Archive:000/Conventional nuclear power - Revision history

Elie: Elie moved page Conventional nuclear power to Archive:000/Conventional nuclear power without leaving a redirect: Huge_refactor

2024-10-26T20:29:29Z

Elie moved page Conventional nuclear power to Archive:000/Conventional nuclear power without leaving a redirect: Huge_refactor

← Older revision	Revision as of 16:29, 26 October 2024
(No difference)

Elie at 18:41, 1 June 2024

2024-06-01T18:41:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:41, 1 June 2024
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	[[Category:Energy sources]]		[[Category:Energy sources]]

	Currently, all of the world's nuclear power plants{{x\|any exceptions are ''experimental'' and not ~~scaleable~~ yet}} run on '''conventional nuclear power''': [[nuclear fission]] that depends heavily on uranium-235.		Currently, all of the world's nuclear power plants{{x\|any exceptions are ''experimental'' and not scalable yet (as of 2024)}} run on '''conventional nuclear power''': [[nuclear fission]] that depends heavily on uranium-235.

	{{considerations}} __NOTOC__		{{considerations}} __NOTOC__

	==Scarcity of uranium-235==		==Scarcity of uranium-235==
	{{basically\|Major ~~problem~~}}		{{basically\|Major limitation\|bad}}
	[[File:Shinarump Mine Waste Rock.jpg\|thumb\|Uranium occurs naturally as a mix of two isotopes: uranium-235 (0.7%) and uranium-238 (99.3%).]]		[[File:Shinarump Mine Waste Rock.jpg\|thumb\|Uranium occurs naturally as a mix of two isotopes: uranium-235 '''(0.7%)''' and uranium-238 '''(99.3%)'''.]]

	{{dp		{{dp
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	}}		}}

	This is the main reason why nuclear power only provides a '''small fraction''' of the world's [[energy]].<!-- TODO: add pie chart --> Uranium-235 is a scarce mineral - far more scarce than [[fossil fuels]].		'''This''' is the main reason why nuclear power only provides a '''small fraction''' of the world's [[energy]].<!-- TODO: add pie chart --> Uranium-235 is a scarce mineral - far more scarce than [[fossil fuels]].

	If all the world's energy were to come from nuclear, we'd '''run out''' of uranium-235 in about '''4 years.'''		If all the world's energy were to come from nuclear, we'd '''run out''' of uranium-235 in about '''4 years.'''
	{{p2\|(see maths)\|{{calc\|uranium.reserves * nuclear_power_plant.efficiency\|years energy.tfc\|\|\|}} }}		{{p2\|(see maths)\|{{calc\|uranium.reserves * nuclear_power_plant.efficiency\|years energy.tfc\|\|\|}} }}
	{{p2\|(more)\|~ We'd run out even faster [[energy demand scenarios\|if all nations were developed]].<br /><br />~ In either case, conventional nuclear power can't really meet global energy demands. Best case, it might be sufficient for [[baseload]] electricity only (which is a smaller part of total [[energy demand]]).}}		{{p2\|(more)\|~ We'd run out even faster [[energy demand scenarios\|if all nations were developed]].<br /><br />~ In either case, conventional nuclear power can't really meet global energy demands. Best case, it might be sufficient for [[baseload]] electricity only (which is a smaller part of total [[energy demand]]).}}
			<!-- TALK: There's another way this can be calculated: comparing 'uranium primary energy' vs 'fossil fuel primary energy'. Both calculations produce about the same result. It might be worth refactoring this page to include both, if it can be done in a way that doesn't make things seem more complicated for the reader. -->

	'''Possible solutions:'''		'''Possible solutions:'''
	* [[Breeder reactors]], to make use of uranium-238, which is over 100 times more abundant.		* [[Breeder reactors]], to make use of uranium-238, which is over 100 times more abundant.
	* <small>~~Extracting~~ [[uranium from seawater]]~~</small><sup>~~[~~unlikely to be viable~~]</~~sup~~>
			'''FAQ:''' <small>
			* "What about obtaining uranium from seawater? I heard that's more abundant?"
			** The amount of energy required to extract [[uranium from seawater]] is high. The only way to [[EROI\|get back more energy than we put in]] is if we use the uranium-238 part of it. Conventional nuclear power does not.
			</small>

