BISC 3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: High-Level Waste, Rapeseed, Diesel Fuel
Document Summary
Hydraulic fracturing: when shale deposits are in tight formations, gas doesn"t ow easily. To boost well output, mining companies rely on hydraulic fracturing (or fracking ): a mixture of water, sand, and various chemicals is pumped into the ground and rock formations at extremely high pressure. The pressurized uid cracks sediments and releases the gas: fracturing rock formations often disrupts aquifers, however, and contaminates water wells. While methane is the cleanest burning fossil fuel, it still releases a great deal of carbon dioxide, contributing to the greenhouse effect. States: half of the u. s. plants (52) are more than 30 years old and are thus approaching the end of their expected operational life, when they will require excessive maintenance to remain safe and operational. Radioactive uranium isotopes are unstable when struck by a high-energy neutron, they undergo nuclear ssion (splitting), releasing more neutrons, causing a self-sustaining chain reaction, creating an enormous amount of heat.
