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What are the three levels of waste produced at a nuclear power plant and how is it disposed of?
This information comes from Wikipedia, article on nuclear waste
Low level waste (LLW) is generated from hospitals and industry, as well as the nuclear fuel cycle. It comprises paper, rags, tools, clothing, filters, etc., which contain small amounts of mostly short-lived radioactivity. Commonly, LLW is designated as such as a precautionary measure if it originated from any region of an 'Active Area', which frequently includes offices with only a remote possibility of being contaminated with radioactive materials. Such LLW typically exhibits no higher radioactivity than one would expect from the same material disposed of in a non-active area, such as a normal office block. Some high activity LLW requires shielding during handling and transport but most LLW is suitable for shallow land burial. To reduce its volume, it is often compacted or incinerated before disposal. Low level waste is divided into four classes, class A, B, C and GTCC, which means "Greater Than Class C". Intermediate level waste (ILW)contains higher amounts of radioactivity and in some cases requires shielding. ILW includes resins, chemical sludge and metal reactor fuel cladding, as well as contaminated materials from reactor decommissioning. It may be solidified in concrete or bitumen for disposal. As a general rule, short-lived waste (mainly non-fuel materials from reactors) is buried in shallow repositories, while long-lived waste (from fuel and fuel-reprocessing) is deposited in deep underground facilities. U.S. regulations do not define this category of waste; the term is used in Europe and elsewhere. High Level Waste flasks are transported by train in the United Kingdom. Each flask is constructed of 14 in (360 mm) thick solid steel and weighs in excess of 50 tons
High level waste (HLW) is produced by nuclear reactors. It contains fission products and transuranic elements generated in the reactor core. It is highly radioactive and often thermally hot. The amount of HLW worldwide is currently increasing by about 12,000 metric tons every year, which is the equivalent to about 100 double-decker busses or a two-story structure built on top of a Basketball court. Transuranic waste (TRUW) as defined by U.S. regulations is, without regard to form or origin, waste that is contaminated with alpha-emitting transuranic radionuclides with half-lives greater than 20 years, and concentrations greater than 100 nCi/g (3.7 MBq/kg), excluding High Level Waste. Elements that have an atomic number greater than uranium are called transuranic ("beyond uranium"). Because of their long half-lives, TRUW is disposed more cautiously than either low level or intermediate level waste. In the U.S. it arises mainly from weapons production, and consists of clothing, tools, rags, residues, debris and other items contaminated with small amounts of radioactive elements (mainly plutonium). Under U.S. law, TRUW is further categorized into "contact-handled" (CH) and "remote-handled" (RH) on the basis of radiation dose measured at the surface of the waste container. CH TRUW has a surface dose rate not greater than 200 mrem per hour (2 mSv/h), whereas RH TRUW has a surface dose rate of 200 mrem per hour (2 mSv/h) or greater. CH TRUW does not have the very high radioactivity of high level waste, nor its high heat generation, but RH TRUW can be highly radioactive, with surface dose rates up to 1000000 mrem per hour (10000 mSv/h). The United States currently permanently disposes of TRUW generated from nuclear power plants and military facilities at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
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What country first introduced the nuclear power plant?
It was the Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant which produced around 5 megawatts of electric power. Russia.
What turns the turbine in a nuclear power plant?
In a nuclear power plant, the turbine is turned by steam produced by the heat generated from nuclear fission in the reactor core. The steam drives the turbine which then rotates a generator to produce electricity.
Is nuclear energy produced by the sunlight?
No, nuclear energy is not produced by sunlight. Nuclear energy is generated from the process of splitting atoms in a power plant, while sunlight produces solar energy through the fusion of hydrogen atoms in the sun.
What part of a nuclear power plant produces the electricity that can be used in a home?
The steam turbines (which use the steam produced by the hot nuclear pile).
What energy conversion takes place in a nuclear power plant?
In a nuclear power plant, nuclear energy is converted into heat through a process called nuclear fission. The heat produced is used to generate steam, which in turn drives a turbine connected to a generator to produce electricity.
Why have robots been sent into the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan?
Robots have been sent into Fukushima Daiichi because parts of the plant have radiation levels that exceed safe levels for human entry.
Does a nuclear plant generates more energy than a geothermal plant?
Yes, a nuclear plant typically generates more energy than a geothermal plant. Nuclear plants use nuclear reactions to produce heat to generate electricity, while geothermal plants use the Earth's heat to generate electricity. Nuclear plants have a higher energy output due to the intense heat produced by nuclear reactions.
What energy transformation occurs in a nuclear power plant?
In a nuclear power plant, nuclear energy is transformed into thermal energy through nuclear fission reactions within the reactor core. The thermal energy produced is then used to generate steam, which drives a turbine connected to a generator that produces electricity.
How much energy can a nuclear power plant can produce in an hour?
The amount of energy produced by a nuclear power plant in an hour can vary depending on its size and capacity. On average, a nuclear power plant can produce around 1,000 to 1,500 megawatt-hours of electricity per hour.
Who invented the nuclear power plant?
In 1942 Ricardo Husada invented the nuclear reactor. His team produced the first nuclear chain reaction! 1954 - Worlds first nuclear power plant (Russia) started generating electricity. The first large-scale nuclear power station opened at Calder Hall in Cumbria, England, in 1956.
Do battery-driven cars cause pollution?
Depends on where you get the electricity to recharge the batteries. If the electricity is produced in a hydro-electric plant then there is almost no pollution. If the electricity comes from a nuclear power plant then you have nuclear waste. If the electricity comes from a coal-fired plant that you do have pollution from the burning of coal.
How is the heat energy produced by the nuclear reaction used to make electrical power?
In a nuclear power plant, the heat energy produced by nuclear reactions is used to generate steam by heating water. The steam drives turbines connected to generators, which then produce electricity. This process is a way of converting the heat energy from the nuclear reactions into electrical power.
