Explore Nuclear Energy - Duke Energy | Nuclear Information Center

Can a nuclear power plant be beautiful?

Kelly Woods — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 15:06:00 GMT

We are at an interesting crossroads in the nuclear industry. Just as experienced workers are retiring after 20, 30 or ever 40 years at our plants, the industry is ramping up to build new reactors. More than ever before, people are entering the nuclear workforce with fresh perspectives and a hopeful future.

Known as “new to nuclear” employees, sometimes there is as much to unlearn as there is to learn. Meet one of our newest nuclear communication managers, Kelly Woods. She is part of the leadership team at Harris Nuclear Plant, responsible for internal communications, community outreach and the Harris Education Center. In this article, Kelly shares some of her initial perceptions about the Harris plant and how we make electricity using carbon-free nuclear energy.

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When I first noticed the local nuclear plant’s cooling tower, I thought it was a factory chimney spewing smokey pollution into the air, and I was dismayed. I had recently moved from Texas to central North Carolina, and it was Duke Energy’s Harris Nuclear Plant that I was seeing from a distance across picturesque Jordan Lake. A friend soon corrected me and told me that it was only water vapor – not pollution at all – and I was relieved.

She said, “It’s a cloud maker!”

You may remember from elementary science class that clouds are made when water vapor evaporates into the air. When air rises in the atmosphere it gets cooler and is under less pressure, so some of the water vapor condenses. The vapor becomes small water droplets, and a cloud is formed. Not all nuclear plants use towers to cool steam back to water – some use bodies of water, such as a engineered lake or a river.

Since I had never lived near a nuclear plant before, I had not really given nuclear energy much thought. Like a lot of people, I just imagined electricity happened by elfin magic.

A brief time later, I was hired as the site communicator at Harris Nuclear Plant. The site communicator helps keep plant employees informed and shares the value of nuclear energy with the local community.

I now understand that 24/7, 365 days a year, rain or shine, nuclear is powering America’s clean energy future. It does so no matter what is happening outside—regardless of rain, snow or weather.

How is electricity made, anyway?

Like everything else, electricity is made up of atoms. Nuclear energy comes from the energy in the core of an atom after it is split in a process called “fission” to create energy. Atoms of enriched uranium are split when they are hit by a neutron, releasing heat and more neutrons. And the process repeats itself all over again in a chain reaction. The Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) | NRC.gov.

Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR), like at Harris Nuclear Plant keep water under pressure so that it heats, but does not boil. Water from the reactor and the water in the steam generator that is turned into steam never mix. The heat produces steam which is then used to generate electricity that is sent out to a switchyard connected to transmission lines. These lines travel across the land to deliver the electricity that we use to power the technology and appliances that make life more convenient…even lifesaving.

A chance to enter an idle cooling tower

Our plant was recently briefly shut down for a scheduled refueling outage which happens every couple of years. During a refueling outage, a portion of the nuclear reactor’s fuel is replaced along with preventive maintenance of plant equipment. The inside of the cooling tower also gets its own maintenance to clean any algae that has accumulated during operation.

I took the opportunity to go inside the 523-foot-tall cooling tower and take photos. Looking up into the hole of the cooling tower, seeing the blue sky and white clouds reminded me of the hole – the oculus – in the coffered concrete ceiling of the Pantheon in Rome. I found it to be awe-inspiring and so beautiful. I think about the strong, brave people who constructed both buildings and can sense their kinship across the ages.

The view from inside the cooling tower at Harris Nuclear Plant. This view is only accessible every couple of years when the plant is shut down for a refueling outage.

The view from inside the Pantheon in Rome is like the opening in our cooling tower.

Nuclear provides clean, reliable and secure energy we can count on for our energy future and independence.

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Nuclear goes to the moon

Karen Williams — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 19:01:00 GMT

Although delayed, many in the nuclear industry are watching NASA’s Artemis project for what we can learn as they develop the fission surface power system for space exploration and nuclear propulsion systems.

The Artemis program is in its early design stages of a flight-qualified fission power system that can be established on the moon. The experts at NASA’s Glenn Research Center expect the initial work to be a demonstration project, scalable to support future space exploration. Combining solar cells, batteries and fuel cells with a nuclear reactor will provide the power to operate rovers, conduct experiments and even to use the moon’s natural resources to make water and other necessary items.

Nuclear energy is especially attractive for space exploration because it is reliable, makes a lot of power and can be portable. On the moon, solar is impractical due to the weeks-long lunar nights. One nuclear reactor that produces 40 kilowatts could provide power on the moon continuously for 10 years, and a reactor that small could be made lightweight so that it could be transported from the Earth to the moon.

At the same time, NASA is also developing nuclear propulsion systems to support missions to Mars. The heat from a nuclear reactor is used to convert a liquid, like xenon, to a gas, which can then be used for propulsion. Nuclear thermal propulsion technology provides high thrust and is more efficient than chemical rockets. This would allow for shorter mission times for crews to make the round-trip flight to Mars.

In both cases, nuclear science continues to enable space exploration, and, as new technologies are developed, we can begin to imagine new applications here on Earth.

Learn more about NASA’s Artemis program here.

Learn more about fission surface power for space exploration here.

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Federal tax credits for nuclear energy help customers

Julie Janson — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 14:00:00 GMT

There are a lot of things I get excited about in the energy transition, and nuclear energy is among the top on the list.

Duke Energy operates the largest regulated nuclear fleet in the nation with 11 units of carbon-free workhorses that run with incredible consistency to serve customers 24/7. Nuclear provides 56% of our energy in the Carolinas and provides 83% of all the carbon-free power the company generates.

