Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power Essay Example for Free

Pros and Cons of thermo atomic business leader proveThe release and development of the enormous brawniness potential locked in the atomic nucleus signified a key revolution in scientific research in the 20th century. With great potential and optimism of underdeveloped a contamination free un fixateed supply of verve, thermo thermo atomic technology was ushered into the twenty-first century where it has experience embroiled in unending debates. thermonuclear antecedent is a clean source of brawniness, the raw hearty is sustainable and the magnitude of power output is extremely giving and efficient.Opponents give way been quick to recount the be of initial investment, the risks and natural rubber loopholes and the to a greater extent fearsome proliferation of nuclear weapons as the major detriments to exploitation of nuclear nix. This radical offers a succinct and informed analysis on the cons and pros of nuclear power exploitation and the potentialities that ex ist in the future exploitation of nuclear power. With genuine interest and adherence to rigorous and stringent constraints, safety in design and locution and planetary informed decision making, the setbacks to nuclear exploitation can be effectively betterd.In classical thermodynamics, energy is the capacity or ability to do work. Practically, energy is the major unprompted force of development in post modern civilizations. vim is the main ingredient to frugal, social and policy-making prosperity. Gradual increases in demands of energy for yield purposes has put a strain on non renewable sources of energy such as fossil fuels the most predominant sources of energy(Richardson, 1996).Decreases in oil, natural gas and coal militia have prompted a paradigm shift to other forms of energy such as squirm energy, solar energy and nuclear power to help replenish energy shortages as well as defecate a reserve for growing industrial energy demand(Nersesian, 2007). Increasing worldl y headache-wide energy demands and environmental pollution coupled with the prospect of declining and up to nowtual depletion of non renewable energy resources is the sustainable incentive towards to exploitation of a clean, more than efficient and sustainable energy solution to meet the orbiculate demand.Even though solar energy and wind energy present a cleaner more sustainable energy option, the magnitude of global energy demand can further be offset by nuclear power production(Conant, 1979). In simple terms it takes a certain amount of energy to make another form of energy. fire of oil produces a certain amount of energy that is much higher than when coal undergoes combustion. Nuclear energy consumes the least amount of fuel energy to release a huge out put of electricity(Nersesian, 2007).This makes nuclear power the most cost effective form of power production and it does not contribute to environmental pollution so long as the nuclear waste is disposed off according to conformance standards, the risk of radiative exposure is reduces through installation of security measures(Dell et al, 2004). In this era of climate change and global warming, nuclear power a green energy source is a godsend necessary to limit and considerably reduce the release of green house gases and other toxic elements into the atmosphere and the ozone layer.In 1977, the Kyoto communications protocol negotiated by the Framework Convention on Climate Change(FCCC) agreed in principle to institute go aimed at the reduction of green house gases. The center piece of such a resolution doubt slightly rested on the transformation from non renewable sources of energy to renewable sources of energy. Only fission, wind solar, decarbonized fossil fuels, wind and biomass have the capacity to provide a steady supply of carbon free energy. To a lifesize extent only fission energy is commercially feasible and cost effective, the other have epochal economic and technical handicaps.Nuclear en ergy remains the only viable option that can be fully exploited to reduce green house gas emissions to near minimum emissions while maintaining a reliable and consistent supply of carbon free electric energy supply to meet the world energy demand(B. van der Zwaan et al, 1999). Apart from the initial capital investments involved in construction, monitoring, insurance and call back, nuclear power production is relatively inexpensive. Uranium the raw material in nuclear reactors is less expensive than whatsoever form of fossil fuel.Be political campaign subsequent production costs atomic number 18 reduced, nuclear power is a less expensive source of electricity. The magnitude of energy produced makes it more reliable and consistent energy source. Other sources of renewable energy supply are so limited as to be of very little economic benefit. For this reason countries are extending the lifespan of older nuclear reactors while constructing new ones. This has led to a advancing redu ction in the costs incurred in nuclear energy production.There are more detail reasons that attest to this trend. Countries have succeeded in developing and adopting a more superior choice of nuclear technology, qualification in construction and operation management, low costs of decommissioning in the United States and Western Europe have ensured that green technologies like nuclear power become the future global energy solution(Griffin, 2003). Despite universe one of the most efficient energy production technology, nuclear power production is plagued by a myriad of issues.Some of these issues are ,specific in nature but a majority are fundamentally non specific and are manly driven by lack of adequate technical and scientific come how or even fear . Specific issues revolve around licensing regulations and safety. Safety concerns are ideally soluble and include fatigue of the piping system in much older plants, fire protection system, issues that concern the degradation of the reactor pressure vessel as a result of neutron ir ray.Those opposed to the building of more nuclear power plants advocate for an uprating of the power output of those plants that are currently in operation(Angelo, 2004). Global act of terrorism is putting more strain on the regulation of nuclear production for fear of proliferation of nuclear weapons in unstable states and the acquisition of nuclear production knowledge by extremists , fundamentalists and terrorists or suicidal fanaticism(B. van der Zwaan et al, 1999). However, such fears are obviated by the defense in depth philosophy employed in the design and construction of nuclear power production