A Case for Nuclear-Generated Electricity: (Or Why I Think Nuclear Power Is Cool and Why It Is Important That You Think So Too)

by Heaberlin, Scott W.

• ISBN13: 9781574771367
• ISBN10: 1574771361
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-12-01
• Publisher: Battelle Pr

Summary

In a refreshingly light and conversational style, A Case for Nuclear Generated Electricity provides a unique context for understanding the use of energy in our society and the positive role nuclear power can play in enabling our modern civilization. We need energy to power the technology that supports human civilization. However, continued reliance on coal, oil, and natural gas and hoping that green alternatives will magically save the day are by themselves unrealistic long-term solutions. This book advocates the use of nuclear energy for producing electricity. It speaks to the average American by addressing the current cultural bias against all technology and specifically nuclear technology. It shows technology, energy, and nuclear power in an enlightening context and examines our present energy use and future options. Heaberlin describes, for the layperson, nuclear science and power reactor to engineering to demystify nuclear energy and directly address the key aspects of the public's fears regarding nuclear power and radioactive waste. He discusses the curre

Author Biography

Scott Heaberlin's A Registered Professional Nuclear Engineer in the state of Washington, Mr. Heaberlin led the Nuclear Safety and Technology Applications Product Line at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, managed by Battelle.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	v
Summary	1	(6)
The Case for Technology	7	(34)
The ``Technology is Bad'' Message	7	(3)
A Little Detour for Perspective	10	(12)
Human Population and Technology	22	(13)
Two Concluding Thoughts on the Case for Technology	35	(6)
The Case for Electrical Power	41	(20)
What is Electricity?	43	(4)
The History of Electrical Power	47	(10)
Electrical Power Use Today	57	(4)
A Little Basic Nuclear Science	61	(28)
Atomic Structure	61	(3)
Binding Energy	64	(4)
Fusion and Fission	68	(10)
Radiation and Radioactive Decay	78	(11)
Nuclear Reactor Physics and Nuclear Reactors	89	(46)
Neutron Interactions	89	(7)
Chain Reactions, Criticality, Delayed Neutrons, and Reactor Control	96	(7)
Reactivity Feedback	103	(6)
Types of Power Reactors	109	(17)
Nuclear Fuel Cycle	126	(9)
All the Bad Stuff About Things Nuclear	135	(64)
Nuclear Is Scary	135	(1)
Human Health Effects of Radiation	136	(7)
Nuclear Power Plant Accidents	143	(22)
Nuclear Weapons	165	(8)
Nuclear Waste	173	(26)
Energy, the Big Picture and Our Choices	199	(64)
The Global Energy Picture	200	(6)
Energy Use in the United States	206	(5)
Fossil Fuels and the Problems Thereof	211	(31)
The ``Renewables'' and the ``Alternative Energy Sources''	242	(17)
Concluding Thoughts on Energy, the Big Picture	259	(4)
The Status of Nuclear Power Today	263	(18)
The Future of Nuclear Power	281	(26)
Potential Futures---Political and Social Context for Nuclear Energy	281	(5)
The Technologies of a Nuclear Future	286	(21)
What All This Means to You and What You Can Do	307	(12)
Bibliography	319	(4)
A Few Interesting Web Sites and Additional Links	321	(2)
Index	323