Introduction to Nuclear EnergyJacopo BuongiornoAssociate Professor of Nuclear Science and EngineeringU-235 has 2.5 million times more energy per pound than coal: 37 tons of fuel ((3%-enriched uranium) per 1000 MWe reactor )p per year Nuclear provides an emission-free heat source that can be converted into multiple products  Electricity (worldwide)  Steam for industry (done in Switzerland, Russia, Japan, not in the U.S.)  Hydrogen (future with development of technology) Image by MIT OpenCourseWare.Nuclear comppared to fossil fuels Fuel energy content Coal (C): C + O2  CO2 + 4 eV Natural Gas (CH4): CH4 + O2  CO2 + 2H2O + 8 eV Nuclear (U): 235U + n  93Rb + 141Cs + 2n + 200 MeV Fuel Consumption, 1000 MWe Power Plant (=106 homes) Coal (40% efficiency):Coal (40% efficiency): 109/(0.4x4x1.6x10-19)3.9x1027 C/sec (=6750 ton/day) Natural Gas ((50% efficiency):y) 109/(0.5x8x1.6x10-19)1.6x1027 CH4/sec (=64 m3/sec) Nuclear (33% efficiency): 109/(0.33x200x1.6x10-13)1.0x1020 U/sec (=3 kg/day) 1 eV = 1.6x10-19 JU oreYellow cake Fuel assemblyyPellets Fuel pin© source unknown. All rights reserved. This content is excluded from our Creative Commons license. For more information, see http://ocw.mit.edu/fairuse.Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) Public domain image from wikipedia.© source unknown. All rights reserved. This content is excluded from our Creative Commons license. For more information, see http://ocw.mit.edu/fairuse.Rankine Cycle Reactor-Turbine-generator Turbine generator turns heat into work, then electricity Image removed due to copyright restrictions.Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) Public domain image from wikipedia.PWR Primary System PWR Primary System Courtesy of Westinghouse. Used with permission.PWRReactor VesselShowing internalShowing internalStructures and FuelAssembliesPublic domain image from wikipedia.Heat Discharge in Nuclear Plants(2ndlaw of thermodynamics)Calvert Cliffs - MDDiablo Canyon© source unknown. All rights reserved. This content is excluded from our Creative Commons license. For more information, see http://ocw.mit.edu/fairuse.-Nuclear Energygy in the US,, todayy 104 US reactors, 100 GWe is 13% of US installed cappacityy but pprovides about 20% of electricityy. In 2007 nuclear energy production in the US was the highest ever. US plants have run at 90.5% capacity in 2009, up from 56% in 1980. 35 GWe of uprates were permitted in the last decade 3.5 GWe of uprates were permitted in the last decade. 3.5 GWe are expected by 2014 and more by 2020. 59 reactor licenses extended, from 40 years to 60 years of operation, 20 more reactors in process. Electricity production costs of nuclear are the lowest in US (1-2 ¢/kWh)in US (1 2 ¢/kWh)Calvert Cliffs - MDRobinson -SCIndian Point - NYDiablo Canyon - CAPrairie Island site - MN Surry - VA© source unknown. All rights reserved. This content is excluded from our Creative Commons license. For more information, see http://ocw.mit.edu/fairuse.The MIT Research Reactor - 5 MW power- Located near NW12 on Albany St.- Operated by MIT students - Just turned 50!© source unknown. All rights reserved. This content is excluded from our Creative Commons license. For more information, see http://ocw.mit.edu/fairuse.Nuclear Energy y in the World Todaygy About 440 World reactors in 30 countries, 14% of global electricity produced. Courtesy of MIT student. Used with permission.60 new reactors are in various stages of constructionOlkiluoto–FinlandOlkiluoto –FinlandLungmen – TaiwanKudankulam – IndiaFl illFFlamanville –FranceShin kori – S. KoreaRostov – RussiaSanmen – ChinaShimane –Japan© source unknown. All rights reserved. This content is excluded from our Creative Commons license. For more information, see http://ocw.mit.edu/fairuse.3 ongggoing in the US!Vogtle, GeorgiaSummer, South CarolinaVogtle, GeorgiaSummer, South CarolinaWatts Bar, Tennessee© source unknown. All rights reserved. This content is excluded from our Creative Commons license. For more information, see http://ocw.mit.edu/fairuse.The Case for New Nuclear Plants in the US Concerns for climate change… Athabasca Glacier, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada Photo provided by the National Snow and Ice Data Center AbAboutt 700 000 000 t 700,000,000 ton of CO2 emiissiions avoidided f CO2 d every year in the US Hydro 21.7%Nuclear 72.3%Solar, Wind &Geothermal 6.1%Sources of Emission-Free Electricity 2008US dataImage by MIT OpenCourseWare.Courtesy of National Snow and Ice Data Center. Used with permission.The Case for New Nuclear Plants in the US (2) The Case for New Nuclear Plants in the US (2) …and growing fossil fuel imports and consumption Total U.S. Energy Consumption ↑ ↑ Low Carbon ↓ ↓ Oil is the Challenge U.S. data from EIA, Annual Energy Outlook 2008 Early Release, years 2006 and 2030; world data from IEA, World Energy Outlook 2007, years 2005 and 2030 Coal 23%Oil 40%Gas 22%Nuclear 8%Renewables 6%(Primarily Hydro)Total U.S. Energy ConsumptionImage by MIT OpenCourseWare.CCan nucllear displlace coal? di l? Yes, as they are both used for baseload electricity generation. What about oil?Oil Is Used for Transportation. What Are the Other Transport Fuel Options? Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) Liquid fuels from fossil sources (oilLiquid fuels from fossil sources (oil, natural gas and coal) Liquid fuels from biomassLiquid fuels from biomass Hydrogen  Long term option  Depends upon hydrogen on-board-vehicle storage bbreak h kthroughhd ese e o e t sPHEVs: Recharge Batteries from the Electric Grid Plus Use of Gasoline Electric car limitationsElectric car limitations  Limited range  Recharge time (Gasoline/Diesel refueling rate is ~10 MW) refueling rate is 10 MW) Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle  Electric drive for short trips  Recharge battery overnight to Recharge battery overnight to avoid rapid recharge requirement  Hybrid engine with gasoline or diesel engine for logonger trippseg Connects cars and light trucksto the electrical grid Courtesy of the Electric Power Research Institute Images removed due to copyright restrictions.Image by MIT OpenCourseWare.Need 150 to 200 Nuclear Plants Each Producing 1000 MW(PHEVs: Annual Gasoline Consumpption -100Annu 9008007006005004003002001000Annual Gasoline Consumption (gallons)Conventional vehiclePlug-in HEV, 20 mile EV rangePlug-in HEV, 60 mile EV range"No-Plug"