GEOL 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 25: Acute Radiation Syndrome, High-Level Waste, Nuclear Proliferation
21 Sep 2020
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First step in process of getting energy. U isotopes (235 u vs. 238 u) separated centrifuges. Want the fuel enriched in 235 u relative to 238 u. Splitting 235 u atoms starts a chain reaction. Estimated 130+ yr supply assuming current production rate. 1 kg of u produces 3 million times more energy than 1 kg of coal. Around 100 plants, 20% of us electricity. Half the active plants will close by 2020. No new reactors ordered between 1978 and 2010. 48% of the ones ordered before 1878 were never built. Average power plant creates 25-30 tons of waste per yr. 2017: us has 71,000 tons of stored radioactive waste. Radiation levels vary, so safety protocols also vary. Wasn"t radioactive at first but came in contact with radioactivity. Only 3 low-level nuclear waste sites in the us: Accepts class a-c from 11 nw states. Class a-c waste from the other 39 states.
