Around 10% of the world's energy comes from nuclear power reactors. The first reactors were built in the 1950s, and their popularity has grown since then. These power plants are very efficient and can produce far more energy than traditional methods without as much effort.

Nuclear energy is also clean and renewable. Nuclear power plants in NC are starting to advance clean energy like never before. But how do nuclear power plants work?

Aren't they dangerous? Why might they be a good choice for the environment? Keep reading and learn more about the unique benefits that nuclear power plants have to offer.

How Do Nuclear Power Plants Work to Produce Clean Energy?

When you think of a nuclear plant, you likely think of a tall tower that spits steam. This is not a nuclear reactor but rather a cooling tower. Nuclear reactors get housed in other buildings that are not as picturesque.

These facilities produce energy through a process known as nuclear fission. Nuclear fission is when the neutron of one atom slams into another atom. This causes the atom to split in two.

While this may sound like a simple reaction, it is very complicated and took a long time for scientists to figure it out. Nuclear fission does not happen in nature because the rates of its occurrence are too low.

Every atom is composed of neutrons, protons, and electrons. What many people don't know is that there is an unimaginable amount of empty space between these neutrons, protons, and electrons. The chances of a neutron hitting another atom naturally are next to zero.

But nuclear fission inside nuclear reactors is a more controlled process. This is how these reactors can use this process regularly to produce power. When a neutron hits an atom, that atom will become very energetic and excited.

This excitement spurs the atom to turn into two atoms, both of which are smaller than the original. This process creates huge amounts of energy and heat. Another neutron is then produced from this reaction.

This neutron can continue interacting with other atoms in the same way. This creates a chain of nuclear fission that can produce unimaginable amounts of energy. This process is tightly controlled inside nuclear reactors.

This ensures that an explosion won't result from the reaction, as with an atom bomb.

The process inside a nuclear reactor is very safe.

The Process

Nuclear reactors require a variety of safety measures and regulations to ensure that everything works as it should.

When energy gets produced from the fission reaction, it is on a massive scale. Uranium is the most common atom that is used for fission reactions. Some nuclear power plants also use plutonium and other radioactive materials.

This is because these atoms are extremely energetic and reactive. When they get split in two, they produce much more energy than smaller and less reactive atoms. Nuclear power plants often use uranium pellets that get stored in long metal rods.

A single uranium pellet has the same power as 150 gallons of oil. While 150 gallons of burning oil will pollute the atmosphere and the rest of the planet, uranium pellets will not. This is because nuclear fission is a clean process.

Its only byproduct is heat. The rest is pure energy that can be used for various purposes. When the uranium pellets go through nuclear fission inside their tubes, they will become extremely hot.

If the tubes get too hot, the pellets may melt. This could cause a serious meltdown in the reactor, which would be a danger to anyone nearby. This problem is avoided by storing the uranium rods inside a pool of cool water.

As the tubes heat up, the water will start to boil and produce steam. The steam is powerful enough to power steam turbines inside the reactor. These turbines then create energy that can get used by nearby cities and towns.

The steam is then cooled and reused to keep the uranium rods cool. This is what cooling towers are for. Some nuclear reactors may not need cooling towers if they are next to a lake or river.

The Benefits of Nuclear Power Plants in NC

Many people think that power plants are dangerous and a bad alternative to traditional energy sources. But this is not true. Nuclear power plants are some of the safest facilities in the world.

This is because they have to ensure that nothing goes wrong with their radioactive materials. Nuclear reactors follow a variety of safety regulations and rules to make sure everything is safe. Some full-time inspectors check every part of the reactor to make sure that everything is on track.

The chances of a nuclear reactor failing are next to zero. They are also far more efficient compared to traditional energy methods. They are far cleaner, too.

Consider fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal. These are all commonly used to produce energy worldwide, but they are terrible for the environment. They produce excessive amounts of carbon dioxide.

Carbon dioxide pollutes the atmosphere and contributes to global warming. This can harm wildlife, plants, and other living things. It also contributes to the melting of the polar ice caps, which may lead to increased ocean levels.

Many people have turned to renewable energy sources to avoid these issues. Popular types of energy are solar, wind, and water. But the problem with solar panels and wind turbines is that they aren't very efficient.

They can't produce enough energy to power the United States. This is why the country is still using fossil fuels to such a large extent. But power plant options are far more efficient.

How It Works

Nuclear power is the most efficient type of clean energy that we have so far. It is more efficient than fossil fuels and traditional clean energy methods. The power that gets released from atoms when they're split apart is immense.

Power plants currently provide around 20% of the energy in the United States. This percentage will likely increase as more power plants get built throughout the country. Nuclear power is one of the best energy sources for the atmosphere.

This is because it doesn't produce any carbon dioxide or other fumes like fossil fuels. The main byproduct of nuclear energy is heat, which converts water into steam. The steam is then cooled down and used again in the nuclear fission process.

This ensures that the cycle of a nuclear power plant is very simple and efficient. These power plants also have very small carbon footprints. Consider the carbon footprint of a solar panel field.

While solar panels produce clean energy, these panels are not clean to produce. This is because they are made of a variety of metals, toxic substances, and so on. Solar panels also don't have very long lifespans.

After a decade or so, solar panels will need to get scrapped. They will go to landfills, where the solar cells and other materials inside the panels will start to break down. These materials will seep into the environment, where they may harm the water supply, the animals, and so on.

You won't have this problem with nuclear power plants. This is because nuclear power plants are very efficient and long-lasting.

The Details

While uranium is a dangerous material, it is kept inside the reactor so that it doesn't harm the environment.

The entire reactor is also efficient enough to have a very small footprint. This ensures that the environment is minimally affected. These reactors also produce very little waste.

This is especially true when compared to other forms of energy waste. Uranium fuel gets stored in small ceramic pellets that are about the size of a fingernail. A single pellet has the same amount of energy as a ton of coal.

The United States has been using nuclear energy for about 60 years. Over all these years, our nuclear reactors have only produced enough nuclear waste to fill a single football field.

This is in contrast to the use of coal, oil, and gas that has been used for over 60 years, which could cover the planet. Nuclear fuel is very dense, which is why it doesn't produce much waste. This is yet another way nuclear power plants are advancing clean energy.

All About Nuclear Power Plants in NC

Nuclear power plants in NC are aiming to improve the current state of clean and renewable energy. Nuclear power plants are some of the most efficient energy sources in the world. They don't produce waste products like fossil fuels, and they are more powerful than any other energy sources we have.