Rachel+Chin+-+Nuclear+Power+research+note

=**Nuclear Power** = __What question I wish to investigate__
 * 1) Can Nuclear Power fight climate change?

__What is Nuclear Power?__ media type="custom" key="5726639" align="center"
 * A source of energy that is controlled by nuclear reactions
 * __Uranium__ and __Plutonium__ are used to make Nuclear Power

__Place__
 * //"As of end 2008 the total electricity production since 1951 amounts to 62,048 billion kWh// ( Kilowatt hour )//. The cumulative operating experience amounted to 13,475 years by the end of 2008."//

// Nuclear power plants world-wide, in operation and under construction, as of Feb 10, 2010 // ** || MW ||< Number ||< Electr. net output MW || //("Nuclear Power Plant, world-wide")//
 * Country** ||||< ===In operation=== ||||||< ** Under construction
 * Country** ||||< ===In operation=== ||||||< ** Under construction
 * ^  ||< Number ||< Electr. net output
 * < Argentina ||< 2 ||< 935 ||< 1 ||< 692 ||
 * < Armenia ||< 1 ||< 376 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < Belgium ||< 7 ||< 5,863 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < Brazil ||< 2 ||< 1,884 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < Bulgaria ||< 2 ||< 1,906 ||< 2 ||< 1,906 ||
 * < Canada ||< 18 ||< 12,573 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < China ||< 11 ||< 8,438 ||< 21 ||< 20,920 ||
 * < Czech Republic ||< 6 ||< 3,678 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < Finland ||< 4 ||< 2,696 ||< 1 ||< 1,600 ||
 * < France ||< 58 ||< 63,130 ||< 1 ||< 1,600 ||
 * < Germany ||< 17 ||< 20,470 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < Hungary ||< 4 ||< 1,889 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < India ||< 18 ||< 3,984 ||< 5 ||< 2,709 ||
 * < Iran ||< - ||< - ||< 1 ||< 915 ||
 * < Japan ||< 54 ||< 46,823 ||< 1 ||< 1,325 ||
 * < Korea, Republic ||< 20 ||< 17,647 ||< 6 ||< 6,520 ||
 * < Mexico ||< 2 ||< 1,300 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < Netherlands ||< 1 ||< 482 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < Pakistan ||< 2 ||< 425 ||< 1 ||< 300 ||
 * < Romania ||< 2 ||< 1,300 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < Russian Federation ||< 31 ||< 21,743 ||< 9 ||< 6,894 ||
 * < Slovakian Republic ||< 4 ||< 1,762 ||< 2 ||< 810 ||
 * < Slovenia ||< 1 ||< 666 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < South Africa ||< 2 ||< 1,800 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < Spain ||< 8 ||< 7,450 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < Sweden ||< 10 ||< 8,992 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < Switzerland ||< 5 ||< 3,238 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < Taiwan ||< 6 ||< 4,949 ||< 2 ||< 2,600 ||
 * < Ukraine ||< 15 ||< 13,107 ||< 2 ||< 1,900 ||
 * < United Kingdom ||< 19 ||< 10,097 ||< - ||< - ||
 * < USA ||< 104 ||< 100,683 ||< 1 ||< 1,165 ||
 * < **Total** ||< **436** ||< **370,326** ||< **56** ||< **51,855** ||

__Nuclear Waste__ >> >> __ Darlington Waste Management Facility (DWMF)  __ >> >> __ Pickering Waste Management Facility (PWMF)  __ >> >> __ Licensed and Regulated  __ >> >> //("Ontario Power Generation: Power Generation: Nuclear Waste Management")//
 * Nuclear Power produce **radioactive waste**
 * // "The creation of huge quantities of long-lived radioactive waste is the most formidable problem facing the nuclear power industry today." //
 * //"Radioactive wastes come in many different forms, including the protective clothing of nuclear plant employees and other workers in contact with radioactive materials; the remains of lab animals used in experiments with radionuclide; cooling water, used fuel rods, and old tools and parts from nuclear power plants; mill tailings from uranium-enrichment factories; old medical radiation equipment from hospital and clinics; and even used smoke detectors, which contain radioactive americium-241 sensors." //
 * // "The difficulty of waste disposal was not considered a series deterrent to commercial power production when plants were first promoted. It was assumed that waste could be reprocessed or buried somehow, or that anther solution would be found. Unfortunately, finding safe ways of storing radioactive wastes so that they do not leak radiation into the environment has proved more difficult than anticipated." //
 * On 'Ontario Power Generation' website, they explained how they deal with their nuclear power waste in each nuclear power plant in Ontario.
 * __ Western Waste Management Facility (WWMF)  __
 * 1) The WWMF stores all the low and intermediate level nuclear waste from the operation of OPG's 20 nuclear reactors, including those leased to Bruce Power. In addition, the facility provides dry fuel storage for the Bruce reactors.
 * 2) Low level storage building #11 was completed in June 2009 on budget and on time. One of these buildings is built on the WWMF site about every two years to hold low level waste from the Darlington, Pickering and Bruce Power Nuclear Stations.
 * 1) The DWMF provides dry fuel storage for the Darlington Nuclear reactors. The facility began operating in 2007 to provide storage for approximately 500 Dry Storage Containers (DSCs). New DSC storage buildings will be constructed as additional storage space is required, about every five to seven years.
 * 1) The PWMF has provided dry fuel storage for the Pickering Nuclear reactors since 1994.
 * 2) OPG is adding a second phase to its existing Pickering Waste Management Facility on the Pickering Nuclear site. Additional capacity for storage of used fuel is needed to support the continued operation of the station. This second phase will use the dry storage process, a proven, safe and regulated technology that has been in use at Pickering Nuclear since 1994.
 * 3) By June 30, 2009 the third building to store used fuel at the PWMF was ready to receive loaded DSCs from the Pickering Nuclear stations. In addition to design, construction and commissioning, the project also involved a site inspection visit by the CNSC.
 * 1) All OPG waste management facilities are licensed and regulated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). (The CNSC regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to safeguard health and the environment, to insure safety and security, and to respect Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.)

