A
Anonymous
Guest
The reason why I'm posting this is because I have a student job at a big German company, and I'm in a branch of it that builds power plants all around the world. The section responsible for nuclear plants was sold a while ago, mostly because of the uneasiness in the broad public towards nuclear power (bad PR, you know), to a French company.
It seems that in France, it is not a subject to such public dispute than in Germany. Of course, I could be mistaken there.
I am starting this thread because I'm interested in other people's opinions towards the subject, and thought it would be a nice controversial discussion topic- these tend to liven up things here. I will voice my own opinion later on.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION (Optional Reading)
I think a controversial subject such as this can not be properly discussed without people knowing the complete background. Therefore, I will try to cover all important aspects objectively and to an adequate level of completeness.
How Nuclear Energy Works
A nuclear power plant works with precisely the same principles as any other power plant does. Steam is produced that drives steam turbines. The steam turbines' movement is translated into energy.
The big differences between power plants are the ways the steam is produced. Coal plants produce it by burning coal, gas plants by burning gas, hydro plants produce the turbine movement with flowing water and so on.
A nuclear power plant has got a special way of producing steam. Uranium atoms are being shot at with neutrons. The Uranium atoms split, releasing neutrons which collide with further atoms. This is the nuclear chain reaction, which goes on. This produces a lot of heat energy, which turns into steam. If uncontrolled, the energy released is so immense that it can level entire cities- an atomic bomb. However, nuclear power plants use fuel rods to control the reaction. However, these can be used only once, are being burnt out and become infested with a lot of radioactivity, which was released by the Uranium atoms.
The Benefits Of Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Energy has a lot of benefits. First of all, it is very much more efficient than any fossil fuel (coal, gas, oil); a nuclear chain reaction produces much more energy than, say, burning coal does. This means that one nuclear power plant can provide energy to many more households than a coal plant can. Also, the burning of fossil fuels produces atmospheric pollution. The effect of burning coal ranges from "simple" air pollution to atmospheric damage, such as the ozon hole.
Other types of power plants, such as hydroelectric dams, are not as friendly to the environment as a first glance would suggest. While these do not cause any environmental pollution, they require very much space. Also, they create artificial lakes, which tend to mess up the existing local eco-system. Huge areas are being flooded, destroying natural habitats (and also potential or existing settling grounds for people). River life is practically non-existent around such a dam.
Nuclear Energy does not produce any atmospheric pollution. The only emission they produce is water steam, from the cooling towers, which serve to cool down the reactors. They also do not take up as much space or destroy the eco-system or any of that.
The Problems Of Nuclear Energy
The main problem of nuclear energy is the high ratio of radioactivity that is being set free. Radioactivity exists everywhere in the world, but the concentration is usually so low that it is completely unnoticeable. The grade of radioactivity set free in relation with nuclear energy is so high that it does not only exceed the natural concentration by completely unimaginable relations, it also does considerable harm to the environment. Plants, animals and human beings exposed to a high grade of radioactivity can develop many symptoms, from unfertility to cancer to immediate death, depending on the level of concentration. The effects are usually disastrous, but sometimes very difficult for anybody to actually recognise.
Nuclear plants are usually well shielded to prevent any form of radioactivity from entering the environment, but measurements have shown that the grade of radioactivity in the environment of a nuclear power plant are usually much higher than the average normal concentration. Also, in many countries, as for example Russia or North Korea, the level of security is not so high, so radioactivity is actually set free to the environment.
The biggest problem is the presence of the burnt out fuel rods. They are simply garbage, because they have become useless, but due to the immensely high radioactivity, they just can't be thrown away. Attempts to create storage facilities are always very controversial, mostly because they are often not considered safe, and the local residents are particularly afraid of radioactivity that could be coming from these facilities.
Another problem with nuclear power plants is that the chain reactions can get out of control (Nuclear meltdown). The risk of this happening is absolutely minimal, borderlining zero, and most power plants are absolutely safe in these regards, but the effect of only one chain reaction getting out of control can be devastating; the power plant can explode, and radioactivity is distributed way beyond the territory the plant is situated in. The effects of the Chernobyl disaster were felt in all of Europe, and even Iceland measured a higher than normal concentration of radioactivity.
