Can you give me some information or websites - power stations?

Question

I need to find out about 3 things:
-combined cycle gas turbine power station using fossil fuels
-a combined heat and power station using fossil fuels
a nuclear power station

I need to write a letter to a local mp (homework), and persuade him/her to change to one of these power stations - I have to choose the one I think is best. I've researched the top two and they seem quite similar - in efficiency (which I think what this letter is meant to focus on). Nuclear I've only heard a bit about it - but there are some drawbacks - is it dangerous - i.e. radiation? Please can you not make your answers too complicated, i.e. laods of atomic structure things etc... Which would you say is most efficient and releases the least amount of emissions?

Answer 1

I am more familiar with nuclear. The plant ratings for efficiency are usually around 30% - the total energy generated by the reactor that ends up as electricity or useful energy. The rest is generally waste heat - ie. ends up being released in the cooling cycle for the turbine-generator condenser unit.

The major drawback to the nuclear cycle is the spent fuel cycle. The expended fuel is highly radioactive and must be stored for many years in a safe and secure location to prevent release to the environment. In the US, this has been neglected by the government and opposed by states where proposed storage sites were to be located.

In my opinion and to my knowledge, the efficiency cycles of the three are about the same.

As far as emissions, the nuclear option is the best option. It releases no by-products as do the fossil fuels. To reduce the emissions from the fossil plants requires many expensive systems to remove the by-products and thus drives up the cost per kilowatt. This is passed on to us in the cost for each kilowatt.

As long as a nuclear plant is operated by well trained and knowledgeable people, there is little chance of an accidental release of radioactivity. A nuclear plant cannot turn into a nuclear bomb, there is not sufficient enriched material in the reactor in a small enough volume to sustain that type of chain reaction.

As far as safety records, you should search the French nuclear program. They generate enormous amounts of electricity using nuclear plants and have a good safety record. They are probably the leading country in the world for nuclear power plant capabilities at this time.

Answer 2

Try wiki, its a good start but don't just go on what you see there, follow links and look around:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_Heat_and_Power