading Page No
1 Introduction 5

2 Nuclear Energy due to Fission 5

3 Applications 6

4 Nuclear Power Plants 7

5 Functioning of a Nuclear Power Plant 8

6 Mining,Enrichment,Disposal of Uranium 10

7 Nuclear Waste 11

8 Other Applications 11

9 Advantages 12

10 Disadvantages 12

11 Nuclear Energy due to Fusion 14

12 Increasing research on fusion 15

13 Fusion vs Fission 16

14 Conclusion 17

15 Bibliography 18
Introduction

Nuclear energy is a form of energy released from the nucleus, the

core of atoms, made up of protons and neutrons. This source of
Nuclear energy can be produced in two ways: fission – when nuclei
of atoms split into several parts – or fusion – when nuclei fuse
together. The nuclear energy harnessed around the world today to
produce electricity is through nuclear fission, while technology to
generate electricity from fusion is at the R&D phase.
Both nuclear fission and nuclear fusion have benefited from large
amounts of government funding for basic science, technology, fuel-
sourcing, and regulation; and both forms have origins in the defense
industry (nuclear bombs - fission; hydrogen bombs - fission and
fusion).

Nuclear Energy due to Fission

Nuclear fission is a reaction where the nucleus of an atom splits into
two or more smaller nuclei, while releasing energy.

For instance, when hit by a neutron, the nucleus of an atom of

uranium-235 splits into two smaller nuclei, for example a barium
nucleus and a krypton nucleus and two or three neutrons. These
extra neutrons will hit other surrounding uranium-235 atoms, which
will also split and generate additional neutrons in a multiplying
effect, thus generating a chain reaction in a fraction of a second.

Each time the reaction occurs, there is a release of energy in the

form of heat and radiation. The heat can be converted into electricity
in a nuclear power plant, similarly to how heat from fossil fuels such
as coal, gas and oil is used to generate electricity
Applications of Nuclear Energy
 Nuclear technology
 Nuclear medicine
 Nuclear Technology is used in Industries
 Agricultural uses of nuclear technology
 Environmental uses of nuclear technology
 Biological Experimentation
 Medical diagnosis and treatments
 Scientific Investigations
 Engineering Projects
 Neutron Activation Analysis

Nuclear Power Plants

A nuclear power plant (NPP) is a thermal power station in which
the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As is typical of thermal power
stations, heat is used to generate steam that drives a steam
turbine connected to a generator that produces electricity. As of
September 2023, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported
there were 410 nuclear power reactors in operation in 32 countries
around the world, and 57 nuclear power reactors under construction .

Nuclear plants are very often used for base load since their
operations, maintenance, and fuel costs are at the lower end of the
spectrum of costs. However, building a nuclear power plant often
spans five to ten years, which can accrue to significant financial costs,
depending on how the initial investments are financed.
Nuclear power plants have a carbon footprint comparable to that
of renewable energy such as solar farms and wind farms, and much
lower than fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal. Nuclear power
plants are among the safest mode of electricity generation,
comparable to solar and wind power plants.

Functioning of a Nuclear Power Plant

The conversion to electrical energy takes place indirectly, as in
conventional thermal power stations. The fission in a nuclear reactor
heats the reactor coolant. The coolant may be water or gas, or even
liquid metal, depending on the type of reactor. The reactor coolant
then goes to a steam generator and heats water to produce steam.
The pressurized steam is then usually fed to a multi-stage steam
turbine.

After the steam turbine has expanded and partially condensed the
steam, the remaining vapor is condensed in a condenser. The
condenser is a heat exchanger which is connected to a secondary
side such as a river or a cooling tower. The water is then pumped
back into the steam generator and the cycle begins again. The water-
steam cycle corresponds to the Rankine cycle.

