If nuclear is one of ways to obtain green energy, what are the byproducts of the experience and how do we sustainably rid ourselves of said byproducts safely?
In: Engineering
There are only a small amount of byproducts from nuclear reactors. These small amounts are still dangerously radioactive and fall in one of three categories: low, medium and high level waste, where low level is less than 5, medium level is between 5 and 100 and high level is beyond 100 years. These years indicate when a byproduct is no longer dangerously radioactive.
Short and medium level waste can be stored in containers lined with protective material, which are stored in a warehouse somewhere. Some companies have an “above ground” mound of the stuff, where the entire mound is lined with a protective barrier.
High level waste is not only highly radioactive, but also extremely hot. Therefore, these materials need to be stored in a cold, controlled environment, until it falls within the parameters of low or medium levels, after which it can join it’s brethren in containers or in a mound.
After the stuff has lost radioactivity, it can be disposed of or recycled for further use.
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