why is it so difficult and time consuming to deactivate a nuclear reactor?
87481
i have a feeling that might have something to do with not wanting to blow up...it's just a hunch.
562664
Nuclear waste or any radiological material deteriorates in its radioactive properties at a set rate determined by spin of rates of the neutrons that orbit the nucelus of the specific molecule in question. This rate is know as a half life or the time it takes for half the neutrons to spin off. This can only be accelarated by forecfully adding electrons to the molecules of the material, which is another radiological procedure that requires large amounts of electricity.  A very expensive process.  Chemicals have virtualy no effect toward accelarating half rates.
760442
It's a lie, it's like cell phones causing gas stations to blow up. I work for a package delievery service and we ship optic mice, cell phones and what not all the time, and if something edmits radioactivity it's required to be labeled, even if it doesn't emit the radiation when it's turned off. the only thing you have in ur home that is slightly radioactive is ur smoke detectors.which are class 1, meaning as long as u dont eat them you'll be fine
118189
Nuclear power is a 'clean' power in that, under normal circumstances, the only emisson is steam from the reactor. However, if there is a meltdown, like the one in Russia a while ago, the effect could be very threatning.
226918
This is a debate we're going to have to have here in the US soon...are the risks of nuclear power worth the benefits.  I think there's nothing wrong with nuke power, having worked around it for several years in the early 90's.  I think irrational fear is nuclear power's biggest obstacle.  People fear what they cannot understand.  They see Chernobyl and think that's going to happen all over again in their backyard, when the fact of the matter is that modern nuke plants are as safe as any other industrial facility handling volatile materials.  The UK would be well served by building new nukes and opening up research on alternative power sources simultaneously.
422749
That's nuclear fission - used in nuclear power stations. The waste can be recycled to a certain extent and is done at Sellafield in the UK. Decommissioning nuclear power stations is a bigger problem.
226685
Well, other forms of energy create so much more pollution that nuclear energy is the safest, most viable source of energy. I'll admit it's far from perfect, but considering the low output of energy collection devices such as solar and wind, nuclear energy has a huge output for a very low energy input.\n\nAnd nuclear power plants are among the most efficient power sources we have. Coal and nuclear plants are about 30-40% efficient. In contrast, the human body is only 20% efficient. Until we can develop a system of fusion that creates an acceptable amount of energy to warrant the energy required to start the reaction, fission is our best bet.
913412
Not now.\nAlso, iron being at the nuclear energy low point, changing it to other elements takes power, rather than releasing it.
1032044
I know someone in this research area. Info can be found at...\n\nhttp://www.fusionpower.org/\n\nI'd like to say that within 100 years some kind of clean(er) energy will be produced at the atomic level.\n\nBut the hurdles associated with Fusion, really do seem insurmountable at this time.
575023
You could do. It reduces CO2 emissions.\n\nHere's an article that might interest you. It's about the chinese developing a new much-safer and cheaper design of reactor called a pebble-bed reactor.\n\nThat still leaves how to dispose of the waste. Perhaps someone else knows whether there have been any developments in waste disposal recently.
401394
lets start with advantages.......\n   for power generation\n   alternate to non-renewable energy sources\n   \ndisadvantages....\n  expensive\n  harmful to environment(radiation)\n  risky\n\nenergy is produced in nuclear reactor by fission mechanism......
840810
A heavy radiation flux will kill bacteria. There is no actual reactor involved, just a highly radioactive source that has food pass by it.
293349
Really the only things people don't like about nuclear power are the issues of the nuclear waste and where to place it. It is also rather expensive, but it is much safer than most people believe. Many people do not want nuclear power around them because they fear the radiation or the possibility of a meltdown. When a lot of people hear the words nuclear, atomic, or reaction, the first thing that comes to mind is a bomb. Of course, the reaction in the plant works in the same way (nuclear fission), but it is safely contained, and the barrels of waste are removed from the site and unforunately, slowly decay over the course of thousands of years.
269984
Sorry to be late, I didn't see your question till today. It works by creating steam. The core (nuclear material) is exposed and heats water in tubes. That water (steam) is generally used to heat water in a separate set of tubes. that steam is sued to turn turbines to created electricity. In a nutshell that is it. One side issue the "smoke" you see coming from nuclear power plants is steam. The water in the tubes is used over and over and never released.
306016
Radiation hazards aside the greatest cost is the maintenance required of the nuclear waste and the eventual decommisioning of the powerplant.\n\nIn the medium term the cost to serve is not that much greater than other fuels, and it's the established Carbon neutral method of generating power.  It's just that the maintenance of it extends for 100's of years after it has served it's purpose.
818133
What nuclear leakage? Are you delving into the far distant past?\nThe nuclear industry must be the safest industry on the globe to day, there are so many safety measures and regulations that it would be almost impossible for any leakage. \nMake no mistake nuclear is the power of the future.
846920
Well, it should be close to what I did as a nuclear power qualified Sailor on US Submarines.  There is a small space called maneuvering that provides a place for three men to control the reactor, electric plant and the steam turbines.  The engine room has several other watch standers that monitor the turbines, generators, air conditioning, evaporators, switchgear and other stuff.