__Human__
 * //“Death and sever injury from blast, radiation, and heat are immediate effects of a nuclear attack. Protracted trauma and suffering, crowded fallout shelters, and the spread of infectious diseases are conditions that will confront the survivors. Medical, hospital, pharmaceuticals, and nursing facilities will be virtually nonexistent. Good, water, and medicines will be scarce and contaminated if available at all, particularly in the remains of urban areas. The unprecedented trauma likely to follow an all-out nuclear exchange would be beyond contemplation, and certainly beyond the capacity of any remaining medical community to handle.”//
 * When fossil fuels are being burned, it is polluting the atmosphere. It is destroying out health as well as the environment.
 * Nowadays, children are relying on technology to learn. Kids are demand more electricity today because tey are part of the most energy-intensive generation in history, as well as they deserve clean air.

__Environment__
 * Fossil Fuels are burned to mine and refine the uranium for nuclear power reactors; polluting the atmosphere.
 * //"Fossil fuels also emit sulfur dioxide, toxic metals, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, organic substances that can cause cancer. These pollutants cause damage to our health and environment. //

media type="custom" key="5712549" align="center"
 * Some scientist believe Nuclear Power is a "__clean energy source__" (from Patrick Moore)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Moore argues that nuclear energy is a clean energy source that can help protect the environment and store off global warming. He explained the world is facing an environment crisis in part due to dangerous greenhouse gases that are emitted when fossil fuels are burned. As well as, it is argued that fossil furls need to be replace with alternatives energy sources such as __**nuclear power**__.
 * He had also mentioned hydroelectric is largely built to capacity, and while other key renewable energy sources will play a growing role - wind and solar power are unreliable and intermittent. They simply can't provide 'baseload' electricity - especially in densely population areas like downtown New York."
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 11pt;">"Nuclear Power improve air quality by reducing smog." //
 * //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Produce "non greenhouse gas" emitting power //
 * //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dose not release smog or other dangerous pollutions into the air, yet at the same time, it is powerful enough to provide for America's energy needs //
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Moore encourages America to use more nuclear power for their own energy needs.
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 11pt;">For example, in New York, they have the worst air quality of any regions in the country, thanks to high levels of ozone and particulate pollution //
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Why bad air? For both many __environment__ and __economic__ benefits. //
 * Does this mean Nuclear Power = Less Waste now?
 * It makes economic sense
 * Cost of producing nuclear energy in the U.S is on par with coal and hydroelectric
 * Important consideration in NYC, which has the country's second highest electricity costs.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">//"Can reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions."// - Patrick Moore
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">//"Path toward cleaner air lies in the reduction of fossil fuels in favor of a mix of nuclear and renewable energy."//

__History__
 * Uranium was discovered in 1789 by **Martin Klaproth**, a German chemist. He named this compound after the planet **Uranus**.
 * "The science of atomic radiation, atomic change and nuclear fission was developed from 1895 to 1945, much of it in the last six of those years."
 * __"Over 1939-45, most development was focused on the atomic bomb."__
 * "From 1945 attention was given to harnessing this energy in a controlled fashion for naval propulsion and for making electricity."
 * "Since 1956 the prime focus has been on the technological evolution of reliable nuclear power plants."

__Others__
 * The main vehicle for conveying radiation through the environment is water (hydrological).
 * If we dump out radioactive waste into the water, and water recycle in every way, then we would have a chance to be drink those radioactive waste.
 * Polluting water
 * Nuclear power was used during World Ward II because of how much energy the nuclear bombs can have to destroy a country or cities.


 * //__Sources__//**
 * 1) "Outline History of Nuclear Energy." //History of Nuclear Energy//. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar 2010. <http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf54.html>.
 * 2) "Nuclear power plants, world-wide ." N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar 2010. <http://www.euronuclear.org/info/npp-ww.htm>.
 * 3) "How Waste is Managed." //Ontario Power Generation: Power Generation: Nuclear Waste Management//. N.p., 2000. Web. 25 Mar 2010. <http://www.opg.com/power/nuclear/waste/facilities.asp>.