AQA GCSE Nuclear Power

AQA GCSE Nuclear Power

Nuclear power

Nuclear Power station with steam turbine and generator connecting to the national grid

1.Nuclear Reactor

2. Fuel rod

3. Control rod 

4. Heat exchanger

5.Steam turbine

6. Generator

7. Concrete shield

8. Cool water entering reactor

9. Steam leaving reactor and entering heat exchanger

10. Cooler water leaving steam turbine and  entering heat exchanger.

11. Steam leaving heat exchanger and entering steam turbine

Nuclear fission occurs in the reactor, causing nuclear energy store in the atoms of the fuel rods to be transferred by heating to the thermal energy store of  water that enters the reactor. Water in the reactor gains thermal energy and becomes steam, entering the heat exchanger.

In the heat exchanger the steam that has entered from the reactor will transfer energy by heating from its thermal energy store to the thermal energy store of water in the pipe. Water in the pipe gains thermal energy and forms steam.

Steam in the pipe enters the steam turbine and transfers its thermal energy store to the kinetic energy store of the turbine mechanically, causing the turbine blades to rotate.

The kinetic energy store of turbine blades is transferred mechanically to the kinetic energy store of the generator to produce electricity.

The electricity can be used for:

Heating of homes with electric heaters

Transportation (electric vehicles)

Electrical appliances

Advantages Disadvantages
High energy densityRisk of nuclear accident and explosion
No carbon dioxide producedRadioactive waste stays radioactive for a long time
Does not contribute to global warmingExpensive to build and decommission
Reliable, energy can be generated constantlyLong start up time, so cannot quickly respond to changes in demand

Practice Questions

1. Many people object if there is a proposed nuclear power station to be built in their local area. Suggest three reasons for their objection

2. Suggest how the use of nuclear power is better for the environment compared to burning of fossil fuels

3. What are the advantages of using nuclear power over renewable energy resources such as wind and solar?

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Practice Questions