In addition to gearing up for new nuclear technologies like small modular reactors, we’ve also invested over the years to keep our existing units updated so we can continue their safe operations into the future. We’re in the process of renewing the license on those units, and our net-zero carbon goal is not possible without them.

The Department of Energy highlights that nuclear energy provides “more clean energy to the grid than any other energy source, accounting for half of the country’s clean energy electricity production.” I hear our 4,500 nuclear employees applauding now.

Federal tax credits for nuclear energy production are on the horizon and recognize the critical role regulated nuclear plays in achieving important carbon reductions. They also incentivize operating these plants as cost efficiently as possible.

The nuclear production tax credits would help reduce the cost of the energy transition to our customers. Once in effect, we estimate it would generate annual credits in the hundreds of millions of dollars beginning in 2024 for nine years. We would return those cost benefits back to customers over time and will work with state utility commissions on the best regulatory process to do that.

We’ve been very fortunate in North Carolina and South Carolina to have public policy champions at both the federal and state level who recognize the value of nuclear energy and the economic engine it is for the communities we serve.

These tax credits represent meaningful dollars, and we’re awaiting U.S. Department of Treasury guidance to implement this provision as Congress intended. This is all part of our long-term vision for how we can continue to reliably meet the growing energy demand in our region while we keep costs affordable for our customers.

View the original piece on the Duke Energy News Center.

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Nuclear Science Week: The Language of Energy

Kelly Woods — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 15:00:00 GMT

As we celebrate international Nuclear Energy Week 2023, we’re noticing a shift in public opinion and legislators’ openness to nuclear energy. There is a growing interest in atomic energy as a consistent generator of carbon-free electricity that does not depend on when and if the wind blows or the sun shines.

Among the three categories of energy – fossil, renewable and nuclear – nuclear is a standout.

Just last week, the North Carolina General Assembly created a new state statute to refer to “clean” energy rather than “renewable” energy when referencing emissions-free electricity generation. That’s big! Even the reigning Miss America, a nuclear engineering student, is extolling the virtues of nuclear energy in her social impact initiative: Clean Energy, Cleaner Future.

Economic and population growth in our communities is driving demand and is supported by the clean, safe, reliable and abundant power generated by Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet. Nuclear power forms a crucial component of our goal of achieving a carbon-free power generation portfolio in the coming decades, and it currently accounts for 97% of our carbon-free energy generation.

U.S. nuclear by the numbers

93 – total nuclear reactors at 54 sites
28 – states with a nuclear power plant
18.2 – percentage of power in the U.S. generated by nuclear plants

The inaugural Nuclear Science Week took place in 2010 and was conceived by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Nuclear Science & History and its nuclear industry partners. It continues today with the mission to promote community engagement and education regarding the contributions of the nuclear science industry and those who work in it every day. Check out their fun, educational half-hour videos.

You can also learn more about nuclear and electricity by visiting one of our education centers such as the Energy and Education Center at Brunswick Nuclear Plant, the World of Energy at Oconee Nuclear Station, the EnergyExplorium at McGuire Nuclear Station or the Energy and Environmental Center at Harris Nuclear Plant. Teachers, students and neighbors – we have materials geared to a variety of nuclear interests. Contact your local plant today!

And join us on Facebook and Twitter! Be sure to share our content with your family and friends.

Brunswick Nuclear Plant: Brunswick.Plant@duke-energy.com or 910.832.2900.

Harris Nuclear Plant: Harris.Plant@duke-energy.com or 984.229.6261.

Catawba Nuclear Station: Catawba.Station@duke-energy.com or 800.777,0006

McGuire Nuclear Station: Duke-Energy.com/EnergyExplorium or 980.875.5600

Oconee Nuclear Station: Duke-Energy.com/WorldOfEnergy or 800.777.1004.

Robinson Nuclear Plant: Robinson.plant@duke-energy.com or 843.951.3303

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An incredible journey: Oconee’s first reactor vessel transport broke records for scope of haul

Mikayla Kreuzberger — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 12:20:00 GMT

Note: The information provided below is from Duke Energy archives and a special edition of The Greenville News, published on Aug. 22, 1975.

The arrival of the first nuclear reactor vessel at Duke Energy’s Oconee Nuclear Station in Seneca, S.C., marked the end of one of modern history’s most complicated hauling jobs.

The 340-ton vessel ended its long journey in February 1970, nearly two months after leaving the Babcock and Wilcox plant in Mount Vernon, Indiana.

Enroute to its base at Oconee, the huge vessel traveled by barge, special rail car and on the world’s largest truck (at that time). It traveled the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Barge Canal, the Intercoastal Waterway, the Savannah River and 145 miles of road and rail bed.

The total distance covered was almost 2,000 miles.

The reactor vessel was set in place on Feb. 8, 1970, 55 days and 5.5 hours after it left Indiana. Oconee’s two additional reactor vessels would arrive in 1970 and 1971.

Oconee Nuclear Station unit 1 began commercial operation on July 16, 1973; the site is celebrating 50 years of reliable, carbon-free energy in 2023.

Reactor vessel stats:

Approximately 40 feet tall
Weighs approximately 340 tons without additional equipment attachments or fuel
Inside diameter approximately 14 feet
Vessel thickness 8.5 inches
Houses 177 fuel assemblies

Haul stats:

A huge truck carried the load for 45 miles, moving at 5 miles per hour. Built in France, it weighed 175 tons empty, had 240 wheels and was powered by two 600-horsepower tractors. It could support up to 600 tons.
At one point, a railroad bridge was jacked up 1 ½ feet for the truck to pass under, then it was lowered back into place.
At another place, a custom-built set of portable barges and ramps were used to “float” the entire load across a creek. An island in the middle of the stream was cut in half to provide a straight shot to the other side.

