Research Sites:
Text reference Chap 5 and p. 390-394

NOTE: There are many, many internet sites available. You do not need to look at every one of them, some may have graphics that may be slow to load, but please look at a few of them as they will also be useful when you get to the discussion.

INTERNET GENERAL RESOURCES:

Nuclear Power for the Future - Chemical and Engineering News, Sept. 13, 2004 - gives overview of all new nuclear power plant designs.

1. Excellent site - Nuclear Tourist This is the best site to find specific info about how nuclear power plants operate. Good descriptions, many pictures, and diagrams. Also has good descriptions of Three Mile Island and Chernobyl.
   

2. Nuclear Power Information Nuclear Power Plants and Nuclear Fuel (simplified versions)
   

3. Frequently Asked Question about Nuclear Energy from Stanford University.
   

4. Todd's Atomic Home Page from U. of Cal. at Berkeley. Many links to lots of other nuclear sites. Check Nuclear Utilities and Reactor Information for specific companies and also find sites for advanced reactor designs.
   

5. Nuclear Energy Institute Fairly extensive narrative form of the basics with many hyperlinks to the subject matter.
   

1. I.Content Questions A:  The nature of nuclear reactions and radioactivity.
   
   

1. Nuclear Radiation and Nuclear Reactions

Nuclear radiation results from particles or very high energy waves, usually coming from the nucleus. In this section you will discover some types of radiation, the meaning of ionizing radiation, sources of natural radiation radiation measurements, and the concept of half life.

 A. Types of Nuclear Radiation

- define, alpha, beta, gamma, X-Rays, Cosmic

Basics of Nuclear Chemistry
Types of Radioactivity - Good info - go all the way to the bottom for a good video demo of measuring radioactivity.  Can also explore the side menus.

Animation of alpha, beta, gamma rays - good animation and explanation. Click on alpha, beta, gamma rays and then look for the small animation in upper left corner.  Drag on bottom right to resize it.

Ques. 1: Summarize the three main types of radiation (alpha, beta, gamma) in terms of symbols, charge, mass, penetration power, health effects.

B. Ionizing Radiation - Health Effects

1. -define, measurements, health effects - penetration versus ionizing power
   
   

Ques. 2:  From the following links, report on the radioactivity found in nature.  How much is present from the table “Radioactivity of some natural and other materials” in the first link?  List some of the items.  Did you see the definition? - 1Bq = 1 radioactive decay pre second.  So even the human body has 7000 radioactive events per second from naturally occurring potassium-40.  List a few of the other materials and make some comparisons and comments from the graph and table.

Radiation and Life -  Good first read
Graph of annual radiation dose -
Table of natural sources of radiation -

Ques. 3:  What is ionizing radiation?  How does ionizing radiation effect health?  What are the penetrating factors for the three main types of radiation?

Radiation and Life -  Start about one third down on the page.
Radiation and the Environment Health Effects - Concise but with numerous short links
Radiation and Nuclear Energy - Fairly comprehensive work on the approximate middle of this link.

Naturally Occurring Radioactivity - quite a bit on Uranium and Thorium in coal


Environment, Health, and Safety of Electricity - Very long but comprehensive comparison of nuclear with other types of energy.

Ques. 4: What are the consequences of the release of radioactive isotopes and related health issues as at Chernobyl (worst case) or from Three Mile Island? Contrast this with the health effects of radiation from a properly working nuclear plant in the U. S.?

Chernobyl Accident -  Concentrate on the health effects of the accident
Three Mile Island Accident - again concentrate on the health effects
Nuclear Power Plant Risks - pdf - go to p. 8
Studies on Risks to People living near a nuclear power plant

C.  Nuclear Radiation Measurements

      Common nuclear measurements include: Curie - describes the "activity" or number of nuclear decays per second.  RAD - Radiation Absorbed Dose - an amount of energy per gram of tissue exposed to radiation. REM - Roentgen Equivalent for Man - gives a common scale for all types of radiation. Most often listed as mrem (millirem - one thousand millirem in one REM. Background radiation exposure to the general population is about 200-400 m rem per year.

Ques. 5:  Compare and contrast measures of radioactivity that measures activity vs. dose.  A few are listed above, what other units are associated with it?  Explain how a Geiger counter works.

