Nuclear Power Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nuclear Power - Research Paper Example In this reaction, the heavier and unstable nuclei breakup into corresponding smaller nuclei releasing a large amount of energy (nearly infinite amount of energy). The two corresponding nuclei split into other lighter nuclei again releasing large amount of energy. Thus the reaction continues until all the radioactive material releases energy. The energy released in the process is the thermal energy, which is then converted to the electrical energy by utilizing the procedure utilized in the thermal power plant. The process involves the generation of steam, heating the steam to 600 degrees and then utilizing the steam to run the turbine that runs the generator. The energy released in the nuclear reaction sometime become excessive than the required amount. In this way, there is a need to remove the excess energy from the reactor to prevent any reaction. To control the evolution of heat in the reaction several methods are adopted like utilizing the water as a coolant to dispose off the ex cess thermal energy, utilizing neutron moderator, molten salt or liquid metal. The most common method is to utilize the water while neutron moderator that slows the reaction down is also utilized. Graphite is a type of neutron moderator that is mostly used in the nuclear reactor. Cooling towers construction method is utilized for the power plants that are far from the shores. A nuclear power plant has seven major components. The most important is the nuclear fuel that is mostly Uranium. The second important component is the moderator that slows the reaction. Mostly heavy water and graphite are utilized to work as moderator. Control rods are also important component that absorb the neutrons and control the thermodynamics of the reactor. Elements such as cadmium, hafnium or born can be utilized in the control rods. Coolant is also an important factor that constantly maintains the thermal energy of the reactor. A liquid (mostly water) or a gas circulates through the core to remove the excess heat from the reactor. Pressure vessel or pressure tubes are also important component of the nuclear power plant. Reinforced steel is utilized in the component to resist the pressure of steam, hold the fuel and convey the coolant and moderator to the nuclear power plant. Steam generator is utilized in the Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) where a part of cooling water is converted to steam to run the turbine. The cooling system is separated from the primary core compartment (World-Nuclear. Association, 2012). Containment is the structure around the reactor core that protects the reactor from outer environment and outer environment from the reactor. There are many advantage and disadvantages of the nuclear power. The most important benefit of the nuclear power is that the nuclear power is free from the green house gas emissions. Another advantage of the nuclear power is that it is the most concentrated form of power and a kilogram of nuclear fuel yields as much power as a ton of coal, thus minimize the solid wastes. Nuclear power is the type of power that is best capable of providing the base load (Moens, 2012). However, the major disadvantage of the nuclear power is that it has the largest capital cost that any other power generation system would have, which rises the per kilowatt cost of the power. Another disadvantage is that the

First and Second Industrialization Wave Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

First and Second Industrialization Wave - Essay Example It originated in Great Britain and then made its way through Western Europe, Japan, North America and finally spread all over the world. With the Industrial Revolution every facet of life and living was affected in some way or the other. Prolonged growth of income and population started to take place. In the centuries following the Industrial Revolution, population increased six times and the world’s average income increased ten times1. The time period during which the Second Industrial Revolution lasted (1867 - 1914) has been named ‘The Age of Synergy’ by Vaclav Smill2. The Second Industrial Revolution was characterized by a number of factors. New tools were made of stronger and more durable metals like aluminum and alloys like steel were introduced as well. New substances were used as fuels including petroleum and natural gas and the method of handling business also changed. A small description of the highlights of the Second Industrial Revolution is given below . Forms of business that had never been seen before came into existence and labour became more organized. The heavy industry was capitalized by monopoly, cartels and banks. Monopolies are huge organizations which control the every part of the industries. A cartel is composed of different ventures and fixed prices as well as production allowances and hence cutting down the competition which caused prices to reduce. Germany had a strong base of cartels and banks there protected there investments by cutting the competition down. Trade unions were formed by workers which allowed them to have better working hours and also have some allowances enabling them to improve their condition. The workers made use of strikes to get what they wanted from their employers. By the time the First World War started three to four million workers were part of unions although the total workforce was five times that number of workers. The strikes were mostly walkouts but a few were of a violent nature as we ll (socsci.gulfcoast.edu). The social and political power was in the hands of the middle class relative to their economic power. The middle class had a variety of groups. The middle class divided into three classes- upper, lower and middle. The lower middle class was comprised of people working for the class above their own. They were mostly shopkeepers, traders, and peasants. The middle class comprised of doctors, lawyers, merchants, well off merchants as well as professionals in the Civil Services. Due to the expansion of industry because of the Industrial Revolution this middle group kept getting more additions. The new additions were engineers, accountants, architects and chemists. These new additions formed professional institutions to symbolize their worth. Between the lower middle class and the lower class, there was present a group of workers who were basically salesmen, bookkeepers and secretaries. They were paid a little more than the working class and mostly had no proper ties of their own. They were intent on improving their social statuses and worked hard to achieve that target, succeeding most of the time (socsci.gulfcoast.edu). A distinct character of the Second Industrial Revolution was that peasants and artisans were put out of business and they were replaced by machinery and skilled workers who could operate