a
Nuclear power plants don't explode, in the style of a nuclear bomb. That particular super prompt criticality is impossible to maintain for the length of time necessary to consume the core, leading to a true, nuclear detonation. If you are thinking about the explosions that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, those were hydrogen gas explosions. Hydrogen gas built up as a consequence of the high temperature of the zircalloy fuel pins in contact with water. When additional water was added to help cool the fuel, the hydrogen combined with the oxygen in the water under temperature and exploded. Again, it was not a nuclear explosion.
Both the atomic bomb and nuclear power plant rely on nuclear fission to produce energy. The atomic bomb is designed to release a massive amount of energy in a short time, causing destruction, while a nuclear power plant harnesses controlled nuclear reactions to generate electricity for communities.
The time it takes to develop a nuclear power plant can vary greatly depending on factors such as the type of reactor being built, regulatory hurdles, and site-specific challenges. On average, it can take anywhere from 5 to 10 years for construction and regulatory approval before a new nuclear power plant becomes operational.
It is safely disposing of the bits of a burned out power station. (As nuclear fission gives off neutrons, anything near a nuclear fission reaction itself becomes radioactive over time, so it is a big job to take down a power station safely)
Power plants that burn fossil fuels and nuclear power plants are very similar in their manner of creating steam. The main difference between the two types of power plants are that fossil fuel plants emit more pollution.
The slowdown in the expansion of nuclear power in the 1980s can be attributed to various factors, including increased public concerns about nuclear safety following incidents like the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, rising costs of nuclear plant construction, regulatory hurdles, and the availability of alternative energy sources like natural gas. These factors combined to make the economics and public perception of nuclear power less favorable, leading to a decrease in new nuclear plant construction during that time.
Construction for the Fukushima Daiichi plant began on July 25, 1967. The first reactor to go on line was Unit 1, commissioned on March 26, 1971. At the time of the meltdowns, the plant had been in operation for almost 40 years.
Nuclear power is being used all the time, in the US and many other countries. If you decide to build a new plant, it obviously takes several years to come on stream
There is no fixed number, but most nuclear stations have two reactors. These are usually run quite separately, with separate generating equipment, so that whilst one reactor is being refuelled the other can continue to produce power. Some stations have more than two reactors, but usually then they have been built over a long time period and the later ones may be of an improved design.
There are several reasons for the limited growth of nuclear power compared to fossil fuel plants. One reason is the high cost of building and decommissioning nuclear facilities. Concerns about nuclear accidents and waste disposal also contribute to the reluctance to expand nuclear power. Additionally, the time it takes to build a nuclear plant and the availability of alternative energy sources play a role in the decision-making process.
The start-up time for nuclear reactors can vary depending on the type and size of the reactor. Generally, it can take several hours to several days for a nuclear reactor to start up and reach full power operation. The process involves gradually increasing power levels while ensuring safety and stability.
Nuclear power is cleaner. · The problem of radioactive waste is still an unsolved one. The waste from nuclear energy is extremely dangerous and it has to be carefully looked after for several thousand years (10'000 years according to United States Environmental Protection Agency standards).· High risks: Despite a generally high security standard, accidents can still happen. It is technically impossible to build a plant with 100% security. A small probability of failure will always last. The consequences of an accident would be absolutely devastating both for human being as for the nature (see here , here or here ). The more nuclear power plants (and nuclear waste storage shelters) are built, the higher is the probability of a disastrous failure somewhere in the world.· Nuclear power plants as well as nuclear waste could be preferred targets for terrorist attacks. No atomic energy plant in the world could withstand an attack similar to 9/11 in Yew York. Such a terrorist act would have catastrophic effects for the whole world.· During the operation of nuclear power plants, radioactive waste is produced, which in turn can be used for the production of nuclear weapons. In addition, the same know-how used to design nuclear power plants can to a certain extent be used to build nuclear weapons (nuclear proliferation).· The energy source for nuclear energy is Uranium. Uranium is a scarce resource, its supply is estimated to last only for the next 30 to 60 years depending on the actual demand.· The time frame needed for formalities, planning and building of a new nuclear power generation plant is in the range of 20 to 30 years in the western democracies. In other words: It is an illusion to build new nuclear power plants in a short time.Sustainability: Is nuclear energy sustainable?For several reasons, nuclear power is neither «green» nor sustainable:· Both the nuclear waste as well as retired nuclear plants are a life-threatening legacy for hundreds of future generations. It flagrantly contradicts with the thoughts of sustainability if future generations have to deal with dangerous waste generated from preceding generations. See also here . · Uranium, the source of energy for nuclear power, is available on earth only in limited quantities. Uranium is being «consumed» (i.e. converted) during the operation of the nuclear power plant so it won't be available any more for future generations. This again contradicts the principle of sustainability.Nuclear Power Plant Accidents and Terrorism· According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, regulated safety procedures are not being followed to ensure that nuclear power plants are safe. Even if all safety precautions are followed, it is no guarantee that a nuclear power plant accident will not occur. If a nuclear power plant accident occurs, the environment and surrounding people could be exposed to high levels of radiation. Terrorism threats are another concern that needs to be addressed. A satisfactory plan to protect nuclear power plants from terrorism is not in place.