Photo journey:

The new reactor vessel glides through the Florida Barge Canal toward the Intercoastal Waterway.

Once the vessel was docked at a special barge landing in North Augusta, S.C., it was loaded onto a 240-wheel truck for the upcoming 145-mile overland route to Oconee. In the foreground, an “Atoms for Peace” event takes place on Jan. 5, 1970.

The truck weighed approximately 175 tons without the reactor vessel and was driven at a maximum 5 miles per hour by a rotation of 10 drivers.

To cross Stevens Creek near North Augusta, the vessel was, again, loaded onto a barge to avoid an inadequate highway bridge. An island in the middle of the stream had to be cut in half to provide a straight shot to the other side.

After nearly 2,000 miles and two months in transit, the reactor vessel reaches Oconee Nuclear Station during construction, February 1970.

Despite its tremendous size, the vessel is dwarfed by Oconee’s unit 1 containment building, which is its permanent home. The World of Energy education center, which opened in 1969, is in the background.

Workers begin attaching this special lift and guide equipment to move the vessel inside the containment building. A special rail line was built to move the vessel.

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Nuclear Notes: Economic Benefits

Duke Energy — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 18:33:00 GMT

Did you know that nuclear power provides a substantial economic benefit to North and South Carolina?

When you employee thousands of people it’s not just about contributing to a diverse energy mix – nuclear power plants play vital roles in the economic health of the communities they serve. Duke Energy’s six nuclear plants accounted for more than $280 million in property and payroll taxes in 2022. Nuclear and supplemental workers also spend money in the community and donate their time to support local causes.

Additionally, the number of workers at our plants can double during planned refueling and maintenance outages, giving communities an extra economic boost.

Take a few minutes to learn more about the economic benefits of nuclear energy in this edition of Nuclear Notes.

This series, Nuclear Notes, is designed to give you a clear picture of the importance of nuclear generation for a clean energy future.

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What popular culture has had to say about nuclear energy

Michele Burton — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 13:21:00 GMT

Popular culture (or pop-culture for short) was a term once used by sociologists to describe customs and traditions of people in general, however today anything can be labeled as pop culture, including the foods we eat, the clothes we wear, and of course the tv shows and movies we watch. Think of Pepsi, Doritos, Nike and Marvel movies and Tik-Tok as examples. Generally, society recognizes them all.

So, what about nuclear energy? Does it have enough “buzz” to exist in popular culture in a positive light? Within the past five years, streaming services have offered content depicting nuclear. One series about the events at Chernobyl and one documentary about events at Three Mile Island – both sharing fears among many that these things could still possibly happen, although very unlikely.

Even before these shows were created, there was a long-running series in pop culture…"The Simpsons." Everyone familiar with this show knows that Homer works at a nuclear power plant in the fictitious town of Springfield. Though a very entertaining show that gives glimpses of the nuclear industry, not everything that takes place at Homer’s job are things that people should shape their beliefs and opinions around nuclear. The series on Chernobyl and the documentary on Three Mile Island share similar misconceptions.

Control Room Operators do not work alone: We see Homer working alone in the control room. In a real control room, this could not happen because according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), a supervisor, second supervisor or reactor operator have to be present at all times during reactor operation. These individuals also must be licensed by the NRC. In order to maintain their licenses, operators must complete requalification training and examination programs, spending one week of every five weeks in required training throughout the duration of the careers. In addition, they must also be mentally and physically fit.
The industry learns: The aftermath of the incidents focused on in the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island content both brought about industry changes including emergency response planning, reactor operator training, radiation protection and other areas of nuclear operations.
Nuclear power plants are well maintained: Contrary to the safety violations seen, such as cracked pipes spewing green radioactive waste, this simply does not happen at a nuclear power plant. Nuclear plants have well-trained employees that perform regular safety inspections and preventive maintenance. The NRC also maintains a pair of inspectors at each site, who can inspect anything at any time. No wonder the nuclear industry is one of the safest places to work and live near.
Nuclear waste is safely stored: Unlike Springfield, you will never find nuclear waste discarded in the community. In fact, used fuel from our nuclear plants never leaves the site. Every 18 months, a plant will refuel. During a refueling outage, 1/3 of the oldest fuel is replaced. That fuel is either moved a 40-foot steel-lined pool or placed in dry cask storage.

This is not a call to stop watching current or future content depicting the nuclear industry. In fact, these shows can open doors and pave ways to new conversations to help debunk myths and fears of the nuclear industry.

So, does nuclear energy have enough “buzz” to exist in popular culture in a positive light? The answer, as you can see, is not yet. But as it's integral to our country's carbon-free future, we're hopeful that one day it might.

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Nuclear Notes: Subsequent License Renewal

Duke Energy — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 13:50:00 GMT

For those taking notes: back in 2019, Duke Energy announced the intent to renew the operating licenses of the nuclear reactors we operate in the Carolinas for an additional 20 years. This continues to be an integral part of the clean energy strategy in the Carolinas and our nation. As such, the company started with it's largest, Oconee Nuclear Station, which generates more than 2,500 megawatts.

Decades of providing reliable, carbon-free electricity have helped increase awareness of the benefits of nuclear. We've even marked 24 consecutive years with a capacity factor (a measure of reliability) greater than 90%, further solidifying the need for nuclear as a dependable piece of a diverse energy mix.

