Nuclear Fuel

Key Stage 3

Meaning

Nuclear Fuel is a radioactive material which can be used to generate electricty.

About Nuclear Fuel

Nuclear Fuel has energy in its nuclear potential energy store which can be easily transferred into its thermal energy store.

The most common nuclear fuels are Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239.

Nuclear Fuel transfers energy to the thermal energy store during a nuclear reaction.

Nuclear Fuel is very dangerous because it is radioactive which causes harm to living organisms.:

When nuclear fuel is used the waste products are still radioactive so they must be buried deep underground where they cannot harm living organisms.

Power

Nuclear Fuel can be used to provide power by generating electricity that can be sent to houses and industry.

A Nuclear Power Station transfers energy from the chemical potential energy store of the Nuclear Fuel to our homes by electricity.

A diagram of a coal power station.

1. Nuclear Fuel undergoes a nuclear reaction in the reactor core.

2. Water in the reactor core is heated and passed through a heat exchanger.

3. Water in the reactor core becomes contaminated with radioactive material so the heat exchanger heats up uncontaminated water.

3. The uncontaminated water turns to steam and passes down pipes to turn a turbine.

4. The turbine causes a generator to spin.

5. The generator makes an electrical current.

Advantages

• Can work continuously.
• Power supply can be varied depending on demand.
• Few power stations needed to supply a large number of houses.
• High energy density (1kg of Uranium can provide the same energy as 10,000kg of coal).

Disadvantages

• Cost of fuel.
• Difficult to safely dispose of nuclear waste.
• There is a small risk of meltdown.