Units of Radioactivity -

Types of Radioactivity - Good info - go all the way to the bottom for a good video demo of measuring radioactivity.
Detection of Radioactivity -
Radioactivity in the Environment -

500. D.Natural Uranium and other Isotope Decay Reactions
     
     

Ques. 6:  Give a few details of the uranium decay series.  What is it?  Where is it found?  How much does it contribute to background radiation?  Tell a little about three isotopes that are part of the series. Ra, Rn, Po.

ProfONotes: Uranium Decay series
Uranium - Chemical of the Week
Uranium - How it works -
Polonium in Tobacco - Causes cancer

 
E. Meaning of Half Life

Ques. 7:  Define half-life AND apply it to the following problem based upon concepts in the text diagram p. 84-85. If you have 2 grams of radioactive iodine-132 with a half-life of 2.4 hours, how many grams are left after 7.2 hours?  This can be used to treat an over active thyroid. This would also be of interest in a nuclear accident since radioactive iodine in the form of a gas is released as a fission by product.  Non radioactive KI, potassium iodide can be given to load up the thyroid so that the radioactive variety can not go there.

 Definition of Half-Life -

II.  Content Questions B:  Nuclear power plants

 2. Fission Reaction

Fission simply defined is the splitting of the atom.  Only a few atoms are capable of being split in a spontaneous, chain reaction manner. Find out the details of this process for uranium 235 and its importance in the production of energy.

 Fission Reaction- U-235 Chain Reaction

QUES. 8: Give an example nuclear fission equation, define fission, and explain where and how the energy is released in a fission nuclear reaction.  What is the source of nuclear energy as compared to chemical energy obtained from the combustion reaction?  Explain the significance of E = mc2

Nuclear Reactions 
Fission - simple animation
How nuclear energy works -

3. Nuclear Fuel Cycle

The Nuclear fuel cycle pertains to the complete set of processes from the obtaining of the uranium from the ore to reprocessing or waste disposal. The steps in the process include: mining, enrichment of U-235, fuel assemblies, use in the reactor, spent fuel, fission products - short and long term storage and/or reprocessing.

     

Nuclear Fuel Cycle Page- simpler version with pictures
Nuclear fuel cycle - more in depth

Ques. 9:  Discuss ONE of the the following A-D.  Give the what and how explanations.  For A and B be sure to use some chemical names and formulas.  For C give the basics briefly as everyone will do this in detail in Part III - Types of Nuclear power Plants Report.

A.  Mining, Milling, Conversion

Mining Process -
World Uranium Mining -
Environmental Aspects of Uranium Mining -

B.  Enrichment and Fuel Fabrication

Conversion and Enrichment -
Enrichment - in detail with chemistry
Fuel Fabrication -

C.  Nuclear Power Plant basics and spent fuel storage

Nuclear Power Plant - basic
Nuclear Power Plant - Nuclear Tourist
Uranium - How it works -
Power Plant Graphic -
Spent Fuel Storage -Graphic -

D.  Reprocessing or Final Storage of spent fuel waste

Spent Fuel Rod Storage -
Nuclear Fuel Storage - current and future
ProfO Notes: Dry Cask Storage photos
Processing of Spent Fuel -
Waste Management of Spent Fuel -
Radioactive wastes -

4. 4.Safety Features and Concerns
   
   

Ques. 10: What are the safety issues associated with nuclear power plants?  What are the safety features in the design and building of the plant?  What safety features are in the operation of the plant?  Can we be assured that nuclear power plants will be 100% free from potential accidents?

Safety of Nuclear Power Plants- Gives history and half way down general info.
Q & A- Dr. Charles Till, Argonne West Laboratory - Uranium, Plutonium, bombs, waste, recycling
Nuclear World - click some links on left
Nuclear Links - Contains a number of antinuclear links

5. Nuclear Power Plant Accidents

The greatest fear of a nuclear power plant is what may happen in the event of a nuclear accident. One result of a nuclear accident that will NOT happen is a nuclear type explosion. Accidents and chemical explosions may result in the release of radioactive isotopes into the air, land, and water with potential disastrous consequences.  In this section you may learn about two such accidents - one in the U.S. and one in the Ukraine.