We're not the only ones making this committment. The process has been started – even completed – for facilities across the country.¹

Why? Watch to find out why subsequent license renewal is a priority.

This series, Nuclear Notes, is designed to give you a clear picture of the importance of nuclear generation for a clean energy future.

¹Status Of Subsequent License Renewal Applications | NRC.gov

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Nuclear Notes: The Benefits of Nuclear

Duke Energy — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 13:28:00 GMT

Take note: Duke Energy's nuclear fleet is responsible for over 80% of the company's carbon-free generation. Solar, wind and hydro all partner well with nuclear to ensure that our future is clean.

The state regulator in North Carolina, where five of our 11 nuclear units power almost 3.9 million homes, has developed a plan to achieve 70% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions* by the year 2030, and carbon dioxide neutrality by the year 2050. Nuclear is key in ensuring this plan is achiveable.

On a national level, the nuclear industry is making strides in extending the licenses of existing nuclear units and the advancement of new nuclear technology to support a clean energy future for all.

Why? Watch this video to find out.

This new series, Nuclear Notes, is designed to give you a clear picture of the importance of nuclear generation for a clean energy future.

*from 2005 levels.

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How much of my electricity is actually made at the nuclear plant closest to me?

Patrick Flynn — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 13:11:00 GMT

How much of my electricity is actually made at the plant closest to me?

It’s a frequent question from anyone hearing about the 8 million homes that Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet powers. The answer is less straightforward than people may expect if they are not familiar with the electrical grid.

Step 1 - A generation source, like Robinson Nuclear Plant, produces electricity.

The first step is to have a generation source to create the electricity. At Duke Energy, electricity is mostly produced by large generating facilities, such as our six nuclear power plants. In recent years, our generation has expanded to include comparatively smaller producing sources like solar and wind turbines.

Step 2 - Electricity enters the electrical grid on transmission lines.

Large amounts of electricity leave our generating facilities and connect to the electrical grid. Their first stop is through high-voltage transmission lines. Duke Energy’s transmission lines can transport 44,000 volts to 525,000 volts throughout our service territories, where they interconnect with other electric utilities, which provides greater reliability of the regional grid. The higher voltage decreases the amount of power lost during travel. Higher voltage is due to transmission lines being three-phased – look at a transmission tower and notice at least three large wires running from tower-to-tower – and because of the higher voltage, the wire carrying the electricity is very thick. The wire is hung along easily recognizable large steel towers spanning for miles.

Step 3 - Electricity travels to local substations.

From a transmission line, the electricity travels to local substations. At the substation, the voltage is reduced using transformers. These pieces of equipment consist of a metal core and wire coils. The ratio of coils on each side of a metal core allows for voltage to be increased, “stepped up,” or decreased, “stepped down,” as voltage passes through one side to the other. Voltage is adjusted to allow electricity to carry over to smaller lines, which are called distribution lines.

Step 4 - Electricity "steps down" to move through distribution lines.

Distribution power lines, which can be installed above or below ground, carry between 4,000 and 25,000 volts of electricity. With the decreased voltage, distribution lines are single-phased – essentially a third of the three-phased transmission lines – and, in comparison, the wire is much thinner than transmission lines. These lines run directly through neighborhoods, but electricity has one more transformation before it reaches its final destination.

Step 5 - Transformers in your are prepare electricity to enter homes.

Smaller transformers yet again reduce the voltage from the distribution line to the appropriate voltage for homes, businesses and even industrial facilities. A smaller transformer, which can be installed on poles or placed on the ground, converts the voltage to levels that can be used inside a home or business (120 to 480 volts). Voltage is carried from the transformer through an underground or overhead power line to a customer’s meter.

So, with all this travel and transformation, how do we know exactly where the power we use originated?

Step 6 - Electricity enters your home.

Most of us might have heard the adage “electricity follows the path of least resistance” as a warning during a thunderstorm, but it also holds true of explaining how electricity travels on the grid. Like a series of streams feeding a larger body of water, how much water from one source makes it to another location is difficult to determine. Likewise, once it reaches the grid, the electricity from one power plant flows together with electricity from others.

Robinson Nuclear Plant has been generating carbon-free energy for over 50 years.

As an example, the smallest nuclear plant in Duke Energy’s fleet, Robinson Nuclear Plant, produces 759 megawatts of electricity, which is equivalent to enough energy to power half a million homes. There are multiple lines that run from the plant to the grid – named broadly for the areas that are their general destinations up to 50 miles away (including Sumter and Darlington). Several lines carry 230,000 volts of electricity, and others transport 115,000 volts. Since electricity prefers shorter distances, it is safe to assume these hundreds of thousands of volts of electricity stay local. The same is true for all other generating facilities.

Though determining the source of the exact voltage that turns the lights on when you flick a light switch is complex, living near one of Duke Energy’s nuclear power plants almost guarantees a large portion of your electricity comes from this clean, safe and reliable source.

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At 35, Harris Nuclear Plant continues to grow along with the community

Michele Burton — Fri, 13 May 2022 13:20:00 GMT

The year was 1987. The price of a gallon of gasoline was $.95, a dozen eggs were $.78 and first-class stamp was $.22. Aretha Franklin became the first female artist inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the Disney company reached an agreement with France to build a theme park.

However, on May 2 of that year, history was made just 22 miles southwest of Raleigh in a small town called New Hill. A nuclear power plant named after former Carolina Power & Light president, chairman and CEO Shearon Harris, began commercial operation.