End of story. Thanks for listening. Goodnight, children.
It seems that in France, it is not a subject to such public dispute than in Germany. Of course, I could be mistaken there.
I am starting this thread because I'm interested in other people's opinions towards the subject, and thought it would be a nice controversial discussion topic- these tend to liven up things here. I will voice my own opinion later on.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION (Optional Reading)
I think a controversial subject such as this can not be properly discussed without people knowing the complete background. Therefore, I will try to cover all important aspects objectively and to an adequate level of completeness.
How Nuclear Energy Works
A nuclear power plant works with precisely the same principles as any other power plant does. Steam is produced that drives steam turbines. The steam turbines' movement is translated into energy.
The big differences between power plants are the ways the steam is produced. Coal plants produce it by burning coal, gas plants by burning gas, hydro plants produce the turbine movement with flowing water and so on.
A nuclear power plant has got a special way of producing steam. Uranium atoms are being shot at with neutrons. The Uranium atoms split, releasing neutrons which collide with further atoms. This is the nuclear chain reaction, which goes on. This produces a lot of heat energy, which turns into steam. If uncontrolled, the energy released is so immense that it can level entire cities- an atomic bomb. However, nuclear power plants use fuel rods to control the reaction. However, these can be used only once, are being burnt out and become infested with a lot of radioactivity, which was released by the Uranium atoms.
The Benefits Of Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Energy has a lot of benefits. First of all, it is very much more efficient than any fossil fuel (coal, gas, oil); a nuclear chain reaction produces much more energy than, say, burning coal does. This means that one nuclear power plant can provide energy to many more households than a coal plant can. Also, the burning of fossil fuels produces atmospheric pollution. The effect of burning coal ranges from "simple" air pollution to atmospheric damage, such as the ozon hole.
Other types of power plants, such as hydroelectric dams, are not as friendly to the environment as a first glance would suggest. While these do not cause any environmental pollution, they require very much space. Also, they create artificial lakes, which tend to mess up the existing local eco-system. Huge areas are being flooded, destroying natural habitats (and also potential or existing settling grounds for people). River life is practically non-existent around such a dam.
Nuclear Energy does not produce any atmospheric pollution. The only emission they produce is water steam, from the cooling towers, which serve to cool down the reactors. They also do not take up as much space or destroy the eco-system or any of that.
The Problems Of Nuclear Energy
The main problem of nuclear energy is the high ratio of radioactivity that is being set free. Radioactivity exists everywhere in the world, but the concentration is usually so low that it is completely unnoticeable. The grade of radioactivity set free in relation with nuclear energy is so high that it does not only exceed the natural concentration by completely unimaginable relations, it also does considerable harm to the environment. Plants, animals and human beings exposed to a high grade of radioactivity can develop many symptoms, from unfertility to cancer to immediate death, depending on the level of concentration. The effects are usually disastrous, but sometimes very difficult for anybody to actually recognise.
Nuclear plants are usually well shielded to prevent any form of radioactivity from entering the environment, but measurements have shown that the grade of radioactivity in the environment of a nuclear power plant are usually much higher than the average normal concentration. Also, in many countries, as for example Russia or North Korea, the level of security is not so high, so radioactivity is actually set free to the environment.
The biggest problem is the presence of the burnt out fuel rods. They are simply garbage, because they have become useless, but due to the immensely high radioactivity, they just can't be thrown away. Attempts to create storage facilities are always very controversial, mostly because they are often not considered safe, and the local residents are particularly afraid of radioactivity that could be coming from these facilities.
Another problem with nuclear power plants is that the chain reactions can get out of control (Nuclear meltdown). The risk of this happening is absolutely minimal, borderlining zero, and most power plants are absolutely safe in these regards, but the effect of only one chain reaction getting out of control can be devastating; the power plant can explode, and radioactivity is distributed way beyond the territory the plant is situated in. The effects of the Chernobyl disaster were felt in all of Europe, and even Iceland measured a higher than normal concentration of radioactivity.
End of story. Thanks for listening. Goodnight, children.
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