1. Reactor – fuel (light blue) heats pressurized water.

Control rods (grey) absorb neutrons to control or heat the fission

process.
2. Coolant and Moderator – fuel and control rods are surrounded by water (primary circuit) that serves as coolant and
moderator.
3. Steam Generator – water heated by the nuclear reactor transfers heat through thousands of tubes to a secondary
circuit of water to create high-pressure steam.
4. Turbo Generator Set – steam drives the turbine, which spins the generator to produce electricity.
5. Condenser – removes heat to convert the steam back to the water, which is pumped back to the steam generator.
6. Cooling Tower – removes heat from the cooling water that circulated through the condenser, before returning it to
the source at near ambient temperature.

Nuclear Energy Basic Principles

Nuclear energy has the potential to be a reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly energy source that can
contribute to the accessibility of affordable energy services in all interested countries for present and future generations.
Any use of nuclear energy should be beneficial, responsible, and sustainable, with due regard to the protection of people
and the environment, non-proliferation, and security.

OVERVIEW OF THE BASIC PRINCIPLES

1. BENEFICIAL USE
 Benefits. The use of nuclear energy should provide benefits that outweigh the associated costs and risks.
 Transparency. The use of nuclear energy should be based on open and transparent communication of all its
facets.
2. RESPONSIBLE USE
 Protection of people and the environment. The use of nuclear energy should be such that people and the
environment are protected in compliance with the IAEA Safety Standards and other internationally recognized
standards.
 Security. The use of nuclear energy should take due account of the risk of the malicious use of nuclear and
other radioactive material.
 Non-proliferation. The use of nuclear energy should take due account of the risk of the proliferation of nuclear
weapons.
 Long-term commitment. The use of nuclear energy should be based on a long-term commitment.
 3. SUSTAINABLE USE
 Resource efficiency. The use of nuclear energy should be efficient in using resources.
 Continual improvement. The use of nuclear energy should be such that it pursues advances in technology and
engineering to continually improve safety, security, economics, proliferation resistance, and protection of the
environment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BASIC PRINCIPLES

1. PRINCIPLE 1 — BENEFITS
 The use of nuclear energy should provide benefits that outweigh the associated costs and risks.

Access to reliable, affordable, and clean energy services is essential to support economic development and an
improved standard of living for the world’s population while reducing pressure on the environment. Nuclear energy
systems, when implemented, should provide benefits that outweigh the associated costs and risks.
There are different types of benefits, costs, and risks (e.g. economic, environmental, and proliferation-related)
associated with different energy systems that produce comparable energy products and with the techniques for the use
of these energy products. The benefits, costs, and risks may be distributed unevenly among the affected population
(including future generations). Any particular benefit, cost, or risk could be valued dissimilarly by different members of
an affected population. There are also disparities in the political and regulatory processes by which States and multi-
State organizations make trade-offs among largely incomparable benefits, costs, and risks and in how they appraise the
diverse preferences of their differently affected citizens.
All of these issues should be taken into account in assessing the benefits of a nuclear energy system.

2. PRINCIPLE 2 — TRANSPARENCY
 The use of nuclear energy should be based on open and transparent communication of all its facets.

Since its inception, both the benefits and risks arising from the use of nuclear energy have generated public
interest, concern, and debate.
Transparency regarding the development and use of nuclear energy systems is critically important to develop
and maintain the trust of stakeholders that nuclear energy organizations are behaving in an ethical and socially
responsible manner. Trust is very difficult to earn and very easy to lose. The stakeholders involve a broad spectrum of
people ranging from the local community to people in neighboring countries as well as the international community. It
also includes regulatory organizations and financial institutions. In providing transparent information, due regard needs
to be taken concerning commercial and security considerations.
Information on the risks and benefits of nuclear energy systems must be clear and open. This is also the case for
information on operational experience and events during the operation of these nuclear energy systems.

3. PRINCIPLE 3 — PROTECTION OF PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

 The use of nuclear energy should be such that people and the environment are protected in compliance
with the IAEA safety standards and other internationally recognized standards.