Construction for the youngest nuclear unit (in Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet) to generate power in the Carolinas began in 1978, although the need for additional electricity was realized in the 1960’s as the Triangle area began to expand. Plans for Harris originally included four reactors to meet this need; however once the permit to build was granted, population growth had slowed and the need for more electricity did not increase. Thus, only one reactor was built to align with the changing economic conditions.

For 35 years, the sole Harris reactor continues to meet the demands of today’s growth. At the start of operation, Harris’ capacity was 860 megawatts. Today, the site can generate 964 megawatts, enough to power over 600,000 homes and businesses. The megawatt increase was due, in part, to upgrades at the site, including the replacement of the main generator.

These improvements not only allow the site to provide more power to the communities in which it serves now, but also for the future. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) renewed Harris’ operating license for an additional 20 years through 2046, and the Duke Energy nuclear fleet is committed to subsequent license renewal for all units, and if approved by the NRC, adding another 20 years.

Just as the site is committed to powering the Carolinas, its 500-plus employees are also committed to being good neighbors in the community. Every year, employees give back to the community through United Way contributions and its annual Wish Upon a Star holiday toy drive. Although the pandemic has kept the annual Harris Community Day event from taking place for the past two years, the team is anticipating its return possibly in September. Until then, guests are welcomed by appointment to visit the Energy & Environmental Center to learn more about electricity generation and Harris Nuclear Plant.

Check out some photos of Harris:

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Meet Spot: Oconee Nuclear Station's newest four-legged friend

Mikayla Kreuzberger — Thu, 12 May 2022 15:30:00 GMT

A version of this story first appeared on Duke Energy's storytelling website, illumination.

Duke Energy’s Oconee Nuclear Station has a new dog. “Spot” can sit, lay down and roll over. Unlike your average Rover, Spot is also trained to perform inspections of hard-to-access areas at the three-unit nuclear plant near Seneca, S.C.

The four-legged robot is roughly 2 feet tall by 3 feet long.

Spot is the newest inspector gadget to join Oconee and Duke Energy Nuclear’s growing pack of robotic technology. Duke Energy’s nuclear plants are operating even more reliably and efficiently because employees are using new technology while producing carbon-free energy 24 hours a day. Nuclear power is a key component as Duke Energy works toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

"The four-legged robot embodies the latest advances in self-awareness and collision avoidance," said Duke Energy radiation protection (RP) specialist Bill Meldrum.

Spot and Duke Energy Radiation Protection Specialist Bobby Leigh at Oconee Nuclear Station.

If there's an object in its path, it will figure out how to move around it without a controller’s manipulation. Typically, the robot is led by a technician with a remote control, similar to a gaming device equipped with a camera and audio controls.

"It's extremely easy to operate, even up and down stairs," Meldrum said. "It has a mounted high-definition camera and has the strength and balancing ability to carry other payloads, such as monitoring equipment and laser scanners."

At Oconee, Spot’s abilities allow employees to perform inspections safely. Spot can enter a nuclear containment building while the unit is online producing electricity for nearly 2 million customers. The site is also considering how Spot can help inspect confined spaces and underground piping.

Spot and team at Oconee Nuclear Station, from left, Bobby Leigh, Amanda Stevenson and Bill Meldrum.

"Spot’s newest trick," Duke Energy RP specialist Bobby Leigh said, "is learning automation, which would allow it to perform routine inspections without controller manipulation. The robot can read QR codes and walk a programmed route, reading the codes as reference points." Leigh is training Spot to perform inspections of used nuclear fuel storage locations.

Spot is the first of its kind among Duke Energy’s six nuclear plants, but he’s one of several robotic technologies that Duke Energy Nuclear is using to develop modern tools and innovative strategies to support operations.

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We're resolved to start this year on the right foot

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 16:48:00 GMT

Since we first began publishing articles in 2011, the Nuclear Information Center (NIC) has been a go-to source for sharing about the nuclear industry and the six nuclear sites Duke Energy operates across the Carolinas. Now we're just over a decade old, and want to start our 11th year off by asking for feedback.

Take the survey!

We know that the best way to continue providing information that will help support the future of nuclear is by gathering data and adjusting our methods. We want to know - what do you, our 20,000 subscribers, want to read on the NIC in 2022?

Please take a few minutes to answer a few questions the guide our work as we get closer to our teenage years.

We'll share the results later this month! Thank you for your continued support!

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From start to storage: know the next steps in the life of uranium

Patrick Flynn — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 14:47:00 GMT

This is part two of a series on the steps in the fuel life cycle at Duke Energy’s nuclear power plants. To learn about how uranium makes it way to our power plants, read part one.

By the time a single uranium fuel pellet makes its way to a nuclear power plant, it’s already had an exciting life, but that’s only half of its story. Let’s learn about the next stage in its life cycle.

Step 6. Fuel assemblies are arranged and loaded into the nuclear reactor during a scheduled refueling and maintenance outage. Keep in mind that during outages, only one-third of the fuel in the reactor needs to be replaced. The remaining fuel will be rearranged. How each fuel assembly is placed in the reactor depends on how it interacts with other assemblies to ensure it generates the appropriate amount of heat. You can learn about one member of the talented team of engineers that determine the arrangement of reactor cores (fuel) in this article.

Step 7. The reactor is reassembled with the new fuel and a new arrangement and starts up for an operating cycle. Inside the core, the nuclear fuel does its job of generating heat used for making clean, life-essential electricity around the clock to power the lives of our communities. For nuclear plants, an operating cycle lasts for 18- to 24-months. At the end of the cycle, the plant will once again enter a refueling outage.