	==Nuclear waste==		==Nuclear waste==
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	==Risk of meltdowns==		==Risk of meltdowns==
	{{basically\|Generally manageable}}		{{basically\|Generally manageable}}
	Meltdowns have happened twice in history: [[Chernobyl]] and [[Fukushima]]. Nuclear plants have since been designed to not repeat the mistakes of the past. {{en}} Then again, some people say there are still unknown risks. <sup>[~~debate~~ needed~~, perhaps~~]</sup>		Meltdowns have happened twice in history: [[Chernobyl]] and [[Fukushima]]. Nuclear plants have since been designed to not repeat the mistakes of the past. {{en}} Then again, some people say there are still unknown risks. <sup>[discussion needed]</sup>
	<!-- TODO: {{qn}}: put in perspective the number of lives lost and the amount of land lost, relative to the amount of energy generated (throughout all of history). Compare to fossil fuels etc. -->		<!-- TODO: {{qn}}: put in perspective the number of lives lost and the amount of land lost, relative to the amount of energy generated (throughout all of history). Compare to fossil fuels etc. -->

Elie: /* Risk of meltdowns */

2023-07-01T05:26:32Z

Risk of meltdowns

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:26, 1 July 2023
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	==Risk of meltdowns==		==Risk of meltdowns==
	{{basically\|Generally manageable}}		{{basically\|Generally manageable}}
	~~{{empty}}<!-- TODO: elaborate: This has~~ happened twice in history: [[Chernobyl]] and [[Fukushima]]. -->		Meltdowns have happened twice in history: [[Chernobyl]] and [[Fukushima]]. Nuclear plants have since been designed to not repeat the mistakes of the past. {{en}} Then again, some people say there are still unknown risks. <sup>[debate needed, perhaps]</sup>
			<!-- TODO: {{qn}}: put in perspective the number of lives lost and the amount of land lost, relative to the amount of energy generated (throughout all of history). Compare to fossil fuels etc. -->

	==Weapons proliferation==		==Weapons proliferation==
	{{basically\|Under control}}		{{basically\|Under control}}
	Reactors are well designed to prevent people from stealing uranium to make thermonuclear bombs. Governments of course still have nuclear warheads, which is still a [[nuclear war\|major issue in itself]].		Reactors are well designed to prevent people from stealing uranium to make thermonuclear bombs. Governments of course still have nuclear warheads, which is still a [[nuclear war\|major issue in itself]].

Elie: /* Weapons proliferation */

2023-07-01T05:20:08Z

Weapons proliferation

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:20, 1 July 2023
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	==Weapons proliferation==		==Weapons proliferation==
	{{basically\|Under control}}		{{basically\|Under control}}
	~~{{empty}}~~		Reactors are well designed to prevent people from stealing uranium to make thermonuclear bombs. Governments of course still have nuclear warheads, which is still a [[nuclear war\|major issue in itself]].

Elie: /* Risk of meltdowns */

2023-07-01T05:10:54Z

Risk of meltdowns

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:10, 1 July 2023
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	==Risk of meltdowns==		==Risk of meltdowns==
	{{basically\|Generally manageable}}		{{basically\|Generally manageable}}
	{{empty}}		{{empty}}<!-- TODO: elaborate: This has happened twice in history: [[Chernobyl]] and [[Fukushima]]. -->

	==Weapons proliferation==		==Weapons proliferation==
	{{basically\|Under control}}		{{basically\|Under control}}
	{{empty}}		{{empty}}

Elie at 02:19, 7 May 2023

2023-05-07T02:19:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:19, 6 May 2023
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	[[File:Nuclear Power Plant Cattenom.jpg\|thumb\|Nuclear power plant]]		[[File:Nuclear Power Plant Cattenom.jpg\|thumb\|Nuclear power plant]]

			[[Category:Energy sources]]

	Currently, all of the world's nuclear power plants{{x\|any exceptions are ''experimental'' and not scaleable yet}} run on '''conventional nuclear power''': [[nuclear fission]] that depends heavily on uranium-235.		Currently, all of the world's nuclear power plants{{x\|any exceptions are ''experimental'' and not scaleable yet}} run on '''conventional nuclear power''': [[nuclear fission]] that depends heavily on uranium-235.

Elie at 21:32, 5 May 2023

2023-05-05T21:32:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:32, 5 May 2023
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	[[File:Nuclear Power Plant Cattenom.jpg\|thumb\|Nuclear power plant]]		[[File:Nuclear Power Plant Cattenom.jpg\|thumb\|Nuclear power plant]]

	Currently, all of the world's nuclear power plants{{x\|any exceptions are ''experimental'' and not scaleable yet}} run on '''conventional nuclear power'''~~{{x\|for lack of a better term}} which is~~ [[nuclear fission]] that depends heavily on uranium-235.		Currently, all of the world's nuclear power plants{{x\|any exceptions are ''experimental'' and not scaleable yet}} run on '''conventional nuclear power''': [[nuclear fission]] that depends heavily on uranium-235.

