Meriveden uraani askeleen lähempänä toteuttamiskelpoista energialähdettä

While the history behind nuclear energia utilizing fuel sources like Uranium may be marred with concerning events, the narrative behind this potentially climate-friendly power source is rapidly changing.  Modern reactors are safer than ever, and with the increased condemnation of fossil fuels, now is a pivotal time for a push forward with nuclear solutions.

“Ydinenergia on vähähiilinen energialähde, joka korvaa fossiiliset polttoaineet ja tarjoaa tärkeän takuun talouden ja ympäristön vihreälle kehitykselle.”

With that in mind, researchers have recently developed a new solution that will potentially allow for Uranium to be harvested from seawater in a kestävällä fashion.

Läpimurto

The solution, which involves the extraction of uranium ions through an electrochemical reaction, was detailed in a paper titled ‘Self-Standing Porous Aromatic Framework Electrodes for Efficient Electrochemical Uranium Extraction‘.  Julkaistu in ACS Central Science, this paper saw researchers identify and set out to solve the following problem.

With uranium reserves in seawater “…arvioidaan olevan 4,5 miljardia tonnia, lähes 1000 kertaa suuremmat kuin maapallon uraanivarannot”, what can be done to access this vast source of latent energy?

Although we won’t dive into the more technical details of the process outlined in its paper, the solution at which the team arrived saw the creation of a form of treated carbon fiber fabric with enough surface area to capture uranium ions that can then be harvested through an electrochemical reaction.

Overall, the team believes its work has “…provided an effective strategy for the uranium extraction from seawater through the electrochemical process.”

Uraanin ymmärtäminen

Uraanin hajoamisketju

Uranium’s energy release involves its atomic structure. Uranium atoms have large, unstable nuclei. When a neutron hits a uranium atom, it can cause the atom to split or undergo fission. This fission splits the uranium atom into two smaller atoms and releases additional neutrons plus a significant amount of energy.

Lähde: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1050/uranium.htm

In nuclear reactors, this process is controlled. The released neutrons can strike other uranium atoms, creating a chain reaction. The heat generated from this reaction is used to heat water, producing steam which is then harnessed to drive turbines which generate electricity.

This controlled use of uranium’s fission process is the basis for nuclear power generation, harnessing the substantial energy released during the decay chain.

Uraanivapaa tulevaisuus

Although nuclear fission is currently a top option for sustainable, clean energy, it is not without its own drawbacks.  As mentioned, when fuel sources such as Uranium decay, there are resulting radioactive isotopes known as ‘fission products’.  These byproducts must then be carefully contained, for sometimes extraordinarily long periods of time, until they are no longer hazardous.  For decades, scientists have recognized this and have been hard at work to develop a superior process known as nuclear fusion.

Where nuclear fission harnesses energy from the decay of heavy elements like Uranium, nuclear fusion harnesses energy from the fusion of lighter atomic nuclei (typically deuterium + tritium = helium + a neutron).  Interestingly, this is the same process that powers stars such as the Sun.  There are various reasons that fusion is viewed as being far superior to fission.  These include,

Korkeampi energiamäärä: Fusion releases significantly more energy than fission.  Fusing atoms together releases nearly four million times more energy than burning coal, oil, or gas and about four times as much as nuclear fission reactions.

Lähteet runsaasti: The primary fuels for fusion, deuterium, and tritium, are more abundant than fissile materials like uranium. Deuterium can be extracted from water, while tritium can be produced from lithium during the fusion process itself, which has terrestrial and sea-based reserves sufficient for over a thousand years.

Alhaisempi ympäristövaikutus: Fusion does not emit harmful greenhouse gases like CO₂. Its major by-product is helium, an inert and non-toxic gas.  Unlike fission reactors, fusion reactors produce no high-activity, long-lived nuclear waste. The materials used can potentially be recycled or reused within 100 years.

Turvallisuus: Fusion doesn’t have the same risks as fission reactors.  There’s no risk of a meltdown like in fission reactors, as it’s inherently difficult to maintain fusion reactions; any disturbance can cause the reaction to stop immediately.  Also, fusion doesn’t employ fissile materials like uranium or plutonium, limiting the risk of nuclear proliferation.

Although there are many hurdles left to clear until our ability to harness nuclear fusion reactions makes it a viable power source, the process has seen a resurgence in interest as of late due to various breakthroughs surrounding ignition.  For example, on various occasions, researchers have achieved a net energy gain in fusion reactions, where more energy was produced than was used to initiate the reaction​​​.

The timeline for a demonstrable fusion power plant is estimated to be around 20 years, though some startups claim it could be achieved in a decade or less.  However, these predictions are tempered by the complexities of plasma physics and the practicalities of building a functioning fusion reactor.

Overall, while nuclear fusion offers significant advantages over fission in terms of energy output, environmental impact, and safety, mastering this technology for practical, consistent energy production is still a work in progress, with an optimistic timeline of at least two decades before it becomes a viable energy source.

Johtavat ydinenergia‑yritykset

If humans are ever going to achieve the kind of feats discussed above, it will require the concerted efforts of public and private companies alike to continue building on past achievements for generations to come.  For now, the following are examples of companies playing an early role in such feats as each advances our understanding and capabilities within the Aerospace sector.

*Alla annetut luvut olivat kirjoitushetkellä tarkkoja ja voivat muuttua.  Mahdollisten sijoittajien tulisi tarkistaa mittarit*

1. Exelon Corporation

EXC Hintakaavio

Exelon Corporation (EXC ), jonka pääkonttori sijaitsee Chicagossa, Illinoisissa, on Yhdysvaltojen suurin ydinvoimalaitosten operaattori. Se toimittaa sähköä ja virtaa 10 miljoonalle asiakkaalle 23 ydinreaktorin ja 14 ydinvoimalan kautta. Yritys monipuolistaa myös tuottamistaan tuuli-, aurinko- ja vesivoiman avulla.

2. NextEra Energy, Inc.

LEU Hintakaavio

As the world’s largest utility company, NextEra Energy (NEE ) has nuclear plants in Florida, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin. These plants play a crucial role in providing reliable and emissions-free energy, avoiding over 24 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

3. BWX Technologies, Inc.

BWXT Hintakaavio

BWX Technologies (BWXT ), yhdysvaltalainen yritys, toimittaa ydinkomponentteja, -teknologioita ja -polttoainetta Yhdysvaltojen ydinvoimaloihin. Se tukee myös hallituksia ja yksityisiä toimijoita, jotka operoivat ydinlaitoksia. Palveluihin kuuluu laivaston ydinpropulsio, ydinlääketiede ja tutkimuskoe‑reaktorit. Yritys on ollut mukana tukemassa pienten modulaaristen reaktoreiden käyttöönottoa Puolassa.

Lopulliset ajatukset

These recent developments in uranium extraction from seawater, alongside the steady progress being made in nuclear fusion research, potentially herald a transformative phase in sustainable power generation. The process of harvesting uranium using electrochemical reactions promises a less environmentally intrusive alternative to traditional mining, addressing both the scarcity of land-based uranium and the environmental concerns associated with its extraction. Meanwhile, the pursuit of nuclear fusion, with its superior energy output, abundant fuel sources, minimal environmental impact, and enhanced safety, represents a beacon of hope for a future powered by clean, virtually limitless energy.