Step 8. After generating heat for about four years in the reactor, fuel assemblies are ready for wet storage. Used fuel that can no longer generate heat needed to make electricity is removed from the reactor and carefully transported to a used fuel pool. This used fuel pool is a steel-lined, concrete pool filled with water. Water both cools the fuel and shields workers from any radiation in the fuel storage area.

Step 9. After cooling in the used fuel pool for several years, nuclear fuel is ready for transition to dry fuel storage. This effort – called a dry fuel storage campaign – requires detailed planning and careful coordination, much like a refueling and maintenance outage. Workers load the fuel assemblies into large, steel-lined concrete containers that are welded air-tight and can withstand extreme physical forces, such as tornadoes. These containers are moved from the used fuel pool area to another on-site, secure location for long-term storage.

Watch and learn the intricate process for steps 8 and 9 in this video as used fuel is removed from the reactor and dry fuel storage campaign operations are conducted at Catawba Nuclear Station.

Step 10. Fuel can be either recycled, reprocessed or moved for permanent storage. Step 10 hasn’t happened yet in the U.S. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, fuel can be stored in used fuel pools or containers for “safe storage.” However, these storage methods are still considered “interim.” The reason being is that the federal government has the responsibility to provide a permanent storage location, as defined in The Nuclear Waste Policy of 1982. A permanent location has yet to be licensed.

Used fuel is stored safely at our facilities. Photo credit: NEI

Used fuel has only used a portion of its energy after five years in a nuclear reactor. Some countries allow reprocessing and recycling of nuclear fuel to allow for additional use in commercial reactors. However, the United States has a policy that prohibits the reprocessing of nuclear fuel.

From its start as mined uranium ore to its peak as a nuclear fuel pellet powering our communities, the nuclear fuel journey is an essential part of how our reactors operate. As the world focuses on cleaner generation, stay tuned for what might be the next chapter in the nuclear fuel story.

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Cooling towers: what are they and how do they work?

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 14:36:00 GMT

If you’ve ever had a window seat flying out of or into Raleigh, N.C., on a clear day, most likely you spotted in the distance, a tower with what appears to be smoke coming from it, but do you really know what it is?

It’s Harris Nuclear Plant’s natural draft cooling tower and even though it appears small in stature from the sky, the 523-foot-tall structure is almost as tall was the Washington Monument, which stands at 555 feet.

The cloud leaving the top of the Harris cooling tower is often visible from miles away too. However, it’s not smoke billowing from the top. It’s simply clean water vapor that results from the cooling process.

Cooling tower at Harris Nuclear Plant in New Hill, North Carolina

So, what purpose does the cooling tower serve? It depends. Thermoelectric power plants, like Harris, that use heat to make steam to spin a turbine generator need a system to cool steam back to water. They also provide an energy efficient and environmentally friendly way to remove heat before the water is returned to the lake.

With a surface area of 4,100 acres, Harris Lake was constructed specifically to provide cooling water for the Harris plant. Water is pumped from the lake into the cooling tower basin. This water then circulates through the plant’s condenser tubes, absorbs heat from the steam and travels back to the cooling tower. The water is then sprayed through the hollow core of the cooling tower onto a grid in the center of the tower. Cool air flows up from the hollow center, and passes the warm falling water, causing some of it to evaporate. Evaporation removes heat from the water, cooling it. Water in the cooling tower never comes in contact with water in the nuclear reactor, which is a closed system.

To complete the cycle, a pipe returns water to Harris Lake within a degree or two of the lake’s normal temperatures. This ensures there is no harm to the aquatic life in Harris Lake. The lake is popular for sport fishing, boating and water skiing.

Cooling tower at Catawba Nuclear Station in York, S.C.

Within the Duke Energy nuclear fleet, only two plants -- Harris and the Catawba Nuclear Station -- use cooling towers. McGuire Nuclear Station, Oconee Nuclear Station and Robinson Nuclear Plant all use large manmade lakes to cool steam back to water. Instead of a lake, Brunswick Nuclear Plant uses the Cape Fear River for cooling.

Because these bodies of water are used for other purposes, including drinking water, irrigation and industrial uses, Duke Energy established environmental protection programs decades ago (before the nuclear plants were built), including actively monitoring the water quality, plankton, fisheries and more throughout the year. The company submits annual reports to the state summarizing the important environmental monitoring results.

Cooling Tower Facts

Cooling towers are constructed for plant cooling and to protect aquatic environments.
The shape of most cooling towers is a hyperboloid. They are built this way because the broad base allows for greater area to encourage evaporation, then narrows to increase air flow velocity. It then widens slightly to aid in mixing the moisture laden air into the atmosphere.
The cloud at the top of cooling tower is clean water vapor resulting from cooling water in a system that is totally separate from the nuclear reactor. The water in the reactor stays in a closed system, never coming into contact with the water in the cooling tower.
There are more than 250 cooling towers for power plants across America, and fewer than 100 at nuclear plants.

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Keeping nuclear in the driver’s seat: Duke Energy seeks to renew nuclear licenses

Mikayla Kreuzberger — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 14:15:00 GMT

What if your driver’s license was about to expire, and there was no way to get another one? You still have a perfectly good car. You are a skilled and responsible driver. There are still places you need to go.

The nuclear industry faced a similar challenge as plants began to reach the end of their initial 40-year licensing period; thus, a license renewal process was created in the 1990s to ensure that well-maintained, safely operated nuclear plants could apply for 20-year license extensions.

