Phase 4: Lab Report

SCI203 Phase 4 Lab Report

Analysis of Energy Sources

Colorado Technical University

Purpose

The purpose of this report to determine which electricity generation, coal power plants or nuclear power plants, will be better for human sustainability. Not only for human sustainability, but also for the environment as a whole.

Introduction

Every home and business uses electricity. It is used from sun up to sun down whether it is lights, televisions, appliances, office equipment, office equipment, computers and the list goes on. It is also becoming a common thing to see electrically charged vehicles. With this report, I will attempt to determine whether it will be better to use coal or nuclear power plants to continue to generate electricity.

Hypothesis/Predicted Outcome

Coal is better to use though the biggest concern may be there pollution is causes, it does not have the threat of radiation leaks which can cause danger to human sustainability.

Methods

To do this report and fill in the chart below I used the Lab 4 Sources from M.U.S.E., which show each energy source the amount of coal and uranium used. It also shows the outcome of CO2 emissions, sulfur dioxide emissions, radioactivity, solid wastes and accidents that come from each energy source within a year’s time.

Results/Outcome

Energy Source	Fuel (Coal)/Uranium Needed (tons)	CO2 Emissions (tons)	Sulfur Dioxide and Other Emissions (tons)	Radioactivity mSv (millisievert)	Solid Waste (tons)	Accidents
Coal Q1	625,000 tons	1.75 million tons	75,000 tons	0.25 mSv	150,000	N/A
Coal Q2	1.25 million tons	3.5 million tons	150,000 tons	0.5 mSv	300,000	Health Impairments
Coal Q3	1.875 million tons	5.25 million tons	225,000 tons	0.75 mSv	450,000	Worker fatalities
Coal Q4	2.5 million tons	7 million toms	300,000 tons	1 mSv	600,000	Fire Destruction
Nuclear Q1	18,750 coal 7.5uranium	52,500 tons	0	0.0025	62.5	N/A
Nuclear Q2	37,000 coal 15 uranium	105.000 tons	0	0.005	125	N/A
Nuclear Q3	56,240 coal 22 .5 uranium	157,500 tons	0	0.0075	187.5	Accidents: minor emissions
Nuclear Q4	75,000 coal 30 uranium	210,000 tons	0	0.01	250	Catastrophic releases leading to radiation sickness death and environmental contamination

Discussion/Analysis

After really studying this report I am still inclined to think that coal would be the right choice. Though we use more coal each quarter in coal plants, and CO2 and Sulfur Dioxide emission are extremelyhigher than that of the nuclear plants, the potential danger of the nuclear plants to civilization is more detrimental. All it would take is a natural disaster like in Fukushima, Japan wherean earthquake and tsunami triggered the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. (Fukushima, n.d.). It will benefit out world greatly not to use either source but to continue to research renewable resources for the electricity that we use.

Fukushima on the Globe. (n.d.).What’s Happened? The Nuclear Accident. Retrieved June 14, 2015 from