To understand how nuclear power works, the first thing that we need to know are their processes. To do this, you must be familiar with the nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, with the difference that there is between the two, and the advantages and disadvantages of using one or the other system.

What is nuclear fission?

We will start by explain what is nuclear fission. nuclear fission is the reaction that occurs in the nucleus of a heavy atom. When you capture a neutron incident, the core becomes unstable and splits into two nuclei of atoms that are lighter. These atoms are lighter take the name of fission products. In this process they are given two or three neutrons and gamma rays, and it causes the release of large amounts of energy.

These neutrons, in turn, can cause more fission reactions to interact with other fissionable nuclei, which issued new neutrons, and so on. It is a multiplier effect that is typically given the name of a chain reaction.

So that this fission chain reaction to occur, you have to give certain conditions. These conditions relate, on the one hand, with the critical mass of the material fissile (that is to say, must exceed a certain threshold amount in this material for the reaction to take place), and on the other side with the geometry of the material. Fission may occur spontaneously, but requires the existence of a neutron with a capacity of influence with the necessary energy.

to The results of this reaction are that, in only a fraction of the time, the nuclei fisionados release an energy that is a million times bigger than that obtained through other means of energy production as the combustion of fossil fuel.

The nuclei fisionados release an energy, a million times higher than the one obtained.

What is nuclear fusion?

Nuclear fusion is a reaction in which two atoms with two very light nuclei join together to form an atom with a nucleus more stable and heavy, with a mass slightly less than the sum of the masses of the nuclei initials. This mass defect gives rise to a large detachment of energy. The energy produced by the Sun is of this origin.

For nuclear fusion to occur, the core of positive charge must be able to overcome the electrostatic forces of repulsion in his approach. This is the type of energy that occurs in the sun, a place in which the pressure of the interior of the sun allows the cores to star in the reaction bow interactions. Here on earth, that this reaction to occur, it is only possible through the application of thermal energy, or by a particle accelerator.

The typical product of this type of phenomenon is a helium atom, in addition, a neutron, a result that derives from the combination of two isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium.

Differences between fission and nuclear fusion

Both fission and nuclear fusion are nuclear reactions that release the energy stored in the nucleus of an atom. But there are important differences between the two. Nuclear fission is the separation of a heavy nucleus into smaller nuclei while nuclear fusion is the combination of light nuclei to create one larger and heavier.

Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear fission and nuclear fusion

Nuclear fission is the one that currently operates in nuclear power plants around the world, so that their advantages and their disadvantages are increasingly contrasted.

Among its benefits we can find:

• Efficiency of energy production: it Is a system that ensures supplies are stable and continuous. The production of energy is constant and is available at virtually all times, ensuring the correct operation of the electrical system,.

• An energy that is clean and respectful with the environment: It is a power that it does not release into the atmosphere polluting gases (such as CO2), which contribute to the greenhouse effect, something that happens with other forms of energy production. In fact, it is the only technology available today with the ability to generate such amounts of energy without the need of fossil fuels.

Among its potential problems, we can mention:

• security Issues: Some incidents historical in nuclear power plants has made that the public opinion is, in some measure, reluctant to this kind of energy. National and international regulations, supervisory agencies and security protocols are in charge of monitoring and ensuring that nuclear power plants comply with the regulations and are safe.

• Waste reagents: Without a doubt one of the most important challenges facing the industry. The management and storage of these materials can be located in the power stations themselves, or at sites specialized. In either case, a proper regulation on the matter would be essential to put in practice the corresponding solutions safely and effectively. Nuclear fusion, for his part, even though it has not managed to put in place, would solve this problem, by not generating waste reagents (although it could turn indirectly the structural materials of fusion power stations). In addition, it would be a virtually inexhaustible source of energy production. In actuality, there are reactors and experimental prototypes. When you overcome the hurdles that still need to solve (for example the high temperature necessary for the fusion and the compatibility of it with the materials that support it), we will, without doubt, to an important paradigm shift in electricity generation is concerned.

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