What is nuclear power?
Written By
Manoj Ramachandran
| Updated:
Nuclear power is the controlled use of nuclear reactions to produce propulsion, heat, and generation of electricity.
Nuclear power is the controlled use of nuclear reactions to produce propulsion, heat, and generation of electricity.
How is nuclear energy produced?
Nuclear energy is produced when a fissile material, such as uranium-235, is concentrated such that the natural rate of radioactive decay is accelerated in a controlled chain reaction and creates heat, which is used to boil water, produce steam, and drive a steam turbine. The turbine can be used for mechanical work and also to generate electricity.
Nuclear energy is produced when a fissile material, such as uranium-235, is concentrated such that the natural rate of radioactive decay is accelerated in a controlled chain reaction and creates heat, which is used to boil water, produce steam, and drive a steam turbine. The turbine can be used for mechanical work and also to generate electricity.
How is nuclear power used?
Nuclear power is used to power most military submarines and aircraft carriers and provides 7% of the world's energy and 17% of the world's electricity.
Nuclear power is used to power most military submarines and aircraft carriers and provides 7% of the world's energy and 17% of the world's electricity.
Which country produced nuclear energy the most?
The US produces the most nuclear energy (about 20% of US electricity requirements), while France produces the highest percent of its energy from nuclear reactors.
The US produces the most nuclear energy (about 20% of US electricity requirements), while France produces the highest percent of its energy from nuclear reactors.
What does the Indo-US pact mean?
Under cooperation on civil nuclear energy, a workshop on best practices for nuclear power plant design, new concepts in construction, commissioning operations, safety, life extension and regulatory oversight will be held later this year in the US.
Under cooperation on civil nuclear energy, a workshop on best practices for nuclear power plant design, new concepts in construction, commissioning operations, safety, life extension and regulatory oversight will be held later this year in the US.
How will it help?
India will now be able to import reactors from Russia and France to expand its nuclear energy. Under the nuclear deal, the US will help India import uranium for non-military use for generating nuclear power. In exchange, India must give assurances that the uranium will not be diverted for bombs. It will place all non-military nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. However, India's military facilities will not be under safeguards, they can continue making nuclear bombs.
India will now be able to import reactors from Russia and France to expand its nuclear energy. Under the nuclear deal, the US will help India import uranium for non-military use for generating nuclear power. In exchange, India must give assurances that the uranium will not be diverted for bombs. It will place all non-military nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. However, India's military facilities will not be under safeguards, they can continue making nuclear bombs.
How will it help India’s energy requirements?
The Indo-US civilian nuclear deal could see the share of nuclear energy in the overall energy basket of the country rise from about 3% to 10% by 2030. Domestically, it could also mean opening up of the nuclear energy sector to private investment, which under the current dispensation is not permitted.
The Indo-US civilian nuclear deal could see the share of nuclear energy in the overall energy basket of the country rise from about 3% to 10% by 2030. Domestically, it could also mean opening up of the nuclear energy sector to private investment, which under the current dispensation is not permitted.
What are India's concerns?
There were four areas of concern as far as cooperation in nuclear energy was concerned. This included access to raw materials like uranium, technology in the form of reactors and other associated technology, safety and nuclear waste disposal. As far as raw material is concerned, it would require utilisation of uranium resources and large amounts of thorium. It is estimated that indigenous thorium deposits can sustain about 300,000 MW of electricity generation capacity for about 300 years.
There were four areas of concern as far as cooperation in nuclear energy was concerned. This included access to raw materials like uranium, technology in the form of reactors and other associated technology, safety and nuclear waste disposal. As far as raw material is concerned, it would require utilisation of uranium resources and large amounts of thorium. It is estimated that indigenous thorium deposits can sustain about 300,000 MW of electricity generation capacity for about 300 years.
The three-stage nuclear power generation envisages, construction of natural uranium, heavy water moderated and cooled pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs). Spent fuel from these reactors is reprocessed to obtain plutonium. The second stage involves construction of fast breeder reactors (FBRs) fuelled by plutonium produced in stage-I. These reactors would also breed U-233 from thorium. The next stage involves power reactors using U-233/thorium as fuel.
Will it quench India’s energy needs?
Power generation in India is dominated by coal-based power plants. India’s present nuclear capacity is about 2900 MW which accounts for only 2.9% of the installed capacity. Similarly the total installed capacity based on non-conventional energy sources is only about 1700 MW, constituting less than 2% of the installed capacity and comprising 1269 MW wind, 257 MW biomass and 217 MW small hydropower. The Vision 2020 of the Department of Atomic Energy envisages a cumulative installed capacity of 20,000 MW by the year 2020.
Power generation in India is dominated by coal-based power plants. India’s present nuclear capacity is about 2900 MW which accounts for only 2.9% of the installed capacity. Similarly the total installed capacity based on non-conventional energy sources is only about 1700 MW, constituting less than 2% of the installed capacity and comprising 1269 MW wind, 257 MW biomass and 217 MW small hydropower. The Vision 2020 of the Department of Atomic Energy envisages a cumulative installed capacity of 20,000 MW by the year 2020.
What are the short falls?
India faces a dearth of uranium as it doesn’t have enough deposits. A 1000 MW plant requires 150-200 tonnes of uranium each year. India's present production capacity is nearly 200 tonnes a year. Further India’s uranium deposits are extremely low grade
India faces a dearth of uranium as it doesn’t have enough deposits. A 1000 MW plant requires 150-200 tonnes of uranium each year. India's present production capacity is nearly 200 tonnes a year. Further India’s uranium deposits are extremely low grade