The IAEA Safety Standards (e.g. IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SF-1, Fundamental Safety Principles [1]) reflect
an international consensus on what constitutes a high level of safety for protecting people and the environment from
the harmful effects of ionizing radiation and provide guidance and recommendations to achieve the desired level. These
standards and their application, in particular peer reviews and advisory services, both at the national and international
levels, are essential components that support the harmonized implementation of other international instruments such
as the Convention on Nuclear Safety.
All phases in the use of nuclear energy (uranium extraction, energy generation, waste management, etc.) involve
certain risks. The risks include conventional (e.g. occupational, transport and fire) and radiation risks for people, as well
as risks associated with the environmental impact of any activity 4 related to the development or use of nuclear energy.
All risks should be carefully identified and assessed before the start of the activities and throughout their entire
lifetimes, and protective measures should be taken to ensure compliance with internationally recognized standards. A
high level of safety is achieved through technological development and engineering solutions, effective management
systems, human performance, knowledge management, and regulatory systems.
The environmental consequences should be measured according to the internationally accepted environmental
impact assessment procedures, including appropriate public hearings and transboundary considerations.
Industrial safety is addressed in several international and national standards.
Technological solutions and operational measures should be implemented during the entire life cycle of nuclear
facilities under the relevant standards.
The further development of technology and engineering solutions contributes to continually enhancing the
achieved level of safety.

4. PRINCIPLE 4 — SECURITY
 The use of nuclear energy should take due account of the risk of the malicious use of nuclear and other
radioactive material.

The nuclear security regime comprises international binding and nonbinding legal instruments together with the
IAEA’s nuclear security guidance issued in the IAEA Nuclear Security Series of publications. Approaches to physical
protection against theft or unauthorized diversion of nuclear material and against the sabotage of nuclear facilities are
established in INFCIRC/225/ Rev.4 [2], which states that:
“Secure nuclear energy facilities, material and operations against malevolent acts, including sabotage,
theft and malicious misuse, requires a legal framework, regulatory capability and enforcement authority
sufficient to prevent, detect and respond to theft, sabotage, unauthorized access, illegal transfer or
other malevolent acts.”

5. PRINCIPLE 5 — NON-PROLIFERATION
 The use of nuclear energy should take due account of the risk of the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Nuclear energy systems should continue to be developed and used in such a way that, based on intrinsic
features and extrinsic measures, they remain an unattractive means to acquire fissile material for a nuclear weapons
program. The diversion of nuclear material and the misuse of nuclear energy systems and technology for the production
of fissile material for a nuclear weapons program should be reasonably difficult and detectable. An IAEA publication,
Guidance for the Application of an Assessment Methodology for Innovative Nuclear Energy Systems [3], describes
fundamentals that should apply to the consideration of the proliferation resistance of future nuclear energy systems.

6. PRINCIPLE 6 — LONG TERM COMMITMENT

 The use of nuclear energy should be based on a long-term commitment.

Since the use of nuclear energy systems entails attention to many complex and interrelated issues over a long
period, the use of them in a state or region should be based on a long term and stable program to maximize the benefit
coming from its use as well as to fulfill the responsibility associated with the use by the State or by the owner/operator
of the nuclear facilities.
The commitment includes the acceptance of the relevant international instruments and legal requirements
(agreements, protocols, conventions, etc.) as described in the IAEA’s Handbook on Nuclear Law [4].
Long-term commitment also includes a long-term program covering the decommissioning of nuclear facilities,
spent fuel and waste management, and reclamation of mines and other nuclear facilities that have the potential to
cause environmental hazards.

7. PRINCIPLE 7 — RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

 The use of nuclear energy should be efficient in using resources.

Natural resources are consumed during the construction, operation, and decommissioning of nuclear power
plants and fuel cycle facilities. 6 Efficient design and management should be adopted to reduce the amount of non-
renewable material required to produce the desired energy product. The essential principles of waste minimization
should be followed taking into account social and economic factors, i.e. to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Many components used throughout the nuclear energy chain can be reused and recycled, ranging from site
locations and plant equipment to fuel (uranium, thorium, and plutonium) and construction materials. Renewable
resources should also be efficiently adopted, taking into account that some of these materials may require significant
time for their regeneration.
The use of renewable resources and materials that have limited use outside of nuclear energy applications
should be preferred when possible.
Knowledge of nuclear technology also has to be considered and managed as a resource and be assessed,
preserved, used, and enlarged.

8. PRINCIPLE 8 — CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT

 The use of nuclear energy should be such that it pursues advances in technology and engineering to
continually improve safety, security, economics, proliferation resistance, and protection of the environment.

As with any use of technologies, it is important to strive for continual improvement by taking advantage of
feedback from experience and technological innovation to enhance safety, security, economics, proliferation resistance,
and protection of the environment.
Concerted international efforts based on shared vision, goals, and experience are encouraged for efficient and
successful improvement and innovation.

