Nuclear power is any nuclear technology designed to extract usable energy from atomic nuclei via controlled nuclear reactions.

The only method in use today is through nuclear fission, though other methods might one day include nuclear fusion and radioactive decay.

All utility-scale reactor heat water to produce steam, which is then converted into mechanical work for the purpose of generating electricity or propulsion.

In 2007, 14% of the world's electricity came from nuclear power.


Pressurized Water Reactor


Boiling Water Reactor

Advantages (Pros):

1.Nuclear power plants are more efficient than ever before. New technology has made them more reliable (they break down less often) and safer.

2.Reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is a contentious issue. Proponents of nuclear power argue that, as no coal or fossil fuels are burnt, no carbon dioxide is released into the air.

3.Although the initial cost of building nuclear plants is high, the running costs are relatively low.

4.One reason the costs are low is that nuclear plants need only a small amount of uranium to produce a lot of energy. In fact, if the cost of uranium doubled, costs would only be increased by 7%. 1 truck of uranium produces as much energy as 1000 trucks of coal!

5.Reduces dependence on foreign oils and natural gas (like biofuels). America, for instance, imports a lot of oil and natural gas from other countries. The price of these products is volatile, and change very quickly. If the price increases quickly, consumers have to pay more for their electricity (which they may not be able to afford).

6.Nuclear wastes can be safely stored underground

We (Malaysia) start develop and research in this field 50+ years back, together with South Korea.

BUT, we are far left behind by them. In every sectors, eg; economic.

Why? Because we spend more money on producing energy using common technique, on the other hand, South Korea had more money to develop their country.
*short intro from me

What do you guys think??

Yes, indeed. The safety and security of the nuclear reactor are highly take into account.

Malaysia don have one RESEARCH nuclear reactor which is only generates 1 Mwatts of electricity.

To achieve optimum safety, nuclear plants in the western world operate using a 'defence-in-depth' approach, with multiple safety systems supplementing the natural features of the reactor core. Key aspects of the approach are:
-high-quality design & construction
-equipment which prevents operational disturbances developing into problems
-redundant and diverse systems to detect problems, control damage to the fuel and prevent significant radioactive releases
-provision to confine the effects of severe fuel damage to the plant itself.

The safety provisions include a series of physical barriers between the radioactive reactor core and the environment, the provision of multiple safety systems, each with backup and designed to accommodate human error. Safety systems account for about one quarter of the capital cost of such reactors.

The barriers in a typical plant are: the fuel is in the form of solid ceramic (UO2) pellets, and radioactive fission products remain bound inside these pellets as the fuel is burned. The pellets are packed inside sealed zirconium alloy tubes to form fuel rods. These are confined inside a large steel pressure vessel with walls up to 30 cm thick - the associated primary water cooling pipework is also substantial. All this, in turn, is enclosed inside a robust reinforced concrete containment structure with walls at least one metre thick.

But the main safety features of most reactors are inherent - negative temperature coefficient and negative void coefficient. The first means that beyond an optimal level, as the temperature increases the efficiency of the reaction decreases (this in fact is used to control power levels in some new designs). The second means that if any steam has formed in the cooling water there is a decrease in moderating effect so that fewer neutrons are able to cause fission and the reaction slows down automatically.

Beyond the control rods which are inserted to absorb neutrons and regulate the fission process, the main engineered safety provisions are the back-up emergency core cooling system (ECCS) to remove excess heat (though it is more to prevent damage to the plant than for public safety) and the containment.

About the incident about nuclear reactor,


We believe that there will no other accident if operator follow the operation procudures. So far, compare to the accidents happen in other enegy generating sites, eg coal, nuclear reactor is more safe and can be said that none of accident occur.

yea.. thanks for that.. well, as long as everyone concern about what they "did" to the earth, we still have chance, i believe there groups of scientist work on that issues.. shin-pai-ja-nai

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Added on June 19, 2009, 6:37 pmwe need to change that mind set!! there is nothing to afraid of when hear about the word "nuclear"

nuclear technolgy is gone every angle in our life,

medical: oncology, x-ray, radiopharmaceutical, etc

industrial: baggage n container scanning, non destructive testing, sterilzation, food industry, etc







