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IFET COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
(An Autonomous Institution)
DEPARTMENT OF ECE & EEE
SUBJECT CODE: 23C2202 YEAR/SEMESTER: I / II
SUBJECT: CHEMISTRY FOR ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS
MODULE
II-ENERGY SOURCES
Nuclear energy – fission and fusion reactions – Nuclear chain reactions – light water nuclear
reactor – breeder reactor – solar energy conversion: thermal conversion – photo conversion –
solar cell – wind energy – tidal energy – ocean thermal energy – geothermal energy-biomass
energy.
2.1 INTRODUCTION
A source from which useful energy can be extracted or recovered either directly or by means of a
conversion or transformation process are known as energy sources. Energy resources are broadly
classified as primary and secondary.
i) Primary energy resources are those which are mined or otherwise obtained from the
environment.
Example: (a) Fossil fuels: coal, lignite, crude oil, natural gas.
(b) Nuclear fuels: Uranium, thorium, Deuterium.
(c) Solar energy: electromagnetic radiation from the sun.
ii) Secondary energy sources are those which do not occur in nature but are derived from primary
energy resources. Example: Petrol or gasoline, electrical energy from coal burning, hydrogen
obtained by electrolysis of water.
Two Main Sources of Energy:
The sources of energy are of following types:
Sources of energy
Conventional Sources Non – Conventional Sources
Bio energy
Commercial Non - Commercial Solar energy
Wind energy
Tidal energy
Coal Fire wood Energy from urban waste
Petroleum Straw
Electricity Dried dung
Figure: 2.1 Sources of energy
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,IFETCE R 2023 ACADEMIC YEAR: 2023-2024
Renewable energy sources are natural resources which can be regenerated continuously and are
inexhaustible. They can be used again and again in an endless manner. A renewable energy
source fit into sustainable development concept and provides energy security.
Examples: Wood, solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, tidal energy.
Wood is renewable resources because we can get it back by growing a sapling into a tree within
our life time.
Non-renewable resources are those which are finite and exhaustible.
Example: Fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear fuels etc., Coal is non-renewable,
because the formation of coal from trees has taken millions of years and cannot be regenerated
within our life time. It needs high temperature and pressure for conversion.
Sufficient sources of energy are necessary for industrialized nations. Over 85% of the
energy used in the world is from conventional sources such as fossil fuels (coal and oil) and
nuclear power. The conventional energy sources depend on coal and oil. The burnt fuels result
in the release of CO2 and other gases into the atmosphere causing environmental damage. There
are abundant renewable sources of energy such as wind, sun, water, and biomass. These sources
are pollution free and known as ―green energy ―.
These non – conventional energy sources are an important source of energy in today’s
time so it becomes very important for us to study energy sources for creating new clean
technologies in this field. the concepts of non – conventional energy sources in more details
under following subtopics:
Nuclear energy
Fission and fusion reactions
Nuclear chain reactions
Light water nuclear reactor
Breeder reactor
Solar energy conversion
Wind energy
Tidal energy
Ocean thermal energy
Geothermal energy.
2.2 NUCLEAR ENERGY
Nuclear energy is the energy available or present in the nucleus (core) of an atom. The
enormous amount of energy released during the nuclear chain reaction of heavy isotope like
U235 (or) Pu239 is called nuclear energy. The energy obtained from the conversion of nuclear
mass, due to nuclear fission (or) nuclear fusion, is called nuclear energy. There is enormous
energy in the bonds that hold atoms together which is released while making or breaking a
bond.
The energy released during a nuclear reaction is called nuclear energy. The materials which
make such energy available are called nuclear fuels. The energy released during induced nuclear
fission and fusion reactions is of the order of greater magnitude than that obtained from
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,IFETCE R 2023 ACADEMIC YEAR: 2023-2024
chemical fuels because the forces involved in binding the nucleons in the nucleus are very high.
Since the fossil fuel resources on the earth are finite and are likely to be exhausted sooner or
later, hence attention has been focused majorly on nuclear energy which seems to offer an
infinite source of energy.
2.2.1 Causes for release of nuclear energy
The enormous amount of energy released during the nuclear fission is due to the loss in some
mass, when the reaction takes place. It has been observed that during nuclear fission, the sum
of the masses of the products formed is slightly less than the sum of masses of target species
and bombarding neutron.
The loss in mass gets converted into energy according to Einstein equation.
E=Δmc2.
Therefore Δm= (MB-MA)
Where c = velocity
Δm = loss in mass and E= Energy,
MB =Mass of radioactive substance before emitting radiation
MA = Mass of radioactive substance after emitting radiation.
Figure: 2.2 Nuclear energy
2.2.3 Hazards of using nuclear energy
The radiation is harmful to the living organisms. The long and constant exposure of living
organisms to these radiations causes the following effects.
The nuclear radiation can damage the structure of cells in the human body.
It causes diseases like cancer and blindness.
It causes genetic disorder in a human body.
It causes sterility in human beings.
2.2.4 Applications of nuclear energy
Electricity generation: Nuclear energy is an environmental-friendly energy resource for
power generation.
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, IFETCE R 2023 ACADEMIC YEAR: 2023-2024
Source of pure water: The water discharged from the nuclear reactors is free from
Radiation and is clean enough to conserve animals and aquatic animals.
Health care: Radioactive isotopes (nuclear energy) find use in treatment of cancer by
radiotherapy. It is also used for sterilization to destroy micro-organism.
Agriculture: It is used to control of agricultural pests. Nuclear radiation delays ripening
of fruits.
2.2.5 Disadvantages of nuclear energy.
The major disadvantage associated with nuclear energy is the expulsion of radiation.
Nuclear radiation penetrates deep into the body, damages cells and leads to illness, and
sometimes even death.
Any malfunction in the nuclear reactor may lead to leakage of radiation and people
exposed to it may be susceptible to illness, even years after exposure.
The radioactive waste from nuclear reactors is hazardous and once it enters the biosphere
(ecosystem), it will take years to decay to safe levels.
Another disadvantage of nuclear energy is a disaster known as core meltdown. This occurs
when a nuclear reaction goes out of control leading to a nuclear explosion, thereby
producing a lot of harmful radiation.
2.3 NUCLEAR FISSION
Nuclear fission is defined as ―The process of splitting of heavier nucleus into two or more
smaller nuclei with simultaneous liberation of large amount of energy‖. Such fission can be
brought about by neutrons of high; moderate or low speeds without being repulsed. Although
nuclear fission can be brought about by other high speed particles, neutrons are the only
practical projectiles that result in a sustained chain reaction. The products of nuclear fission
reactions are radioactive, but less harmful to the environment than the use of fossil fuels.
When U235 is bombarded by thermal neutron, (slow moving), unstable U236 formed. The
unstable U236 then splits into two approximately equal nuclei with the release of neutrons and
large amount of energy in any one of the following mode.
Scheme: 2.1 Mechanism of nuclear fission
The immediate products of a fission reaction are called ―fission fragments‖. These and their
decay products together are called ―fission products‖.
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