Industrial Uses for Nuclear Energy?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the industrial uses of nuclear energy, with participants exploring both domestic and industrial applications. The conversation includes inquiries about specific uses and the nature of nuclear energy's role in various contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that nuclear energy primarily generates electricity for homes and factories.
  • There is a suggestion that nuclear energy serves as an alternative to fossil fuels for electricity generation.
  • One participant mentions the potential use of nuclear reactors for steam generation in oil sands extraction, though this idea is met with skepticism.
  • Participants discuss the production of isotopes as a significant industrial use of nuclear energy, particularly in medical applications.
  • Additional uses mentioned include smoke detectors and other practical applications, though some participants express confusion about these connections.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion reflects a lack of consensus on the breadth of industrial uses for nuclear energy, with some participants agreeing on electricity generation while others propose additional applications like isotope production. The conversation remains unresolved regarding the full scope of industrial uses.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the distinction between domestic and industrial uses, and there are references to specific applications that may not be fully explained or understood by all contributors.

LatexZone
Messages
91
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


I can't figure out any Industrial Uses for Nuclear Energy...


Homework Equations


N/A


The Attempt at a Solution


I know that domestic uses would be that it creates Electricity for our homes..but what are the industrial uses?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
LatexZone said:
I know that domestic uses would be that it creates Electricity for our homes..but what are the industrial uses?

it creates Electricity for our factories?
 
But that's Domestic usage.

Ok, then what would a domestic usage be? :P
 
Electricity in our homes.
 
It just makes electricity as an alternative to burning fossil fuels then, yes? It doesn't do anything else domestically or industrially.
 
LatexZone said:
It just makes electricity as an alternative to burning fossil fuels then, yes? It doesn't do anything else domestically or industrially.

Pretty much, in ships you can use the turbines to directly drive the propeller but on modern ships it would probably still make electricity to drive azipods.

There was an idea to use a reactor to generate steam for oil sands extraction but sanity prevailed.
 
LatexZone said:
It just makes electricity as an alternative to burning fossil fuels then, yes? It doesn't do anything else domestically or industrially.

What about production of isotopes?
 
Borek said:
What about production of isotopes?

Bah beat me to it! Reactors are indeed sources of radioactive samples used in various medical fields.
 
And smoke detectors. And killing KGB defectors. And self illuminated clocks. Many practical uses.
 
  • #10
Nuclear Energy is used to make Smoke Detectors work?

-------

What are some Industrial uses for Kinetic Energy? lol? Frustrating me and I can't do this.
 
  • #12
I don't get it xD
 
  • #13
In short: isotope radiation makes the air ionized. Air resistivity is a function of number of ions. Presence of smoke changes the ionization level. You measure air resistivity - when there is a sudden change, you detected smoke some contamination, most likely smoke.

--
 

Similar threads

Engineering Career advice for a nuclear engineering graduate
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
What's the best major between Physics & Chemistry for entering MS in Nuclear Engineering?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
Energy Change Nuclear Chemistry
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Undergrad Nuclear power plant vs coal power plant efficiency
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
6K
Programs Pros and Cons of Nuclear Engineering
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
Nuclear Energy reading material
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
What Is the Nuclear Binding Energy of N-14 in Joules per Mole?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
High School Understanding Nuclear Fission in Power Plants
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
When does nuclear thermal propulsion outperform chemical propulsion?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Is it possible to transform an electric thunderstorm into an EMP storm?
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
5K