Nuclear fuel: types and processing

Nuclear power consists of a large number of enterprises of different purposes. Raw materials for this industry are mined in uranium mines. Afterwards, it is delivered to the enterprises for manufacturing fuel.

Next, the fuel is transported to nuclear power plants, where it enters the reactor core. When nuclear fuel fulfills its time, it is recycled. Wastes from processing must be buried. It is worth noting that hazardous waste appears not only after fuel processing, but also at any stage - from uranium mining to reactor operation.

Nuclear fuel

Fuel is of two kinds. The first is uranium mined in mines, respectively, of natural origin. It contains raw materials that can form plutonium. The second is fuel, which is created artificially (secondary).

Also, nuclear fuel is divided by chemical composition: metallic, oxide, carbide, nitride and mixed.

Uranium mining and fuel production

A large share of uranium production falls on just a few countries: Russia, France, Australia, the USA, Canada and South Africa.

Uranium is the main element for fuel at nuclear power plants. To get into the reactor, it goes through several stages of processing. Most often, uranium deposits are located next to gold and copper, so it is extracted with the extraction of precious metals.

On development, human health is in great danger, because uranium is a toxic material, and the gases that appear during its production cause a variety of forms of cancer. Although the ore itself contains a very small amount of uranium - from 0.1 to 1 percent. Also, the population that lives near the uranium mines is at high risk.

Enriched uranium is the main fuel for nuclear power plants, but after its use, a huge amount of radioactive waste remains . Despite all its danger, enrichment of uranium is an integral process of creating nuclear fuel.

In its natural form, uranium can not be practically used anywhere. In order to use, it needs to be enriched. Gas centrifuges are used for enrichment.

Enriched uranium is used not only in nuclear power, but also in the production of weapons.

Transportation

At any stage of the fuel cycle, there is transportation. It is carried out in all available ways: by land, sea, air. This is a big risk and a great danger not only for the environment, but for the person.

During the transportation of nuclear fuel or its elements, many accidents occur, the consequence of which is the release of radioactive elements. This is one of many reasons why nuclear power is considered unsafe.

Reactor failure

None of the reactors has been dismantled. Even the notorious Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The thing is that according to experts' estimates, the price of dismantling equals, and even exceeds the cost of building a new reactor. But surely no one can say how much money will be needed: the cost was calculated on the experience of dismantling small stations for research. Specialists offer two options:

1. Place reactors and spent nuclear fuel in the cemetery.
2. Build over the decommissioned reactors of the sarcophagus.

In the next ten years, about 350 reactors around the world will develop their resources and should be put out of action. But since the method most suitable for security and price was not invented, this issue is still being solved.

Now around the world there are 436 reactors. Undoubtedly, this is a great contribution to the energy system, but it is very unsafe. Studies show that in 15-20 years NPPs can be replaced by stations that work on wind power and solar batteries.

Nuclear waste

A huge amount of nuclear waste is generated as a result of NPP activities. The reprocessing of nuclear fuel also leaves behind dangerous wastes. At the same time, none of the countries found a solution to the problem.

Today, nuclear waste is stored in temporary storage facilities, in pools with water or buried shallow underground.

The safest way is to store it in special storage, but there is also a possibility of radiation leakage, as in other ways.

In fact, nuclear waste has some value, but it requires strict observance of the rules for their storage. And this is the most acute problem.

An important factor is the time during which the waste is hazardous. Each radioactive substance has its own decay period, during which it is toxic.

Types of nuclear waste

When operating any nuclear power plant, its wastes enter the environment. It is water for cooling turbines and gaseous waste.

Nuclear waste is divided into three categories:

1. Low level - clothes of NPP employees, laboratory equipment. Such waste can come from medical institutions, scientific laboratories. They do not pose a great danger, but they require compliance with security measures.
2. Intermediate level - metal tanks in which fuel is transported. The level of radiation is high enough, and those who are close to them should be protected.
3. The high level is the spent nuclear fuel and the products of its processing. The level of radioactivity is rapidly decreasing. High level waste is very small, about 3 percent, but they contain 95 percent of all radioactivity.