Text advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power

Nuclear power has a number of advantages as well as disadvantages. For one thing, nuclear energy is economical and the cost of electricity from a nuclear-power plant is less than that from a coal-fired plant. Besides, nuclear power plants do not burn organic fuels and save valuable raw materials such as coal, oil, gas for other uses. They do not pollute the atmosphere with combustion by-products, therefore nuclear plants are ecologically cleaner than the conventional ones.

Although the electricity produced by nuclear power plants is the most promising way of energy-generation, there are some problems associated with nuclear power. First of all, the main problem is to ensure absolute reliability and safety of the plant. It means that all emergency and containment systems must be able to retain fission by-products and to withstand any natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, floods) or even the impact of the crashing plane. The disposal of radioactive waste is still one of the most serious problems. The lack of permanent storage sites can also slow down the development of nuclear industry.

And the last but not the least – uranium resources are not unlimited either. So scientists have to look for other energy sources.

A list of active words and expressions

in favour of	– в пользу, в защиту
to save	– сохранять
combustion	– сжигание
valuable	– ценный
to ensure	– гарантировать
cost	– стоимость
to pollute smth. with smth.	– загрязнять что-то чем-либо
earthquake	– землетрясение
hurricane	– ураган
flood	– наводнение

Ex. 1. Fill in the blanks.

1. The cost of electricity from a ... plant is less than that from a ... plant. 2. Nuclear power plants save ... raw materials for … uses. 3. The nuclear-power plants do not ... the atmosphere … combustion by-products. 4. The nuclear plants are ecologically … than conventional ones. 5. The electricity produced by … energy is the most ... way of energy-generation. 6. The lack of ... can slow down the ... of nuclear industry. 7. The uranium resources are not … either.8. The scientists have to … other energy sources. 9. The containment building must be able to … fission by-products and to … any natural disasters. 10. The main problem of nuclear power engineering is to ensure the ... and ... of nuclear power plants.

Ex. 2. Translate from Russian into English.

1. прежде всего

2. замедлить развитие

3. электростанция, сжигающая уголь

4. органические виды топлива

5. для других целей

6. захоронение ядерных отходов

7. выдержать стихийные бедствия

8. удар падающего самолета

9. недостаток, нехватка

10. ограниченный / неограниченный

Ex. 3. Learn the dialogues.

1. – What are the advantages of nuclear power?

– Nuclear power plants do not burn valuable raw materials such as coal, oil, and gas.

– How does nuclear energy influence the environment?

– Today any nuclear plant is ecologically cleaner than any conventional fuel-burning power plant. Nuclear reactors do not pollute the atmosphere with combustion by-products.

– Is there any danger connected with nuclear energy?

– If you mean radiation, its level within the nuclear power plant areas does not differ from the natural background.

2. – Are there any problems associated with nuclear plants?

– Yes, there are some. The principal one is to ensure absolute reliability and safety of a plant. As for the uranium resources, they are not unlimited either.

– What about other problems?

– They are human errors and the disposal of waste.

Ex. 4. Answer the questions.

1. What is the main advantage of nuclear power?

2. How does nuclear energy influence the environment?

3. What can you say about the cost of nuclear electricity?

4. What are the basic problems of nuclear power plants?

Ex. 5. Speak about the advantages and drawbacks of nuclear power.

UNIT VI

TEXT Requirements FOR NUCLEAR Reactors

A nuclear reactor is a device where a fission chain reaction produces heat energy for generating electricity. The heat energy is used to produce steam, the mechanical energy of the steam drives the turbines, which generate electrical energy.

There is a large variety of nuclear reactors. They differ in fuel, power level and purpose. Most of them consist of the following components:

a) the core where fuel rods support a fission chain reaction;

b) the moderator which is used to slow down fast neutrons;

c) the coolant which is used to remove heat from the core;

d) control rods which are used to control the rate of the chain reaction;

e) the concrete shield which is used to confine radiation;

f) special arrangements for removing radioactive fission by-products from time to time.

As for the fuel, nuclear reactors use such fissile materials as U-233, U-235, and Pu-239.