Mopati Wabobi 13000824, Energy Conversion Assignment 2

Investigation of the pros and cons of Coal versus Nuclear Power

Coal is a highly combustible organic rock composing of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen.
Coal power is the combustion of fossilized carbon to produce heat. Steam is generated with this heat to
generate electricity.

Advantages of Coal power generation

1) Primary energy source

There is abundant supply of coal in the whole world, enough to last for at least 300 years. Even if it is
considered non-renewable there are unlikely chances of running out of coal in the near future.

2) Job creation

Since coal is the primary source of energy its industry employs a large number of people. As the demand
for coal rises so will the employment rates. This improves the economy of people and ensures no
shortage of jobs in the coal industry.

3) Further processing to reduce adverse effects of by products

Coal can be gasified. Gasified coal is easy to transport and it burns cleaner than raw unprocessed coal

4) Relatively low capital investment

Since the technology for coal extraction through to processing are so well developed, capital investment
into coal powered power plant is lower than nuclear power plants’.

5) Large developed industry

Coal has been here for a long time allowing for advances in researches and well tested developments.
Furthermore, it’s used on almost all parts of the world

Disadvantages of coal power generation

1) Major source of air pollution

The carbon-dioxide from the combustion of coal is one major source of smog and climate change.

2) Poses health concerns

Individuals residing around coal processing industries are highly susceptible to inhaling the specks of
particles from the combustion of coal into their respiratory systems, this leads to difficulty in breathing
and in worst cases even death.

The mercury and lead are also produced by the coal combustion. If this metals find their way into the
human bodies they lead to development of neurological problems more especially in babies and
children. These metals come back into the ecosystem as acid rain into oceans, infecting the fish that we
eat or even killing the marine life.
Mopati Wabobi 13000824, Energy Conversion Assignment 2

Nuclear power is a result of nuclear reactions that release nuclear energy to generate heat. In a nuclear
power plant, the heat is used to generate steam that in turn runs the turbine to generate electricity.

Advantages of nuclear power generation

1) High fuel efficiency

Nuclear fuels have high fuel density relative to fossil fuels. A very small amount of nuclear fuel can
provide enough energy as a ton of fossil fuels do:

i.e. 7 grams of Uranium generates as much energy as 1 ton of coal

2) Abundant supply

Uranium as the most significant one in the generation of electricity. The world has enough supply to last
for about 80 years. So, depletion is the least of worries with Uranium.

3) Environmental-friendly

Nuclear reaction has zero carbon emission. Factoring in the technologies used to produce materials used
for construction of a nuclear power plant zero emission cannot be claimed. Rather low carbon emission
is achieved with nuclear power plants.

4) Low maintenance

Nuclear power plants have a life span of 40-60 years without maintenance. Therefore, there will never
be a need to shut down the power plant during its lifetime for maintenance. This also improves the
reliability of the power plant.

Disadvantages of nuclear power generation

1) Harmful

Nuclear reaction puts the lives of people in the vicinity of nuclear power plants in health and safety risks.
Should accidents like core meltdown happen those people will be badly affected and no medical help
can bring them to live normal lives. Some effects of this include burns, cancer. Blood diseases and bone
decay.

2) Expensive

Large amounts of capital investments are needed to setup nuclear power stations. Its approximated that
US$2 billion is needed to construct a 1000MW plant in a period of five years.

3) Nuclear waste disposal

This need long term waste disposal facilities that will be monitored and well controlled to avoid them
from releasing the toxins through radioactive decay. The waste is stored in the proximity of the power
plant, but in some time the will no longer be room to store anymore waste. The waste is still a danger
ass I releases radioactive isotopes which have a very long half-life.
Mopati Wabobi 13000824, Energy Conversion Assignment 2

4) Terrorists attack targets

Nuclear power plants & it’s by-products are a preferred target for terror attacks. Should the plant be
attacked the effects of that attack will be felt by the people in the vicinity of the power plant.

On the abundancy and availability of these two energy resources coal I found in very large numbers
which at the current consumption rate can last for close to 220 years more than nuclear energy, coal will
be the wise choice of power generation to settle for.

Not only that, but because the waste from coal can be treated to reduce the effects of it on the
environment and on human life. For example, coal, can be liquefied to reduce the carbon-dioxide
emission from it. As with nuclear plant the waste cannot be treated to lower their negative effects.

Although coal is said to be a major source of pollution and the greatest contributor to global warming,
there are technologies developed to reduce the release of CO to the atmosphere. Some examples
include carbon capture & storage, low NOx burners and wet scrubbers.

On the basis of affordability and budget coal is the best method to go for as it’s not as relatively
expensive as nuclear power plant.