The nuclear reactor is the heart of the station. In its central part, the
reactor's core produces heat due to nuclear fission. With this heat, a
coolant is heated as it is pumped through the reactor and thereby
removes the energy from the reactor. The heat from nuclear fission
is used to raise steam, which runs through turbines, which in turn
power the electrical generators.
Nuclear reactors usually rely on uranium to fuel the chain reaction.
Uranium is a very heavy metal that is abundant on Earth and is found
in sea water as well as most rocks. Naturally occurring uranium is
found in two different isotopes: uranium-238 (U-238), accounting for
99.3% and uranium-235 (U-235) accounting for about 0.7%. U-238
has 146 neutrons and U-235 has 143 neutrons.

Uranium-235

Mining, Enrichment and Disposal of Uranium

Uranium is a metal that can be found in rocks all over the world.
Uranium has several naturally occurring isotopes, which are forms of
an element differing in mass and physical properties but with the
same chemical properties. Uranium has two primordial isotopes:
uranium-238 and uranium-235. Uranium-238 makes up the majority
of the uranium in the world but cannot produce a fission chain
reaction, while uranium-235 can be used to produce energy by
fission but constitutes less than 1 per cent of the world’s uranium.

To make natural uranium more likely to undergo fission, it is

necessary to increase the amount of uranium-235 in a given sample
through a process called uranium enrichment. Once the uranium is
enriched, it can be used effectively as nuclear fuel in power plants for
three to five years, after which it is still radioactive and has to be
disposed of following stringent guidelines to protect people and the
environment. Used fuel, also referred to as spent fuel, can also be
recycled into other types of fuel for use as new fuel in special nuclear
power plants.

Nuclear Waste
The operation of nuclear power plants produces waste with varying
levels of radioactivity. These are managed differently depending on
their level of radioactivity and purpose.

The next generation of nuclear power plants, also called

innovative advanced reactors, will generate much less nuclear
waste than today’s reactors. It is expected that they could be under
construction by 2030.

Other Applications of Nuclear Power Plants

There are many applications beyond electricity generation that can
use nuclear power. These applications, which require heat, include
seawater desalination, hydrogen production, district heating and
process heating for industry (glass and cement manufacturing, metal
production), refining and synthesis gas production. As the global
community strives to meet climate goals, expanding nuclear’s role In
these applications could be key to a successful clean energy
transition.
Advantages of Nuclear Power Plants
4Low-cost energy
The cost of nuclear energy has gone down tremendously in the last
decade, dropping to $29.13 per megawatt as of 2021.
Reliable power source
Nuclear energy is a reliable power source because it can be
generated anytime
Zero-carbon emissions

Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear energy does not release any harmful
carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

High energy density

The amount of energy released from a nuclear power reaction is
estimated to be ten million times greater than the amount released
from fossil fuels.

Disadvantages of Nuclear Power Plants

Environmental impact

Nuclear energy releasing zero carbon emissions sounds great on the

surface, but nuclear power still has a substantial negative impact on
the environment, mainly through mining and water discharge .

Risk of nuclear accidents

Although nuclear power plants have strict safety measures in place,

there is always the risk of a nuclear accident.

Radioactive waste
Radioactive waste is a byproduct that comes from nuclear
reactors. Radioactive hazardous waste remains dangerous to human
health for thousands of years.
Non-renewable energy source
A renewable energy source is a source of energy that is not
depleted when it is used. In simpler terms, a renewable energy
source will never run out.

Nuclear Energy due to Fusion

In a fusion reaction, two light nuclei merge to form a single heavier
nucleus. The process releases energy because the total mass of the
resulting single nucleus is less than the mass of the two original
nuclei. The leftover mass becomes energy.
Fusion reactions take place in a state of matter called plasma — a
hot, charged gas made of positive ions and free-moving electrons
with unique properties distinct from solids, liquids or gases.
The sun, along with all other stars, is powered by this reaction. To
fuse in our sun, nuclei need to collide with each other at extremely
high temperatures, around ten million degrees Celsius. The high
temperature provides them with enough energy to overcome their
mutual electrical repulsion. Once the nuclei come within a very close
range of each other, the attractive nuclear force between them will
outweigh the electrical repulsion and allow them to fuse. For this to
happen, the nuclei must be confined within a small space to increase
the chances of collision. In the sun, the extreme pressure produced
by its immense gravity creates the conditions for fusion.