Ques. 11: What were the causes and consequences of a reactor core melt down as happened at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl?  Each student should do ONE of them.

 A. Three Mile Island

 PBS - TMI What Happened

Washington Post series

Three mile Island

Judge's ruling that TMI did not releases significant radiation

 B. Chernobyl

Chernobyl Accident

What really happened at Chernobyl- lengthy reading

6.  Radioactive Waste Disposal Methods

One of the unsolved problems relating to nuclear energy is the disposal of nuclear waste. Actually there are technical solutions, but the politicians and the general public do not have any confidence in the assurances of the scientists that the methods will work. The problem is whether anyone can guarantee that no leaks will occur for up to 10,000 years after disposal. What disposal methods are currently being proposed?

Ques. 12: What are the issues associated with the disposal of nuclear waste from the spent fuel rods? Explain what studies have been conducted to assure safe disposal of nuclear waste.  How will we ever get an answer to the question that a nuclear waste site will not leak for 10,000 years or longer?

Waste Management - all aspects
Waste Management in the Fuel Cycle -
Nuclear Waste storage - very simple animations - use left menu
Nuclear waste myths and reality -

Reprocessing of Nuclear Waste -

A. Nuclear Power Plant Waste - Yucca Mountain

General Information on Yucca Mountain

EPA Yucca Mountain
Storage containers
CBS 60 minutes report - mostly negative about Yucca Mountain

Other Nuclear Waste Disposal Methods -

B. Defense and Weapons production wastes - low and high level - WIPP

 Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Home Page (WIPP)

III.  Molecule or Report of the Week:  Types of Nuclear Power Plants

4. Anatomy of a Nuclear Power Plant

Explore the photos and descriptions of all the working parts of a nuclear power plant - from the reactor core with the fuel rods, control rods, moderator, coolant, steam generation, electrical generation, and safety features.

Types of Reactors - Boiling Water Reactor (BWR), Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR), ESBWR, RBMK, CANDU, Advanced Heavy Water, NuScale, Pebble Bed Modular Reactor, GT-MHR

Nuclear Power Plant Report -  Each student should select one of the type of power plants above (2-3 students for each). Briefly explain how a nuclear power plant operates to produce electricity.

Explain the purpose and types of the devices that are in the reactor core such as fuel type, fuel rods, control rods, coolant, the moderator.  How is the heat transfered to make steam?  What are the safety features (or lack of them) in each design? 

If you are reporting on a newer design - Can Nuclear Power plants be made to operate more safely and overcome the loss of coolant objections about the current generation of power plants?  What are the features of new power plants being tested which use terms like passive design or inherently safe to be insure the safety of the reactor core. 

Nuclear Power Reactor - simple facts

         

ProfO Notes: More Callaway photos
ProfO Notes: Museum nuclear plant model photos
ProfO Notes: Control Room and Turbine photos
ProfO Notes: Cooling Tower photos and graphic

Nuclear Power plant - simple animations of BWR and PWR, slide mouse on graphic. Look at lowest one to see action of control rods.

Current or Past Nuclear Power Plants

Pressurized Water Power Reactors -
Boiling Water Reactors (BWR)-
RBMK Russian Reactor - used at Chernobyl
RBMK - wikipedia
CANDU Reactors - Canadian Design  - Advanced CANDU -

Next Generation Power Plants

ESBWR -Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor - Passive Safety Cooling - Video showing features - Click animation about half way down on the page
Nuscale Power - Click on links in the site for info
Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) -
GT-MHR  Gas Cooled Reactor - Inherently Safe
Advanced Heavy Water Design - India - uses Thorium as fuel


(text p.393)
Advanced reactor designs - summary
Nuclear Power for the Future - Chemical and Engineering News, Sept. 13, 2004 - gives overview of all new plant designs.
Index of new reactor designs - you may pick one of these that interest you.

  

IV.  Issue Question:   SHOULD THE U.S. START TO BUILD MORE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS?

 

INTRODUCTION:

There have been no new orders in the U.S. for nuclear power plants since 1974. The last plant was completed in the late 1980's. Since Chernobyl in 1986, opposition to nuclear power has increased dramatically.

