Program Related Research Report

Nuclear Energy
What is Nuclear Energy?
Nuclear potential energy is the energy stored in the nucleus of an atom, partially as mass and partially as the energy used to bind nucleons together.Nuclear energy is released when splitting or merging the nuclei of atoms.It was discovered in 1895 by a French physicist called Henri Becquerel. Nuclear energy is produced naturally, such as the heat from the sun and stars.Nuclear energy is released by three exothermic processes:Radioactive decay, where a radioactive nucleus loses energy by emitting ionizing particles or radiation.Fusion, where two atomic nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus.Fission, where a heavy nucleus is broken into two or more lighter nuclei.
The history of nuclear energy goes back for over 60 years to December 2nd, 1942: Enrico Fermi made a chain reaction in a pile of uranium in the University of Chicago – this is noted as the start of the ‘Nuclear Age’. After that on August 6th, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. August 9th, 1945: the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki.After that on November 1st, 1952, the United States detonated the first large version of the hydrogen bomb (which is thousands of times more powerful than the atomic bomb) for testing purposes and on February 21st, 1956: the first major nuclear power plant opened in England.
There are currently more than 430 nuclear power stations in operation worldwide, with a total net installed capacity of approximately 370GW. Of these, more than 400 are water moderated63. In the UK, there is only one light-water reactor in operation at Sizewell in Suffolk. It is likely that any new nuclear power stations that might be built in the UK would be water moderated.
Based on discussions with industry during 2006 Energy Review and responses to the Energy Reviewconsultation, http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review/consultation-submissions/page27883.html
Nuclear energy is used today in many different ways. It is used to power submarines and run power plants that produce our everyday power. It is also used in the creation of nuclear weapons and is used as a source of heat. The heat from the reactor is used to heat up water and the steam moves a turbine that generates electricity. It's the same principal with a coal power plant, only the source of heat is different.
Nuclear energy really improved the industry a lot in many things like: nuclear power plants require less fuel than ones which burn fossil fuels and one ton of uranium produces more energy than several million barrels of oil and well-operated nuclear power plants do not pollute the environment.
The future of of nuclear energy is very bright. Nuclear energy would be used primarily for hydrogen production, which, in turn, is used to meet the demands for transport fuels, materials, and electricity production when the sun does not shine.
http://www.ornl.gov/~webworks/cppr/y2001/pres/125591.pdf
There are many obstacles that face the nuclear energy development such as: the problem of nuclear waste disposal and nuclear safety. It will also require more attention to the safety of fuel cycle facilities, especially reprocessing plants.low progress on waste disposal is clearly one of the main obstacles to the nuclear growth.
http://web.mit.edu/ipc/publications/pdf/03-008.pdf
Bibliography:
Based on discussions with industry during 2006 Energy Review and responses to the Energy Reviewconsultation, http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review/consultation-submissions/page27883.html
http://web.mit.edu/ipc/publications/pdf/03-008.pdf
http://www.ornl.gov/~webworks/cppr/y2001/pres/125591.pdf

http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file39197.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_energy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fusion