As some nuclear plants in the U.S. begin to approach 60 years of safe operation, the natural question is, “What now?” Using the license renewal process, subsequent or second license renewal approval can extend the life of nuclear power plants from 60 years to 80 years.

Duke Energy is committed to renewing the operating licenses of all 11 reactors it operates in the Carolinas so they can safely and reliably operate for decades to come – it’s a significant step toward achieving the company’s aggressive carbon reduction goals to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 from electricity generation.

These goals cannot be achieved without nuclear power. As the company evolves, its nuclear fleet, which powers more than 8 million homes across the Carolinas, will continue to play a significant role in the clean energy transformation. Duke Energy’s nuclear plants provided more than 83% of the company’s carbon-free generation in 2020.

Not only do our nuclear power plants provide reliable 24/7 electricity for customers, they also remain economic drivers for their communities, provide thousands of well-paying jobs, significant tax revenues, partnership opportunities and other benefits.

In June 2021, Duke Energy submitted a subsequent license renewal application for Oconee Nuclear Station in Seneca, S.C. Oconee is currently operating under its 20-year license extension. If approved, the subsequent license renewal would allow the station to generate electricity through 2053 and 2054.

Oconee is the company’s largest nuclear station, with three generating units that produce more than 2,500 megawatts for 1.9 million homes. Duke Energy will continue to develop license renewal applications for the remaining plants, and expects to submit those in approximately three-year intervals.

We look forward to serving our communities for decades to come.

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Capacity factor – it's a measure of reliability

Duke Energy — Tue, 18 May 2021 15:35:00 GMT

Editor's note: This article was originally published on February 18, 2015. It has been revised, updated and republished.

One way the energy industry measures the reliability of power plants is by regularly calculating capacity factors.

Capacity factor measures how often a plant is running at maximum power. It’s expressed as a percentage and calculated by dividing the actual unit of electricity output by the maximum possible output. This ratio is important because it indicates how fully a generating unit is used.

Capacity factors vary considerably by plant and fuel type (see graphic below). As you can see, nuclear energy’s average capacity factor is above 90, meaning the average nuclear plant generates electricity, more than 90 percent of the time. Nuclear energy generates the highest capacity factor of any other power source and produces reliable, carbon-free power almost three times more often than wind and solar plants.

In 2020, Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet achieved a capacity factor of 94.4%. This marked the 22nd consecutive year the fleet’s capacity factor was greater than 90%; this year was also above the U.S. average capacity factor of 92.5%.

Operating at six sites in the Carolinas, Duke Energy’s 11 reactors generate approximately half of the Carolinas’ electricity. In addition to supplying more than one-third of Duke Energy’s electricity last year and 83% of the company’s carbon-free electricity, the nuclear fleet prevented the release of almost 50 million tons of carbon dioxide.

Nuclear energy continues providing 20% of America’s electricity and is a proven, reliable source of carbon-free electricity that is available around the clock.

Interested in learning more about capacity factor? Here are some resources and related links to help you get started:

Monthly energy review

Duke Energy’s 2021 Sustainability Report

What is generation capacity?

Nuclear Power is the most reliable energy source

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How innovation is snaking its way into the core of nuclear energy culture

Ellen Morton — Mon, 03 May 2021 15:47:00 GMT

It doesn’t have the ring of Ready, Set, Go or Lights, Camera, Action. But...

Batteries charged, Motor functions validated, Cameras online, sounds like innovation within the Duke Energy nuclear fleet.

After working through those quick steps, our Guardian® S robot is ready for action. Whether it is needed to squeeze into small spaces like trenches or pipes, climb I-beams or other steel equipment or inspect hard to access areas, this savvy snake-like robot carries various sensors and payloads to provide real-time detection and visual information while keeping our teammates out of harm’s way.

While drones are great for open spaces, L-Mo is more of a wallflower. It climbs vertical magnetic surfaces and snakes into confined spaces.

The Guardian® S, we affectionately call L-Mo (short for Linear Motorized Observer) within the Duke Energy Nuclear Fleet, was recently used to perform a drainpipe inspection. The cameras and live feed L-Mo provided allowed employees to look at coatings and breakdowns in the metal, while documenting where in the pipe each deficiency was based on its onboard odometer – all without employees having to enter the pipe to collect the data.

“Using L-Mo is a safer, more efficient way to preform inspections in many different cases at our nuclear stations,” says Kevin Martin, Nuclear Maintenance supervisor at McGuire Nuclear Station.

Innovation isn’t just about a great idea; it’s about proper implementation. Jim Louy, a director in nuclear and L-Mo team lead is “looking forward to it being second nature to pull L-Mo off the shelf to use.” He likens its use to how we used to have to make a conscious decision to put on a seatbelt. “Now we automatically put it on without thinking about it as a safety device we should be using,” he says.

“When it comes to embracing innovation, we can lead, follow, or be left behind. Innovation will come. I prefer to lead.” -Tom Ray, McGuire Nuclear Station site Vice President

L-Mo’s team is optimistic that there will be many more ways to use the tool in the future.

The great thing about innovation is that it never stops. It may start with a good idea that supports a current need, but it shouldn’t stop there. Creating a true culture of innovation, like Duke Energy is doing throughout our nuclear fleet, requires embracing change.

Now, we know that’s easier said than done. What does it look like to embrace innovation in nuclear energy?

L-Mo isn’t the only new tool in our toolbelt. Duke Energy has created and implemented a constantly evolving suite of apps and programs that has already improved the efficiency of our planning team and enabled maintenance technicians to prepare for work anytime, anywhere. The introduction of our drone program provides a way for our nuclear workers to perform tasks more safely.

