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level: Safety aspect

Questions and Answers List

level questions: Safety aspect

QuestionAnswer
What are the risks of nuclear powerRadioactive waste, and a nuclear meltdown
What fuel is used in nuclear reactorsENRICHED Uranium
What ways is dealin with nuclear reactors made saferSafety equitmpent Remote handeling Emergency shut down Sheildning
How does remote handeling of fuel reduce risk to workersLimits their exposure
How does sheilding make nuclear reactors more safeBlocks radiation from escaping from the reactor
What is the sheilding made ofConcrete
Why does the sheilding become reactove after a long period of timeNeutrons which escape the reactor may enter the shielding nuclei causing them to become unstable and start experiencing beta-minus decay
What happens in an emergency shut down And how does this helpcontrol rods are dropped into the reactor core entirely in order to stop fission reactions from occuring as soon as possible by absorbing all the free neutrons in the core
Do the benifits outweigh the risks for nuclear reactorsYes
Give some high level waste examplesFuels rods
Give some low level waste examplesTools Glovees
Hows high level waste dealt with1. The waste is removed and handled remotely, so that exposure is limited. 2. Any material removed from the reactor will be extremely hot due to fission reactions occurring within the reactor, so they must be placed in cooling ponds for up to a year while they may still be producing heat due to radioactive emissions. Cooling ponds are usually on the same site as the reactor or very close by so that these materials do not have to be transported through long distances, which will increase the risk of exposure. 3. At this point any plutonium or usable uranium is removed from spent fuel rods in order to be recycled. 4. The waste is then vitrified (encased in glass) and placed in thick steel casks and stored in deep caverns in geologically stable locations, so that there is no chance of the waste coming free of its casing. Locations to store radioactive waste are chosen so that they make a minimal impact on the environment and people living in the area are consulted about it beforehand.
What are the benefits of nuclear reactorsNo polluting gases Highly reliable for the production of electricity Require less fuel as Uranium provides far more energy per kg compared to coal and other fossil fuels
What are the downsides of nuclear reactorsProduction of waste is dangerous and expensive A nuclear meltdown is terrible