West Germany: 46 --> 83 % opposed

United States: 67 --> 78  - 

France: --> 52 -  France gets 75% of its electricity from nuclear power.

Currently more consideration is being given to the possible use of new "third or fourth" generation nuclear power plants which are designed to be safer.   The use of nuclear power is a possible partial solution to the global warming problem discussed earlier.  Within the last year, more and more voices in Congress are being raised both for and against nuclear power.  A recent poll shows about 55% in favor, possibly as a solution to global warming.  Many feel that alternate energies alone such as wind and solar will be unable to fill the void if fossil fuels are to be phased out.  As another point of interest, in The U. S. as whole get about 20% electricity from nuclear.  In Northern Illinois the figure is more like 60% from nuclear power.  ComED  Environmental Disclosure Report

Issue Debate Roles

For this debate, the instructor will assign members of the class to one of the possible roles listed below. In a role play you are expected to become knowledgeable about the issue so that you can accurately express the viewpoint and concerns of a typical person whose role you are playing. Attempt to do this even though you may not agree with that view point. Near the end of the debate you may express your own personal point of view.

The first three roles probably have a NO viewpoint, while the last three roles probably have a YES viewpoint. Although #3 may go either way.

Each student has been assigned a "role" for a role play. Debate roles 1-3 are probably on the NO side while roles 4-6 are on the YES side. Try to play your role effectively even if you do not agree with it. You can change and give a personal viewpoint at the end of your discussion.

This whole topic has been designed as a lead up for the issue debate.  You should already be familiar with a lot of the aspects of nuclear power from the Concept Questions and the Power Plant Report.

Role Play Assignments

                                                                  Student ID’s

 1. Environmental Scientist - 8, 9, 20, 21, 26

 2. Citizen living near a power plant, a (NIMBY) Not In My Back Yard advocate. - 10, 11, 22, 23 , 27

 3. General Concerned Citizen - 12, 13, 24, 25, 28

 4. Nuclear Scientist from NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) - 1, 2, 14, 15, 29

 5. Electrical and Nuclear Power Plant Official - 3, 4, 16, 17, 30

 6. Nuclear Fuel Cycle/Power Plant workers - 5, 6, 7, 18, 19

Issue Report:  SHOULD THE U.S. START TO BUILD MORE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS?

Four to Six paragraphs.  In this role play you should be ready to discuss both the pro and cons concerning the use of nuclear power. By following your role, you should be able to make some good arguments to discuss plant operations, safety considerations, waste considerations, possible solution to global warming.

Please use other references throughout this topic to further support your arguments.  A few more are given below.

Five minute FOX News Video - gives a little bit of perspective.

Nuclear Reaction: Why do Americans Fear Nuclear Power? PBS Frontline

Why the French Like Nuclear Power - PBS Frontline

Nuclear Links - Contains a number of antinuclear and pro-nuclear links - good overview

NRC complete listing of all nuclear plants

An Anti-Nuclear site- Nuclear Information and Resource Center

World Nuclear Organization - lots of good links

CBS 60 minutes report - mostly negative about Yucca Mountain

Energy Balance and CO2 Implications - comparison of Nuclear power and Coal Power - go all the way to the bottom for a graph.

___________________________

5. V.   Response or Ask a Question - respond or comment to someone else, or use General Questions to ask a general question that the Prof or others might answer.  Extra responses earn extra credit (1 pt/ques. up to 2 points)
   
   Response Format:  What or why is something interesting?  Then add a new perspective or viewpoint.  Needs to be longer than one sentence.
   
   Ask a question Format:  Give a little background of what you already know or what is your interest, then add what you already know, then finally ask your question.
   

Charles E. Ophardt, Professor of Chemistry, Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL 60126, charleso at elmhurst.edu, Copyright 2009

Content Question A

Ques. No.      Student ID #

Ques. 1       5, 8, 15, 25

Ques. 2       9, 12, 16, 26         

Ques. 3       10, 17, 22, 27

Ques. 4       1, 7, 18, 24, 28

Ques. 5       2, 6, 13, 19, 29

Ques. 6      3, 14, 20, 30

Ques. 7      4, 11, 21, 23