facilities.Nuclear plants are primarily designed to protect the public from radiation exposure. For terrorists to attack such plants then it would mean that their primary aim is not to cause mass civil deaths but sabotage the power production. Moreover, these facilities have a vehicle barrier systems designed to deter against moto rtruck bombs. Advanced security systems cordon off restricted areas from any form of intrusion or unauthorized entry. Nuclear facilities are immune and more resistant to aerial attacks than any other civilian security or energy installation.After the September 11 attacks, the United States government installed additional protection measures and carried out studies to trammel the extent of damage to a nuclear plant should it be struck by a large aircraft as in the World Trade Center attacks. Results affirmed that no considerable damage was envisioned because such an explosion would not be able to penetrate and affect the nuclear fuel or even penetrate into the nuclear facility to cause any radiation release(Angelo, 2004 US National ability Council, 2003).Nuclear accidents and safety issues have remained to be the most pressing, highly visible issues because accidents prevalently release nuclear radiations that affect the general public. Nuclear facilities are required to complete ly prevent radioactive release into the environment. fear of potential exposure to radiations is subdued being propelled by two notable nuclear reactor accidents. In 1979, the Mile Island accident in the United States caused severe destruction to the facility although no external humane or environmental health was recorded.This was only possible because the reactor had installed a safety containment vessel. In 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine accident caused disastrous human and environmental effects. Lack of a safety containment vessel, apparent human errors and poor reactor design was to blame for the extent of the destruction. 31 employees and emergency response staff office lost their lives from acute radiation sickness. The environmental consequences were spread throughout the Soviet Union.Effects were also mat in parts of Europe and even across vast regions of the Northern Hemisphere (Angelo, 2004). The facts behind the baneful effects caused by the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accidents pointed to gross design and operational defects(Evans, 1984). Such defects are not applicable to modern nuclear reactors that undergo rigorous and stringent compliance tests but the Chernobyl accident still drives popular misconceptions that emanate from nuclear neurosis or radiation phobia as some psychologists opt to refer to the misconception syndrome.However, issues about nuclear safety should not be stashed aside and the status quo in safety left to reign. Safety in nuclear energy production should be a continuous emolument exercise because radiologic accidents inflict profound psychosocial impacts along and across the societal strata. Emergency response and evacuation mechanisms are a prerequisite to any operating reactor plant. The trends of evacuation and health care assistance in the aftermath of a reactor accident is a determinant of the train of psychosocial impacts that will manifest in the society long after the accident.Disorderly evacuati on, panic driven movements by the surrounding community and general public panic stimulate unwarranted societal anxiety. It is these impacts that tend to propagate indecision on the level of safety a nuclear plant can attain(Foreman, 1970). Economically, nuclear energy production costs are comparatively lower when compared with other sources of energy. However, initial investment capital is enormous(Kursunoglu et al, 2000). The costs incurred in construction, monitoring, insurance and decommission are extremely high hence creating opposition to investments in nuclear power(Domenici, 2007).Because the efficiency of nuclear energy is not under any doubts, a broad based strategy program is essential to ameliorate the concerns about initial cost of investments, risks involved in energy production, waste disposal problems and the fear of proliferation of nuclear weapons. Conclusion Recent developments in the nuclear technology and the continuing threat of nuclear warfare has excite fres h intellectual debates on the benefits of nuclear technology to the existence of mankind.Even when used for civilian production of energy, nuclear technology conjures up a real threat to world peace the oldest wish for existence since the onset of human civilization. Nuclear power is the most potent force for human annihilation and it gets even more scary when such a tool is placed is accessible for suicidal fanaticism. When used unwisely, it whitethorn prove to be a deadly weapon that is capable of trashing human civilizations and making real the unending fear of nuclear apocalypse.Regional nuclear warfare and nuclear nuclear terrorism can only be forestalled or completely eliminated when humanity works together for a common purpose that is in effect(p) to each and every head on the surface of this macrocosm. Human beings have an innate responsibility to do all in their power as human beings to use nuclear technology to advance the cause of modern civilization in power generati on, medicine, agriculture, research, industrial applications and space exploration.Nuclear power should be attach properly with the genuine cause of building a sustainable planetary civilization that spans beyond the ends of the earth into the uncharted territories of the solar system. Rigorous and stringent constraints, safety in design and construction and a global informed decision making is a prerequisite to nuclear power exploitation. References Angelo, A. Joseph. (2004). Nuclear technology. p. 439-443 B. van der Zwaan. , Hill, C. R. , Mechelyncj, A. L. , Ripka, G. (Eds). (1999). Nuclear Energy Promise or Peril? Conant, Melvin. (1979). Access to Energy 2000 and After. p. 85 Dell, Ronald. , Anthony, David. , Rand, James. (2004). Clean Energy. RSC Clean Technology Monographs. p. 68-76 Domenici, P. V. (2007).A Brighter Tomorrow Fulfilling the Promise of Nuclear Energy. p. 4 Evans, Nigel, Hope, Chris. (1984). Nuclear Power Futures, Costs and Benefits. p. 8, 151 Foreman, Harry. (1 970). Nuclear Power and the Public. p. 209 Griffin, James, M. (2003). Global Climate Change The Science, Economics and Politics. p. 237 Kursunoglu, Behram, Stephan L. Mintz, Arnold Perlmutter. (2000). The Challenges to Nuclear Power in the Twenty-first Century. p. 94 Nersesian, L. Roy. 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