Nuclear Energy: Resources and Outlook

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an introduction on nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is obtained through the conversion of less stable atomic nuclei into more stable nuclei. There are two main sources of nuclear energy. The first is the splitting or fission of heavy nuclei into two lighter nuclei whose atomic weight is closer to the average; hence, they are more stable than the nucleus that has been split. The second is the uniting or fusion of light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, whose mass is also closer to the average. The primary source of energy obtained by fission is uranium. World nuclear power programs primarily employ light-water reactors using slightly enriched uranium. On the average the earth's crust contains four parts per million of the element. In terms of actual energy requirements, these resources are either rather small, if their yield is based on use in the reactors most commonly found today, or rather sizeable, if used in breeder reactors. When comparing these figures with those for oil, it must be remembered that proven reserves of oil are on the order of 100 billion tons–some four times more than the reasonably assured reserves of uranium–and that a similar ratio applies for the estimates of different types of less-assured resources for both uranium and oil.