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Nuclear Hazelnut 👷🏻‍♀️ Profile picture
@NuclearHazelnut
Apr 6, 2022 • 9 tweets • 5 min read • Read on X
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In movies, a #NuclearReactor is always shown with a shining electric blue haze & we all assume that it’s part of the special effects.

BUT, I've got news for you: It's actually called the Cherenkov Effect & as said by @DE_Nuclear:

Cherenkov Effect is Science, Not Science Fiction
The electric blue haze is a natural phenomenon known as the Cherenkov radiation or Cherenkov Effect.

Let's check out the science behind it👇
As you may already know, the Cherenkov effect can be seen near the reactor & used fuel pools at #NuclearPowerPlants.

The particles concerned by the effect (electrons and positrons) are very light, & they can reach very high speeds causing brief flashes of light. 🤯
And guess what?... It also has other great uses! 😱

1️⃣Detection of labeled biomolecules:

Radioactive atoms such as P-32 are introduced into biomolecules by enzymatic and synthetic means. Then it may be easily detected in small quantities to illuminate biological pathways.
2️⃣ Astrophysics experiments:

A high-energy photon or cosmic ray interacting with the 🌎’s atmosphere produces an electron-positron pair with enormous velocities.

The Cherenkov radiation emitted is used to determine the direction & energy of the ray used by MAGIC🔭👇
3️⃣Particle physics experiments:

Mainly used for particle identification. The velocity of an electrically charged particle can be measured by the #Cherenkov light it emits in a certain medium.

Check out the Ring Imaging Cherenkov Detector (RICH) 👇
& more recently:

4️⃣Medical imaging of radioisotopes & external beam radiotherapy:

#Cherenkov light has been used to image substances in the body. By using either internal sources such as injected radiopharmaceuticals or external beam radiotherapy in oncology.👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️
As you can see, the shining electric blue light that is characteristic of a #NuclearReactor or the spent fuel pool, not only looks nice but also has many different uses. 💙

Do you know any other benefits of this effect?

Let me know! 👇
If you'd like to read more about the benefits mentioned before, I recommend the following articles: 👇

📖nuclear.duke-energy.com/2015/09/17/che…
📖ams02.space/detector/ring-…
📖sense-pro.org/portraits/expe…

And remember: Cherenkov Effect is Science, Not Science Fiction💙

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More from @NuclearHazelnut

Nuclear Hazelnut 👷🏻‍♀️ Profile picture
Mar 16, 2023
Recent news about the planned release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi NPS into the ocean has sparked concern & debate.

As someone who cares about the environment & public health, let’s talk about the water discharge & the Advanced Liquid Processing System behind it.
But first: Where is this water coming from?

After the March 2011 accident, using water to cool the melted fuel & debris at Fukushima Daiichi NPS has been necessary.

Aside from this, when groundwater & rainwater comes into contact with melted fuel/debris, it becomes polluted.
After becoming contaminated, the water undergoes filtration through the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), which eliminates a significant portion of the radioactivity before it is put into storage.

Check it out 👇
Read 13 tweets
Nuclear Hazelnut 👷🏻‍♀️ Profile picture
Nov 21, 2022
Am I the only one that wonders what would happen if I fell into those pools where spent nuclear fuel rods are cooled down?

How would falling in here affect our health? And could we actually survive this?

Let’s evaluate this possibility together.🤔
So, I’ve just accidentally fallen into a spent fuel pool. But what is it?

While powering a nuclear reactor, the fuel rods become very hot. We’re talking 1k°C (1832°F), so this pool of crystal clear water is meant to cool spent fuel rods after they come out of a nuclear reactor.
Spent fuel rods stay in the SFP typically for 2-5 yrs and are stored under ~20ft of water.

Have you seen one of those? 👇
Read 12 tweets
Nuclear Hazelnut 👷🏻‍♀️ Profile picture
Sep 2, 2022
When you hear the words “clean energy,” what comes to mind?

Most people immediately think of solar panels or wind turbines, but how many of you thought of nuclear energy?
Nuclear is often left out of the “clean energy” conversation despite it being the 2nd LARGEST source of low-carbon electricity in the world 🌎

Wondering how clean and sustainable is nuclear?

@ENERGY developed these quick facts for starters:
1️⃣ Nuclear energy protects air quality

Nuclear is a zero-emission clean energy source!

According to @NEI , the U.S. avoided ~471M metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2020, equivalent of removing 100 million cars from the road & more than all other clean energy sources combined.
Read 11 tweets
Nuclear Hazelnut 👷🏻‍♀️ Profile picture
Aug 9, 2022
#TuesdayFacts about nuclear power in the U.S.A 🇺🇸

There are 54 commercially operating NPP with 92 nuclear power reactors in 28 U.S. states.

Of the currently operating nuclear power plants, 19 plants have 1 reactor, 32 plants have 2 reactors, and 3 plants have 3 reactors.
The Palo Verde nuclear power plant in Arizona is the LARGEST nuclear plant, and it has 3 powerful reactors with a combined net summer electricity generating capacity of 3,937 MW.
The R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant in New York is the smallest nuclear plant, and it has one reactor with a net summer electricity generating capacity of about 581 MW.
Read 6 tweets
Nuclear Hazelnut 👷🏻‍♀️ Profile picture
Aug 8, 2022
Nuclear Steam Supply System (NSSS)

This beauty is the part of the NPP which is used to produce steam to supply the turbine generator units, which in turn generate electricity.

Let’s analyze this system together by using a 4-Loop PWR system by @WECnuclear as an example 👇
Included within the NSSS are the reactor coolant system (primary loop), auxiliary fluid systems & major electrical instrumentation required for the operation & control of the nuclear systems.

The NSSS is also known as the nuclear island.
Can you identify the primary loop?👇
The Reactor Coolant System (RCS) is used to remove energy from the reactor core & transfer that energy either directly or indirectly to the steam turbine, as described by the @NRCgov

Let's analyze the RCS elements together👇
Read 13 tweets
Nuclear Hazelnut 👷🏻‍♀️ Profile picture
May 14, 2022
It’s always interesting to read opinions/articles against nuclear power. Not because I agree, but because it helps us, the nuclear advocates, to know how to tackle misinformation.

And I think this article mentions a couple of interesting points that should be discussed👇
1- “Nuclear power is not a safe option for the future”
Again, relying and discussing the same topics: Chernobyl, TMI and Fukushima.
Did you get this out of @Greenpeace ?
The important question should be: what should we do about the growing need for energy and the demands imposed on us by the climate crisis? It’s true that renewables cannot fill the gap alone.
Read 11 tweets

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