Everything you need to know about nuclear energy

Nuclear Renaissance
Everything you need to know about nuclear energy
 
BERTRAND RUSSEL, the prominent philosopher and writer said, “Science is in essence nothing but the systematic pursuit of knowledge, and knowledge, whatever ill-uses bad men may make of it, is in its essence good.” Nuclear power has been under scrutiny over generations for its immense destructivity and the ultimate political authority invested to its possessors; however, in reality it is actually very harmless, and in essence, can be good. It is also a valuable energy resource that Korea cannot do without in this world of race to natural energies. The Yonsei Annals will inform all about the hidden lights of nuclear energy and break your prejudice toward the shadows of nuclear powers. Do not let ferocious terms like Hiroshima and Chernobyl come to your mind when thinking about nuclear powers anymore.
 
Why nukes?
 As the world faces the limitation of fossil fuels, the need to develop alternative energy sources became imminent. Among many kinds of alternative energies which are currently being developed, nuclear energy emerges as the most environmentally friendly, economical, stable, and efficient resource.
We live in a world of limited natural resources and the prospect of global warming is looming sooner than we expected. The constant usage of fossil fuel will not only lead to drainage of resources but also tremendous climate change. “Currently, humankind is working fervently to prevent global warming. According to Kyoto Protocol, the global convention to mitigate environmental catastrophe, Korea is expected to be included as one of the most industrialized countries between 2013 and 2017 and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions to target the level 5.2% below that of 1900s,” writes the book, *Everything You Need to Know about Nuclear* by Sim Ki-bo (Deputy General Manager, Div. of Media, Korea Nuclear Energy Foundation. In addition, a project by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found that nuclear resource emits less carbon dioxide than other alternative energies. What is more, during the operation, nuclear generation does not emit carbon dioxide at all.  
From an economical aspect, uranium is cheaper than oil and other natural resources. In the generation of resources, the amount of fuel like oil, natural gas and coal consumed is more than 50%, and if the price of fuel rises, the society is heavily affected. However, only 10% of uranium fuel is consumed. Thus it does not affect the generation cost. Also, if annual utilization of Korea’s 20 nuclear power plants increases by 1%, the result directly equals to a profit of ₩56 billion in the electricity sale. This would help restrict the increase of the electricity charges. “If Korea keeps using thermal power, not only carbon dioxide emission would rise but also the price of importing coals would reach its peak. In this repsect, nuclear energy is an excellent option,” said Kim Yong-kyun, (Associate Prof., Dept. of Nuclear Engin., Hanyang Univ.).
Nuclear energy has a very stable and constant supply worldwide as the ingredient of nuclear, uranium, is evenly buried underground throughout the world. On the other hand, oil is concentrated in the politically unstable Middle East areas, in which the supply can be cut off or the prices can sky-rocket. Also, once stored in the nuclear reactor, uranium, the component of nuclear energy, does not have to be replaced for another 12~18 months. Thus, copious amount of fuel can be accumulated with only a small amount of uranium. 
 
Korea knocks the outside world
Ever since Calder Hall, the world's first commercial nuclear power station in the Great Britain, started its nuclear operation in 1956 for industrial use, the world has been working on nuclear development. According to the data from Japan Atomic Industry Forum in 2007, there are a total of 429 atomic generation facilities in the world and this energy contributes to 16% of electricity worldwide. In the United States, the Bush administration is preparing a plan to expand civilian nuclear energy at home. The state even reformed its energy law and now, the government provides compensation to power plants if the nuclear construction is delayed by the government’s regulation and tax cut. France is also generating 59 nuclear plants which produce 78% of its national electricity.
Korea, lacking energy resources, first introduced nuclear power in 1978 for a stable energy supply. Currently, there are a total of 20 nuclear power plants in Korea. “Korea is the world’s sixth largest nation in developing nuclear power following the United States, France, Japan, Russia and Germany. Korea has one of the best nuclear technologies in the world,” said Kim. The total amount of energy accounts for 39% of total magnitude of energy in the nation. This electricity emission is the amount every Korean household can use for three years.
   Korea has the world’s best operation system. To measure this, two important yardsticks come to the stage: utilization and accident rates. Since 1993, Korea has achieved over 87% of nuclear energy usage annually which is more than 15% of the world’s average. This means that the efficiency and application of the operation system is high. Also, the accident rates of Korea’s nuclear power plants are very low.
 

