Nuclear Power
Introduction
Maintaining nuclear fission produces heat for useful work. Power plants that produce nuclear produce a little percentage of the energy in the world and some of the electricity in the world. In the past years, there were almost five hundred reactors in the world in 31 countries. The generation is through a metal known as Uranium. The first nuclear station started in England in the 50’s. Military ships among other vessels such as submarines have plants used as engines (Benduhn 18). This kind of power produces little percentage of the energy needs in the world, and produces large energy amounts from fuel without experiencing pollution that would be from burning fossils of fuels. Splitting of this uranium called fission.
Stations producing nuclear energy work the same as stations that burn fossil fuels, though there is a chain reaction that produces heat inside. This reactor uses the generation of uranium as fuel is through nuclear fission. Here, neutrons break into uranium atoms, which split to release energy as heat. Water cools down the heat through the reactor, thus producing steam, which compel the turbines, which compel the generators. Today, nuclear power stations use similar turbines as conventional power stations. In some countries, nuclear stations built along the coast use water from the sea to cool the steam, which is ready to be pumped again, meaning they do not have coolers like in other power stations. This coolant makes the reactor cooler the heat is carried away from the reactor toward the steam generator.
Ongoing debate about nuclear energy is that some proponents state that nuclear power is an energy source that is a sustainable and it reduces emissions from carbon .while some opponents believe nuclear power brings about threats to the environment. Several accidents have occurred with nuclear energy including the nuclear powered submarines. However, a safety record for nuclear energy is better than that of other technological types of energies (Morris 20). Improvement on the safety use of nuclear fusion is done to use it used in future.
The United States produces high nuclear energy, as it produces 19 % of the electricity. Military and other ships use nuclear marine driving force. Some space vehicles use nuclear reactors such as the Soviet RORSAT series. Research on improvement on the safety use is ongoing on safe plants and nuclear fusion use, and process heat use such as hydrogen production for the desalination of water from the sea.
There is a higher potential of a nuclear fusion to be safer and produce less radioactive waste than that of fission. These reactions are viable though technically hard and are yet to be made on a scale used as a power plant. Fusion power is undergoing through a thoroughly investigation thoroughly since the 50’s. Fission is promising for space propulsion and to produce high velocities, which have less mass reaction. This is caused by high energy density from nuclear reactions. Radioactive decay was used on a minimal scale especially to power space missions through using generators.
Geological Hazards
Geological hazards constitute the class of potential perils that are impossible to predict their occurrences and magnitude until they happen. Hence, it calls or prior preparations before they occur especially at the places vulnerable to the risks. Humanity lacks clue when and how will be if the hazard strike so the thought measures get implemented and proper means of saving the victims installed in place. However, this is trial and error where the prepared for task is not thought when it will take place and how many structures will be destroyed and by which extend. The common geological hazards comprise the earthquakes, floods volcanic eruptions and mass earth movement (Kumar 37).
The thought of geological hazards in regards to the nuclear power revolves around the earthquakes. Since, it is very hard to predict extend and magnitude in the regions where they will occur (Voege & Hantula 75). Mainly, they occur unawares yielding to massive destruction and termination of lives of both humanity and animals inclusive of the aquatic if the effects reach water bodies. For instance, the oceans and seas, which even the slightest alteration or disturbance, affect the order of living organism in water. Currently, with the increasing technological acquaintance some minor series of earthquakes do have mitigation especially when worse calamities happen (Kumar 21). This involves proper and timely measures usually established prior actual occurrence of the earthquake. The measures comprise evacuation and readjustment of the firms that cannot relocate by halting their processes especially nuclear plants. Since upon tempering by the calamity, the plants’ effects are worse and take long prior they die out (Voege & Hantula 78).
Geological hazards greatly affect the operation of generation of nuclear energy where plants ‘regions get affected yielding to even worse and long lasting predicaments. These emanates from the destructions of the reactors, which spill their contents and especially those concerning elements’ fission to produce energy. These are dangerous to humanity and result to the exposing of their rays in the immediate environment. Nuclear energy constitutes the main new acquaintances globally known to the predicament of energy crisis both at home and industrial sectors. Since, it is a free-polluting environmental source, which only requires little material for massive generation of the intended energy capacity (Kumar 72).
Floods among the stated geological hazards, it has some measures of prevention that scientists and like-minded people of diverse professions have decided and proposed new design o the buildings in the most vulnerable regions. Among the decisions postulated, entail well and up to standard building of strong and reliable foundation plus strong bottom walls. This enables the natives or people taking cover inside the building water cannot exceed a certain level (Voege & Hantula 102). Hence, making the building secure even if the waters exceed the normal level people will get relieve of saving prior they drown (Voege & Hantulan 56). Additionally, regions that incase any poor operation, rays and other contents cannot leak to the environment and affect humanity that is close to the plant.
Conclusion
World regimes due to the increased obnoxious emissions of gases and other related agencies have resulted to immense investing in nuclear energy (Voege & Hantula 56). Though nuclear plants require colossal cash to install, numerous states have tried on how to benefit from the venture (Kumar 347). This entails much involvement since the location requires good planning and careful selection far from the regions that might experience geological hazards.
Work cited
Benduhn, Tea. Nuclear Power. New York: Gareth Stevens. 2009.
Kumar, Madan, Jha. Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters: Vulnerability, Preparedness and Mitigation. Springer. Netherlands: 2010.
Morris, Neil. Nuclear Power. New York: Black Rabbit Books. 2009.
Voege, Debra & Hantula, Richard. Nuclear Power. Westport: Infobase Publishing. 2010.