	{{considerations}} __NOTOC__		{{considerations}} __NOTOC__
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	[[File:Shinarump Mine Waste Rock.jpg\|thumb\|Uranium occurs naturally as a mix of two isotopes: uranium-235 (0.7%) and uranium-238 (99.3%).]]		[[File:Shinarump Mine Waste Rock.jpg\|thumb\|Uranium occurs naturally as a mix of two isotopes: uranium-235 (0.7%) and uranium-238 (99.3%).]]

	~~This is the main reason why nuclear power provides only a '''small fraction''' of the world's [[energy]]. Uranium-235 is a scarce mineral - far more scarce than [[fossil fuels]].~~

	If all the world's energy were to come from nuclear, we'd '''run out''' of uranium-235 in about '''4 years.''' {{x\|Hence, conventional nuclear power should really only be used for [[baseload]] electricity, which is a small part of global [[energy demand]], instead of the whole thing.}}

	~~<tab name="see maths" collapsed>~~
	{{dp		{{dp
	\|<nowiki>uranium.reserves</nowiki>		\|<nowiki>uranium.reserves</nowiki>
Line 44:		Line 39:
	- Page 47 - Simplified energy balance table - World energy balance, 2018</nowiki>		- Page 47 - Simplified energy balance table - World energy balance, 2018</nowiki>
	}}		}}
	{{calc
	\|~~<nowiki>~~uranium.reserves * nuclear_power_plant.efficiency~~</nowiki>~~		This is the main reason why nuclear power only provides a '''small fraction''' of the world's [[energy]].<!-- TODO: add pie chart --> Uranium-235 is a scarce mineral - far more scarce than [[fossil fuels]].
	\|~~<nowiki>~~years energy.tfc~~</nowiki>~~
	\|		If all the world's energy were to come from nuclear, we'd '''run out''' of uranium-235 in about '''4 years.'''
	\|		{{p2\|(see maths)\|{{calc\|uranium.reserves * nuclear_power_plant.efficiency\|years energy.tfc\|\|\|}} }}
	\|We'd run out even faster [[energy demand scenarios\|if all nations were developed]].		{{p2\|(more)\|~ We'd run out even faster [[energy demand scenarios\|if all nations were developed]].<br /><br />~ In either case, conventional nuclear power can't really meet global energy demands. Best case, it might be sufficient for [[baseload]] electricity only (which is a smaller part of total [[energy demand]]).}}
	}}
	</~~tab~~>

	'''Possible solutions:'''		'''Possible solutions:'''
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	{{basically\|Long-term problem}}		{{basically\|Long-term problem}}

	~~When most~~ of the uranium-235 ~~is used up in the reactor~~, the remaining matter becomes "spent fuel" and must be disposed of. This nuclear waste is still radioactive enough to cause harm to anyone exposed to it without protective equipment. It remains this way for millions of years.		Since the reactors only make use of the uranium-235 component, the remaining matter becomes "spent fuel" and must be disposed of. This nuclear waste is still radioactive enough to cause harm to anyone exposed to it without protective equipment. It remains this way for millions of years.

	<!-- TODO:		<!-- TODO:
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	* talk about how could the waste be marked with warning symbols if societies far into the future don't use the same symbols as us		* talk about how could the waste be marked with warning symbols if societies far into the future don't use the same symbols as us
	-->		-->

	'''Possible solutions:'''		'''Possible solutions:'''
	* [[Breeder reactors]], which ~~would continue to extract~~ energy from the spent fuel until there's ~~almost nothing~~ left.		* [[Breeder reactors]], which could keep obtaining energy from the spent fuel (mostly uranium-238) until there's barely any radioactive waste left at all.

	==Risk of meltdowns==		==Risk of meltdowns==

Elie: Created page with "Nuclear power plant Currently, all of the world's nuclear power plants{{x|any exceptions are ''experimental'' and not scaleable yet}} run on '''conventional nuclear power'''{{x|for lack of a better term}} which is nuclear fission that depends heavily on uranium-235. {{considerations}} NOTOC ==Scarcity of uranium-235== {{basically|Major problem}} File:Shinarump Mine Waste Rock.jpg|thumb|Uranium occurs naturally..."

