essay-low polluting energy production

8/16/2019 Essay-Low Polluting Energy Production

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Low Polluting Energy Production

Energy is the capacity to do work. Energy is trapped in every organic substance,

and can be processed out of coal, petroleum, etc. Throughout the world, these

conventional sources of energy, known as fossil fuels, have been widely used to produce

energy for our day to day needs. The heat energy released during the combustion of fossil

fuels, is used to heat water to produce steam. This steam is further used to produce

electricity by running turbines in Power plants. Although a good source of energy, their

extensive use has led to large amounts of environmental pollution and also triggered

global warming. Harmful gases such as arbon dioxide, arbon monoxide, !ulphur

dioxide, "itrous oxide etc. released during combustion of fossil fuels form a blanket over

the earth#s atmosphere trapping heat energy from the sun. As a result, air pollution and

average global temperature of the earth is increasing.

$e are dependent on air for respiration. Air pollutants are harmful to all living

organisms. %n human beings these gases cause diseases like cancer, kidney failure,

asthma, eye and skin problems, bronchitis, etc. They reduce the growth and yield of crops.

&oreover, gases like !ulphur dioxide and "itrous oxide combines with water vapor in the

atmosphere and forms !ulphuric acid and "itric acid and precipitate onto the surface of

the earth as rain. This phenomenon is called acid rain. Experts believe that acid rain is the

primary cause of the Ta' &ahal#s marble corrosion. Acid rain is also a ma'or problem for

the growth of plants and causes skin problems on human beings. &oreover, it destroys

fish life in streams and lakes.

As more and more industries emerge in the world, there is a demand for a more

sources of energy to run different machines. Although fossil fuels release large amounts

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of heat energy on combustion, the pollution created by them have forced people to look for

cleaner fuels. lean energy sources are sources that do not release large concentration of

harmful (reen House (ases into the atmosphere. )ne of those low polluting, clean

energy sources is nuclear energy. The other low polluting energy sources are solar energy,

wind energy, ocean energy and geothermal energy.

There are mainly two types of nuclear reactions which can produce heat energy.

They are nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.

"uclear fission is an endothermic reaction in which, unstable heavy atoms such as

*ranium+- decomposes into atoms of smaller elements, /rypton and 0arium and

releasing energy in the form of heat. The following reaction takes place inside a nuclear

power plant1

U 235 + 1n Ba141 + Kr 92 + 3n + Energy

&ass of *ranium - is slightly more than the combined mass of 0arium and /rypton and

this extra mass or mass defect is converted into energy which can be found through

Einstein#s &ass+Energy e2uation, E3mc.

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fig.1: Nuclear fission reaction

Source: Physics.Stackexchange.com, Energy Production in Nuclear Fission. Web.


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%n nuclear fission power plants, these radioisotopes are forcefully broken down by shooting

neutrons at them 45igure.67. Each fission reaction releases - neutrons, which further force+

decompose other *ranium+- atoms and initiates a chain reaction 45igure 7.

Heat energy from this chain reaction is used to heat water and produce steam that

runs the turbine to produce electricity. A pellet of nuclear fuel, the si8e of a pea, can give

as much energy as a tonne of coal. This method of generating electricity releases 9: of

greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

"uclear fusion is another form of nuclear reaction in which two or more lighter

atoms fuse to form a new heavier atom along releasing energy. %t is the most basic form of

energy that powers the sun and other stars in the universe.

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Figure : Nuclear Fission !hain "eaction

Source: #bc.co.uk. N.$. Web.


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%n the fusion reactor, isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium, are fused under

extreme pressure and temperature to produce helium and energy 45igure -7. The method

releases about -+; times the energy released in a fission reaction. Although the amount of

energy is very huge, the reactor re2uires a high pressure and temperature of the order of

69 million


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%n spite of being the most efficient energy production method nuclear fission method

is the least preferred method. 4see figure.;7.

A safer alternative is "uclear 5usion or 5ission using non+radioactive elements such

as Thorium. %n fusion, isotopes of hydrogen are used, which are easily available in oceans

and seas and are non+radioactive. The plant releases Helium as the by+product which is

useful in laboratories and for space missions to keep li2uid oxygen and hydrogen cool.

The radiation effects of nuclear fusion are less compared to fission. Therefore, nuclear

fusion of hydrogen is a good source of energy in terms of safety and environmental

damages. %TE= 4%nternational Thermonuclear Experimental =eactor7, 5rance is building a

fusion reactor that can produce 99 megawatts of energy.

Thorium is more abundant in nature compared to uranium and hence can be a

sustainable source of energy. &oreover, Thorium cannot be used to make nuclear

weapons and releases only alpha radiations which are not harmful . The >5T= 4>i2uid

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5luoride Thorium7, releases heat at a temperature of ;99


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66. TEDxTalks. @Thorium to >ight up the $orld L !rikumar 0aner'ee L TEDxE=".@

BouTube, 96;. $eb.

6.A Plan to Power the $orld with Thorium.@ $eb.

Fhttp1GGenergyfromthorium.comGplanG.

6-.Thorium. Fhttp1GGwww.world+nuclear.orgGinformation+libraryGcurrent+and+future+

generationGthorium.aspx.

6;.@5re2uently Asked Muestions.@ %TE=. $eb.

Fhttp1GGwww.iter.orgGfa2N$hatOisO%TE=.

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http://energyfromthorium.com/plan/http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/thorium.aspxhttp://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/thorium.aspxhttp://www.iter.org/faq#What_is_ITERhttp://energyfromthorium.com/plan/http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/thorium.aspxhttp://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/thorium.aspxhttp://www.iter.org/faq#What_is_ITER

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