The picture shows a nuclear power station where energy is produced.

In a world where natural energy resources are depleting, nuclear energy may be one of the alternative ways to
replace the existing one.
The production of energy using nuclear fuels provides 7% of the world’s energy and 17% of the world’s electricity.

USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

• Generating electricity using nuclear energy.
• The world needs a great amount of electricity.
• The fuel used in nuclear reactors to generate electricity is uranium.
• Nuclear energy is suitable for vessels that need to be at sea for long periods without refueling.
• It is also used for powerful and fast submarine propulsion.
• Many nuclear submarines and large surface ships use nuclear reactors as their source of power.
• This means that ships at sea or under the oceans would not have to stop refueling.

• In earlier years space exploration uses fuel cells and solar cells to provide electricity for space missions.
• As missions become more complex, power needs to be increased and scientists are at the option of using nuclear
energy.

• Scientists created radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG’s), which are power generators. It is used
specifically for space exploration.

• Portable water is in short supply in many parts of the world. Lack of it is set to become a constraint on development
in some areas.
• Nuclear energy is already being used for desalination and has the potential for much greater use.
• Nuclear desalination is defined to be the production of drinking water from seawater in a facility in which a nuclear
reactor is used as the source of energy.
• The nuclear reactor is located on the facility and the energy is used in the desalination system. Some of the energy
is also used for generating electricity.
EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
• Nuclear energy is produced in nuclear power plants. Safety measures must be followed strictly when operating a
nuclear power plant.
• If safety measures are not followed properly, accidents could happen.
• Accidents in power plants can result in the leakage of radioactive substances that can pollute the environment.

• Accidents at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island and Chernobyl are examples of nuclear disasters.
• Health officials have predicted that over the next 70 years there will be a 2% increase in cancer rates in much of the
Chernobyl population.

• Another effect of the production of nuclear energy is the dumping of radioactive waste from nuclear power plants.
• Illegal dumping of radioactive wastes can pollute the environment. It can also endanger human lives.
• Some radioactive substances have long half-lives. These substances can be in the environment for a long period
and radiate a lot of dangerous radiation.
• Human beings and living things exposed to radiation could finally face certain death.

• Radiation from nuclear power plants is also another effect of the production of nuclear energy.
• These radiations have short-term and long-term effects:
• Short-term effects from exposure to nuclear radiation can cause nausea, vomiting, and skin diseases.
• Long-term effects from exposure to nuclear radiation can cause cancer, leukemia, and various sicknesses.

• Fallout refers to the radioactive dust created when a nuclear weapon is exploded. It’s a type of radioactive
contamination from a nuclear explosion and is named such because it falls out of the atmosphere after the
explosion.
• Roentgen or ionizations per unit volume of air which is the unit used to measure the exposure to radioactive fallout.
• Short-term effects depend on the length and magnitude of exposure.
• It ranges from rapid death to physical impairment and miscarriages.
• Long-term effects of radioactive fallout include death, carcinogenesis, cataract formation, chronic radiodermatitis,
decreased fertility, and genetic mutations.

PROPER HANDLING OF RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES AND WASTE

These accidents happened due to improper handling of radioactive substances.
How could we prevent these accidents from happening again?

These accidents could be prevented if the radioactive substances are handled properly.

• Radioactive symbols are displayed to warn people and let them take precautions when there are radioactive
substances nearby.
• Therefore we should avoid these places. We could only go into these places or handle radioactive substances if we
are properly protected.

• In the research laboratory, the dangerous radioactive substances are handled using robotic in airtight chambers.
• By using robotic hands, we are not exposed to radioactive radiation.
• Therefore we could minimize the effect of radiation on our bodies.

• In a less dangerous situation, forceps should be used when handling radioactive substances.
• Radioactive substances used in hospitals and laboratories are stored in a cylindrical lead container and are picked
using forceps.
• The radioactive substances should not be placed too close to the body.
• Placing some radioactive substances in the concrete chamber.
• Radiation from radioactive substances can cause harm to us if exposed. Most of the radiation can be stopped by
using concrete blocks.
• Therefore, radioactive substances are placed in a concrete chamber.

• Workers who handle radioactive substances must wear appropriate clothing.

• They need to wear special protective clothing and gloves to protect them from radiation.

• They also need to wear a dosimeter. Dosimeters should be worn by all workers when handling radioactive
substances to measure the radiation exposure on them.