2023-05-03T22:16:55Z

Created page with "thumb|Nuclear power plant Currently, all of the world's nuclear power plants{{x|any exceptions are ''experimental'' and not scaleable yet}} run on '''conventional nuclear power'''{{x|for lack of a better term}} which is nuclear fission that depends heavily on uranium-235. {{considerations}} __NOTOC__ ==Scarcity of uranium-235== {{basically|Major problem}} File:Shinarump Mine Waste Rock.jpg|thumb|Uranium occurs naturally..."

New page

[[File:Nuclear Power Plant Cattenom.jpg|thumb|Nuclear power plant]]

Currently, all of the world's nuclear power plants{{x|any exceptions are ''experimental'' and not scaleable yet}} run on '''conventional nuclear power'''{{x|for lack of a better term}} which is [[nuclear fission]] that depends heavily on uranium-235.

{{considerations}} __NOTOC__

==Scarcity of uranium-235==
{{basically|Major problem}}
[[File:Shinarump Mine Waste Rock.jpg|thumb|Uranium occurs naturally as a mix of two isotopes: uranium-235 (0.7%) and uranium-238 (99.3%).]]

This is the main reason why nuclear power provides only a '''small fraction''' of the world's [[energy]]. Uranium-235 is a scarce mineral - far more scarce than [[fossil fuels]].

If all the world's energy were to come from nuclear, we'd '''run out''' of uranium-235 in about '''4 years.''' {{x|Hence, conventional nuclear power should really only be used for [[baseload]] electricity, which is a small part of global [[energy demand]], instead of the whole thing.}}

<tab name="see maths" collapsed>
{{dp
|<nowiki>uranium.reserves</nowiki>
|<nowiki>8.070 million tonnes uranium_natural</nowiki>
|<nowiki>Global uranium mineral reserves, measured in energy units</nowiki>
|<nowiki>The calculator understands "tonnes uranium_natural" as an energy unit. It's based on the fact that natural uranium is just 0.7% uranium-235 (the isotope we extract energy from). The rest is uranium-238, which isn't useful for energy unless we use breeder reactors.</nowiki> <nowiki>
</nowiki> <nowiki>
Citation:</nowiki> <nowiki>
Uranium 2020: Resources, Production and Demand ('Red Book')</nowiki> <nowiki>
"The total recoverable identified resources to $260/kg U is 8.070 million tonnes U."</nowiki> <nowiki>
</nowiki>
}}
{{dp
|<nowiki>nuclear_power_plant.efficiency</nowiki>
|<nowiki>33%</nowiki>
|<nowiki>Electrical output divided by the heat energy of the nuclear reactor</nowiki>
|<nowiki>Nuclear power plants convert heat (from uranium-235, currently) into electricity. The process is approximately 33% efficient.</nowiki> <nowiki>
</nowiki> <nowiki>
Citation: Key World Energy Statistics 2020 (IEA report) - Page 73 - Glossary - Nuclear</nowiki>
}}
{{dp
|<nowiki>energy.tfc</nowiki>
|<nowiki>9937.70 Mtoe/year</nowiki>
|<nowiki>Global energy usage - total final consumption (TFC)</nowiki>
|<nowiki>Includes: fuel (80.7%) + electricity (19.3%) AFTER it is generated.</nowiki> <nowiki>
</nowiki> <nowiki>
Does not include the fuel used in generating electricity. See [energy.tes] for that.</nowiki> <nowiki>
</nowiki> <nowiki>
Citation: "Key World Energy Statistics 2020" IEA</nowiki> <nowiki>
- Page 47 - Simplified energy balance table - World energy balance, 2018</nowiki>
}}
{{calc
|<nowiki>uranium.reserves * nuclear_power_plant.efficiency</nowiki>
|<nowiki>years energy.tfc</nowiki>
|
|
|We'd run out even faster [[energy demand scenarios|if all nations were developed]].
}}
</tab>

'''Possible solutions:'''
* [[Breeder reactors]], to make use of uranium-238, which is over 100 times more abundant.
* Extracting [[uranium from seawater]][unlikely to be viable]

==Nuclear waste==
{{basically|Long-term problem}}

When most of the uranium-235 is used up in the reactor, the remaining matter becomes "spent fuel" and must be disposed of. This nuclear waste is still radioactive enough to cause harm to anyone exposed to it without protective equipment. It remains this way for millions of years.



'''Possible solutions:'''
* [[Breeder reactors]], which would continue to extract energy from the spent fuel until there's almost nothing left.

==Risk of meltdowns==
{{basically|Generally manageable}}
{{empty}}
==Weapons proliferation==
{{basically|Under control}}
{{empty}}