Nuclear waste Why did we make it in the first place? What do we do with it now that we ve got it? Energyeducation.edu
Overview Who am I? Why are energy and matter are needed by society? What do we get from energy? Why nuclear power? Is nuclear power and a DGR worth it?
Energyeducation.ca Encyclopedia on entire energy sector For people who are curious about energy Tries to capture entire energy picture 1000+ pages
Physics: The study of the physical world Matter -All stuff Energy -Movement & Ability to move
Energy can be: Motion Movement Heat Radiation/Light Ability to Fall Chemically react (burn) Have nuclear reactions
Matter is needed Solid materials from nature are building blocks Cotton, wool, pelts become clothing Food becomes our bodies Rocks and trees become our roads, our buildings, our homes, even the metal we use But water and air are used too!
Energy is needed Coal (solid) Radiation/Light Oil (liquid) Movement Natural gas
Need both matter and energy Matter Solids, liquids and gasses that we use Energy Heat, light and motion that we use Both matter and energy that we use have parts we don t want, and that s waste.
Waste: also energy and matter Energy: Waste heat & radiation Matter Solid waste ash from a fire or coal Liquid waste tailings ponds Gaseous waste exhaust from a smokestack
Waste vs. Pollution Waste Material or energy that is not wanted or not used Unusable remains or byproducts of a process. Pollution Harm to environment (including people) from waste Negative effects from byproducts of a process Solid waste - least likely waste to create pollution.
Energy from Earth and Sun. Materials from Earth. Waste material remains part of Earth
Took me years to understand: We don t want: Calories Gasoline Electricity Natural gas
Talk with grandma We want energy services send e-mail go visit grandma
Technology harnesses energy Technology uses energy Computers send e- mail Drive/fly/train to visit grandma
Technology harnesses energy from energy currencies Energy currencies make using energy easier Computers need electricity Cars need gasoline
Energy currencies are harvested from natural resources Harvest technologies generate energy currencies Wind turbines generate electricity Oil derricks and refineries make gasoline
Harvest technologies exploit natural resources Wind turbines get energy from flows (wind) Oil derricks get energy from oil deposits (fuel)
All comes from the sun The sun creates different wind patterns The sun creates flora/fauna that become oil Image 2014, Xining Chen, used with permission
Or 4 truck-loads of uranium
The Climate is Changing, the World is warming It s mostly CO 2, which makes it human driven (image from NASA: 6 decades of warming Earth)
To avoid CO 2, avoid combustion Solar Wind, or nuclear Wind farms Solar
Uranium from a hole in the ground
Geology Athabasca sandstone 530m Ore deposit Dry basement rock
Raise Boring Step 1 Pilot hole drilled through the ore from the upper level
Machine to grind rocks
Reaming head installed at the lower level Bores back up through the ore Raise Boring Step 2
Atoms and nuclei Neutrons Protons
Nuclear Fission Slow Neutron Fast Neutrons Heat
Need to slow the neutrons Fast Neutrons Heavy Water Slow Neutrons
Pistons and turbines http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/news/sto ry/200709281198.html
Nuclear reactions electricity Need a place to get heat Nuclear fuel Also coal, gasoline, etc. Need a place to get rid of heat (waste) Large body of water Atmosphere
Dump water into the air Water vapor rises from the cooling towers around a large power plant. Not smoke! Not pollution! Cooling is needed regardless of fuel type http://www.picture-newsletter.com/nuclear/index.htm
Steam Turbine Turbine (Backwards fan) Condenser Boiler Pump Source: http://e-learning.kku.ac.th/course/view.php?id=470&cal_m=3&cal_y=2008
From nrc.gov:
Kept under water for ~10 years http://www.cna.ca/nuclear_facts/nuclear_waste/
After cooling in the pools Dry storage containers (50 years) The older the fuel is, the safer it is
How much? Each fuel bundle is the size of a fireplace log ~3 million in Canada Mostly Ontario 1 soccer field, the height of a player http://www.nwmo.ca/ to find out more!
Do nothing and Fuel is ~ as radioactive as the starting rock in ~1,000,000 years ~
Let s keep it isolated 5 barriers 1. The pellet 2. The element & bundle 3. The used nuclear fuel container 4. Bentonite clay 5. The rock itself
Barrier 1: The Nuclear Fuel Pellet ceramic that won t dissolve in water
Barrier 2: The Fuel Element and the Fuel Bundle Zircalloy keeps fuel in and water out.
Barrier 3: The Used Nuclear Fuel Container 48 bundles isolated from environment (48 family s lifetime electricity waste.)
Barrier 4: Bentonite Clay Stops water flow To keep from corroding the copper
Barrier 5: half a kilometer of solid rock! Legend 1. Surface facilities 2. Main Shaft 3. Placement rooms 4. Ventilation exhaust shaft
5 communities of the 22 are still being considered. Need only 1.
Why bother? The world is getting hotter But hot isn t the real problem
Calgary June 18 th 2013
Calgary June 23 2013
Folsom Lake June 2011. From California Department of Water Resources at: http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/multimedia/california-drought- 20140225/#.VVQQAZNvm6I
January 2014 Fossil fuel use is causing droughts
Coral reefs
Are dying
Wildfires are getting worse
Can t return smoke to the ground, but the rock will safely hold nuclear waste. To sum up