Applications of Nuclear Energy

The biggest problem faced by the world these days is a shortage of energy. The reserves of fossil fuels are declining at a rapid pace, and hence, it has become necessary to search for alternative energy sources which will fulfill our ever-increasing need for energy. Nuclear energy can help in providing electricity to industrial hotspots which will in turn be helpful for the entire economy of the country. The following nuclear energy facts will give you more relevant information.

Nuclear Energy Facts

• Nuclear energy is generated by the virtue of controlled chain reactions
• This form of energy was discovered immediately after the discovery of radioactive elements
• The formation of nuclear energy is due to the conversion of mass into energy after the process of splitting of atoms takes place
• Nuclear energy fuel, which is widely used in the world is Uranium (U-235) due to its property of quick splitting of atoms
• The reason nuclear energy is being promoted is that it does not cause environmental pollution, as no harmful gases are let out into the atmosphere

Now, go through the content below to know what are some uses of nuclear energy.

Nuclear Energy Applications

Nuclear Power Plants
Nuclear power plants is definitely one of the finest usage of nuclear energy. These are power plants that run on nuclear reactors. Nuclear reactors, in simple words, can be described as a well-designed device which is used for initiating and controlling a nuclear chain reaction. Nuclear fission produces heat which is used in the creation of electricity in a nuclear power plant. Nuclear energy is certainly one of the major contributors for power generation in the United States.

Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is one of the applications of nuclear energy in daily life. This is a modern use of nuclear energy and is used in the treatment of cancer by destroying cancerous cells in the patient's body. This technique is also called radiation oncology or radiotherapy. Radiation therapy can be administered as external beam radiation therapy, sealed source radiation therapy or systemic radioisotope therapy. Though there are some side effects of radiation therapy, they are mostly in the region of the body which has received radiation therapy. This application of nuclear energy has helped save many cancer patients.

Food Processing
These days, a lot of care is taken to maintain the quality of food before it is finally packed. This is for maintaining good public health and maintain nutritive value of food. If nuclear energy is exposed to food in small amounts, then it is possible to kill harmful germs, micro-organisms and bacteria present in it which cause decaying and disease. So, in this age of growing demand for quality food, nuclear energy is a big boon.

Nuclear Submarines
Nuclear submarines are powered by a nuclear reactor which make use of high enriched fuel for getting the desired amount of power. The advantage of the nuclear reactor use in these submarines is that they get much more power as compared to that revived from the conventional fossil fuels. Also, the power is received for a prolonged time. Over the years, there has been phenomenal progress in designing and manufacturing of nuclear submarines which are an important constituent of a country's navy.

Industrial Applications of Radiation
Use of radiation in industries is increasing at a rapid pace. There are many manufacturers who use radio-isotopes in enhancing the quality of goods produced in industries. This happens because radioisotopes help in detecting faults in goods produced. The radioisotopes, which are used as tracers aid in monitoring the corrosion of useful industrial equipment. Radioactive materials are used in the place of oil and natural gas in the petroleum and mining sector whereas in the automobile sector, it is used to check steel quality.

The above mentioned were the prominent applications of nuclear energy. Nuclear energy can be a boon for humanity if it is used wisely and for productive purposes. It is necessary to create awareness at the national as well as international level for proper use of nuclear energy.