Duke Energy released its aggressive climate goals in 2020, placing an emphasis on innovation. No matter the scale, it’s imperative to our culture that we continue finding innovative ways to generate the clean, life-essential electricity our communities depend on.

Brian Marrow, director of nuclear innovation puts it this way: “Innovation isn’t a one-time thing, it’s constant improvement. Some might say an evolution.”

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Do you know the 5 steps in the early life of uranium?

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 18:30:00 GMT

So you probably know by now nuclear power generation starts with a uranium atom, but do you know where that uranium atom comes from? Or how uranium gets to a nuclear plant? Or what happens to it when it gets to the plant?

Here’s the life cycle of uranium. Where it starts. And, how it becomes the fuel for our reactors to generate clean, life-essential electricity around the clock to power the lives of our communities.

Uranium is a dense heavy metal found in nature. It’s used in nuclear power generation because its nucleus is perfect for the fission process — being split apart by impact from a neutron. The most abundant uranium isotope is uranium-238; nuclear reactors use uranium-235 to generate heat. (The difference between these two isotopes is the number of neutrons in their nuclei; both have 92 protons.)

Step 1. Mining uranium. Most uranium is mined from ore deposits in Africa, Canada, Australia and Kazakhstan.

Step 2. Concentration. The ore is then dried, concentrated and sent to a conversion facility, where it’s mixed with fluorine gas to create uranium hexafluoride gas, which is more easily enriched.

Step 3. Enrichment. It’s enriched at an enrichment facility. Uranium used to generate electricity has to have more uranium-235 isotopes than is found in nature, so it’s enriched to 3-5%, up from its natural state of 0.7%, using a gas centrifuge. The uranium hexafluoride gas is spun at an extremely high speed. The centrifugal force separates uranium-235, which is lighter, and uranium-238, which is heavier. The uranium-235 is spun until it reaches the desired enrichment.

Step 4. Fabrication. Now the enriched uranium heads to a fabrication facility, where it’s chemically converted to a very fine powder which is molded into a ceramic pellet about the size of a pencil eraser. Pellets are stacked end-to-end in zirconium alloy-cladded fuel rods. The rods are then bundled together into a fuel assembly.

Step 5. The fuel assemblies are transported to a nuclear plant.

So, what happens after the fuel assemblies arrive at a nuclear plant … Watch and learn.

Bonus knowledge:

How many fuel assemblies are placed into the Catawba Nuclear Station reactor core? 193. So that means each reactor core contains 13,858,944 fuel pellets!
Learn more about the stages of the nuclear fuel cycle from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

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What you need to know about the different types of nuclear reactors

Duke Energy — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 20:08:00 GMT

Editor's note: This article was originally published on March 27, 2012. It has been revised, updated and republished.

Nuclear energy accounts for almost 50% of the Carolinas electricity with zero carbon emissions.Through the fission process, our highly trained workers generate the clean energy needed to power your daily life.

Let's take a look at the basics of pressurized and boiling water reactors:

Power Plant Reactors
With the exception of solar, wind and hydroelectric plants, most power plants are steam generating plants using different systems to create steam. A nuclear power plant uses uranium fuel to produce nuclear fission which heats water into steam to drive the turbines that ultimately produces electricity.

There are many different reactor types used in nuclear power plants world-wide to create nuclear energy. Two of the most common reactors are pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs), both of which are light water reactors (LWR). Light water reactors use ordinary water to cool and heat the nuclear fuel. LWRs have historically been the most economical and common type of reactors.

Pressurized Water Reactors (PRW)

Video curtesy of Nuclear Matters.

Nuclear fission produces heat inside the reactor. That heat is transferred to water circulating around the uranium fuel in the first of three separate water systems where water is heated to extremely high temperatures, but doesn’t boil because the water is under pressure. Water within the primary system passes over the reactor core to act as a moderator and coolant but does not flow to the turbine. It is contained in a pressurized piping loop. The hot, pressurized water passes through a series of tubes inside the steam generator.

These tubes are surrounded by another water system called the secondary or steam generating system. The heat, but not the water, from the primary coolant is transferred to the secondary, system which then turns into steam.

The primary and secondary systems are closed systems. This means the water flowing through the reactor remains separate and does not mix with water from the other systems.

The steam is pumped from the containment building into the turbine building to push the giant blades of the turbine. The turbine is connected to an electrical generator.

After turning the turbines, the steam is cooled by passing it over tubes carrying a third water system called the condenser coolant. As the steam is cooled, it condenses back into water and is returned to the steam generator to be used again and again.

Boiling Water Reactors (BWR)

Video curtesy of Nuclear Matters.

Unlike the PWR, inside the boiling water reactor the primary water system absorbs enough heat from the fission process to boil its water. In contrast to the PWR, the BWR uses only two separate water systems as it doesn't have a separate steam generator system. This steam and water mixture rises to the top of the reactor and passes through two stages of moisture separation. Water droplets are then removed and steam is allowed to enter the steam line. The steam is directed to the turbine. The turbine begins to turn within the generator and electricity is produced.

Once the turbines are turned, the remaining steam is cooled in the condenser coolant system. This is a closed water system. Heat from the steam is absorbed by the cool water through heat transference. The water within the two systems does not mix. Once through the condenser system, the water is recycled back into the reactor to begin the process again.

Additional resources:

How a reactor actually works by the Nuclear Energy Institute

Nuclear Reactors/Energy Generation by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

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