Reason for the Increasing Research on Fusion Reaction:

Ever since the theory of nuclear fusion was understood in the 1930s,
scientists — and increasingly also engineers — have been on a quest
to recreate and harness it. That is because if nuclear fusion can be
replicated on earth at an industrial scale, it could provide virtually
limitless clean, safe, and affordable energy to meet the world’s
demand.
Fusion could generate four times more energy per kilogram of fuel
than fission (used in nuclear power plants) and nearly four million
times more energy than burning oil or coal.

Most of the fusion reactor concepts under development will use a

mixture of deuterium and tritium — hydrogen atoms that contain
extra neutrons. In theory, with just a few grams of these reactants, it
is possible to produce a terajoule of energy, which is approximately
the energy one person in a developed country needs over sixty years.
Fusion fuel is plentiful and easily accessible: deuterium can be
extracted inexpensively from seawater, and tritium can potentially
be produced from the reaction of fusion generated neutrons with
naturally abundant lithium. These fuel supplies would last for
millions of years. Future fusion reactors are also intrinsically safe and
are not expected to produce high activity or long-lived nuclear waste.
Furthermore, as the fusion process is difficult to start and maintain,
there is no risk of a runaway reaction and meltdown; fusion can only
occur under strict operational conditions, outside of which (in the
case of an accident or system failure, for example), the plasma will
naturally terminate, lose its energy very quickly and extinguish
before any sustained damage is done to the reactor. Importantly,
nuclear fusion — just like fission — does not emit carbon dioxide or
other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, so it could be a long
term source of low-carbon electricity from the second half of this
century onwards.

Nuclear Fusion VS Nuclear Fission:

Nuclear Fusion: Nuclear Fission:

Nuclear fusion is a reaction When the nucleus of an atom

through which two or more light splits into lighter nuclei through a
nuclei collide with each other to nuclear reaction, the process is
form a heavier nucleus. termed nuclear fission.
The energy released during When each atom splits, a
nuclear fusion is several times tremendous amount of energy is
greater than the energy released released
during nuclear fission.

Fusion reactions occur in stars and Fission reactions do not occur in

the sun nature naturally

High energy is needed to fuse two Comparatively, less energy is

or more atoms together in a needed to split an atom in a
fusion reaction fission reaction

 Not yet commercially viable  Reliable baseload power

 Potential to provide carbon- source since the 1960s
free electricity at a large  10% of world electricity
scale generation
Extremely energy dense:
4x more energy dense than fission 1 uranium pellet
fuels (~the size of a pencil eraser) =

 17,000 cubic feet of natural

gas
No long-lived radioactive waste Produces long-lived highly
radioactive waste

Conclusion:
In conclusion, we can say that nuclear energy is indeed the safest,
cleanest and most efficient forms of energy in the world right now
and even in the near future. On comparing nuclear fission with fossil
fuels, the former is nearly 8000 times more efficient than traditional
fossil fuels at energy production.
Even though there have been cases of nuclear accidents in the past,
the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation can be
considered extremely safe. Every year several hundred people die in
coal mines to provide this widely used fuel for electricity. There are
also significant health and environmental effects arising from fossil
fuel use. Nuclear energy protects air quality by producing massive
amounts of carbon-free electricity.

A study found that nuclear power facilities have a capacity factor of

93.5%, which means that they can run continuously for 341 days out
of the year. Solar farms, on the other hand, have a capacity factor of
24.5% (89 days out of 365).
Even though nuclear energy is safe, we cannot forget about the
disasters caused by it in the past in Chernobyl and Fukushima.
The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) has been put up to
ensure that strict rules and guidelines are followed by government
and private institutions that manage nuclear reactors. There are
strict rules for the disposal of nuclear waste that have been put up by
the IAEA. The evidence over six decades shows that nuclear power is
a safe means of generating electricity. The risk of accidents in nuclear
power plants is low and declining. The consequences of an accident
or terrorist attack are minimal compared with other commonly
accepted risks.
Bibliography:

1) www.wikipedia.org
2) www.byjus.com
3) www.iaea.org