This post has been edited by profdrahhen: Jun 19 2009, 06:37 PM

now we talking about generating 1000Mws of electricity. Is it possible to generate such huge energy using solar? hydrogen fuel?? no.. cant..

fusion technolgy? will not availble is this few years.. so far none of material / apparatus to hold the heat of the sun. Fusion reactor = sun, generate energy from fusing light atom such as Hydrogen and Helium.

that why we should our mentality... people are making alots of money in field.. as i mention b4..

provided nuclear apparatus, consultants, services..etc..

is it warm water.. warm water will promote the growth of plankton, which is food for fishes..
In Japan, there are more fish near the reactor..

nothing to worry about that..

if u travel alot via airplane, you will receive more dose than nearby nuclear reactor.. this is fact..

can u show me where did that accident happen again??

Yub! Now Malaysia concentrate on producing more well trained personnel regarding nuclear field..
a good start.. UKM producing around 40+ students per year in nuclear science, soon, nuclear engineering will be available in Malaysia..

Malaysia probably will have own nuclear reactor in 2023.

of coz ppl will protest.. but if u can overcome negative perception in this issues, u will thanks god for this technology..

France, German, USA, Japan..etc mostly depends on nuclear power plant to power up their country. Are they out dated like us?

nuclear power plant technolgy safety and security is far beyond of ur thinking..

for your information, solar power are not practical to generate electricity...

wind power are practically suitable for Malaysia.. need larger space to fits turbine where nuclear can do..

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Added on June 20, 2009, 1:00 ami agree.. no doubts about this..

This post has been edited by profdrahhen: Jun 20 2009, 01:00 AM

Just think out of box.. We are not move into nuclear unless it is to reduce emission of CO^2, preserve our nature to next generation... dont u want ur next generation know what is koala bear? polar bear? play with them??

we need to use green energy rather than burn those petroleum, coal, or natural gas..

besides that, it will be cheaper in term of long term usage.. TNB had proposed their paperwork regarding this..

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Added on June 20, 2009, 1:36 amso, r u belong to those "smart ass"??

think positive, logical and rational are not bad..

This post has been edited by profdrahhen: Jun 20 2009, 01:36 AM

absolutely...

This diagram is applicable to USA

This post has been edited by profdrahhen: Jun 20 2009, 06:10 PM

waiting for confirmation now..

Let it be.. South Korea can be our role model..

there is no point escaping from this technolgy.. if we are worry about nuclear waste, its all political issues. Technology in managing waste is available and being use..

Integrated Used Fuel Management
Under an integrated management approach, used nuclear fuel will remain stored at nuclear power plants in the near term. Eventually, the government will recycle it and place the unusable end product in a deep geologic repository.

Used Nuclear Fuel Is Solid and Compact
Used nuclear fuel consists of small ceramic uranium fuel pellets. All the used nuclear fuel produced by the U.S. nuclear energy industry in nearly 50 years—if stacked end to end—would cover an area the size of a football field to a depth of less than 10meters.

Near- and Long-Term Plans for Managing Used Fuel
Currently, used nuclear fuel is safely stored at nuclear plant sites, either in steel-lined, concrete vaults filled with water or in airtight steel or steel-reinforced concrete containers with steel inner canisters. Diligent monitoring and maintenance of safety systems ensures that the fuel is safely stored.

Components of an Integrated Management System
-interim storage of used fuel at centralized volunteer locations
-advanced fuel reprocessing and recycling of used fuel to reduce the volume, heat and toxicity of nuclear waste and recover useful materials
-permanent disposal of the byproducts of recycling and used nuclear fuel at a deep geologic repository.

Well, in Malaysia we have Act. 304 for regulation in any nuclear related matters, need of licence, reporting to Atomic Energy Licencing Board (AELB)... etc.

This law must be strictly followed by anybody.



For more information, click on the link below
Act. 304

ohh really? what kind of formula you looking for??? i will try my best to explain.. emmm.. yes, i will!!

*p/s: "will try my best" actually not a wise answer, according to Licenced councellor.. hahaa.. he said, we have no time to waste on trying any more, simply answer yes or no will do!! that's what happen in develop country.. Malaysia, malingsia..