 
 
              Korea's largest nuclear plant at Guri  
 
 
Then what is the problem?
In this golden age of nuclear energy, there are some problems the era faces. One of them is that nuclear energy has the potential to explode and in the case of explosion, the number of casualties and destruction would be immeasurable. The accident at Chernobyl in 1986 is one example in which 31 people died and 116,000 people migrated from the area. Besides such latent explosion, the leakage of radiation can be another problem.
For Korea, such potential danger in Chernobyl explosion is very low. “The case like Chernobyl is highly unlikely to happen in Korean plants. “We have equipped five different layers of walls to protect and prevent the nuclear from any kind of explosion or leaks. Also, the Korean government limits the extent of radiation emitted from the power plants so that we can keep checking and balancing,” said Sim. These five layers of thick steel and concrete disable any kind of nuclear energy from leaking out or even breaking out.
“There are more gains than losses the humankind receives from the energy. They fear that the radiation would affect their health. However, the radiation from nuclear power plants in Korea is limited to less than 0.1 mCv whereas in Brazil, natural radiation emitted from the land is over than 3 mCv,” said Park Byeong-hyeon (1st Sem., Dept. of Nuclear Engin., Hanyang Univ.).
The movement which tries to alleviate people’s negative mindset toward nuclear energy is being actively pursued. Korea is educating the youth from an early age of the positive influences of nuclear energy. For example, KNEF was established to promote a proper understanding of the peaceful use of nuclear energy among the public. One of the promotions is a special center in KNEF called “Happy-I,” in which playrooms and recreations are situated for visiting elementary school children. “(After the visit), I could understand better about the positive effects of this energy influencing our lives. I think it is also fun and interesting that the center provides such games for us,” said Song Jong-kyu, a visiting child to this center.
 
   
 
   fun recreations at KNEF!  
 
Remember
Korea in the 21stcentury is the era of nuclear Renaissance. There are even nuclear-related majors and departments in universities in Korea like Hanyang Univ. Not only it is cheap, environmentally-friendly, and abundant but it is also the sole energy Korea’s electricity industry can depend on as the search and war over precious oil becomes fiercer. Do not worry about nuclear energy’s potential destruction. The possibility of catching cancer or diseases from the radiation is smaller than the chances of getting random cancers. Nuclear energy is a part of our lives as well as an essential life partner.
 
Box 1.
Did you know?
   Once nuclear technology is activated, the emitted radiation can be used in many beneficial ways. Here are some examples.
1.       There are a lot of advantages of using the nuclear energy. Radiation, equivalent to nuclear energy, can be used for medical purpose. When diagnosing diseases, the radioisotope can be inserted inside the patient’s body to measure his or her condition. Also, radiation can be used for the treatment of patients with cancers. The aim is to protect the most normal cells and destroy the cancer cells to the maximum. Lastly, radiation is used to sterilize medical supplies for better sanitation.
2.       Radiation is also developed in the agricultural area. In the case of plant breeding, radiation is shined upon a plant and superior characteristics can be preserved while improving specific qualities. Secondly, in the example of extermination of vermin, the reproduction can be stopped by shooting radiation to the pupa. Lastly, the fruits and vegetables can be sterilized and rid of insects through radiation.
3.       Radiation affects the industrial aspect as well. By measuring the power of the radiation power emission, one can know how thick or dense an object is even if the radiation has not contacted the object. Also, radiation is used in the examination of whether an object has holes, cracks or imbalance by taking an X-ray. Lastly, the waste like drainage pollution can be used as compost after sterilization through disintegrating the chemical parts of the radiation and sterilizing it.
 
 
Box 2.
 
Japan’s Rokkashomura Nuclear Energy Plant
 
In Japan, there is a nuclear plant in the region of Aomori in which the location is famous for its spa tourism and beautiful environment. Its nuclear technology is the world’s latest and every recycling and waste process is effectively carried out with the investment of 21.4 trillion and the help of local people. Also, tourism and events like various concerts and festivals for better understanding of nuclear energy brought additional effects. This power plant is a model example of peaceful and effective usage of nuclear energy.
 
   
 
   beautiful scenery at Japan's Rokkashoumra Plant  
 
 
Box 3.
 
What happened at Chernobyl?
 
   On April 26, 1986, the reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded. This accident is known as the world’s most destructive nuclear explosion. The problem lied in the reactor which did not receive enough coolant and too much heat was concentrated in the core. The plume thus drifted over the Soviet Union, all over Europe and even eastern North America. The areas surrounding Chernobyl were badly contaminated and more than 336,000 people were evacuated from the region. After this accident, 237 people suffered from radiation sickness and 31 people died within first three months.
 
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