Reactors nuclear waste disposal

Thorium, uranium, and plutonium are well known for their role as the basic fuels (or sources of fuel) for the release of nuclear energy (5). The importance of the remainder of the actinide group Hes at present, for the most part, in the realm of pure research, but a number of practical appHcations are also known (6). The actinides present a storage-life problem in nuclear waste disposal and consideration is being given to separation methods for their recovery prior to disposal (see Waste treati nt, hazardous waste Nuclear reactors, waste managet nt). 

The fear of accidents like Chernobyl, and the high cost of nuclear waste disposal, halted nuclear power plant construction in the United States m the 1980s, and in most ol the rest ol the world by the 1990s. Because nuclear fusion does not present the waste disposal problem of fission reactors, there is hope that fusion will be the primary energy source late in the twenty-first centuiy as the supplies of natural gas and petroleum dwindle. 

To emphasize the difference in scale, the different classes of problems are here classified as confined problems and open-ended problems. Confined problems are those where the probability and magnitude of the risks can be quantitatively studied and are found to be limited in scope. Reactor safety and nuclear waste disposal are in this category. 

The fast reactor high level waste is accumulated at the reprocessing plants and retains its toxicity for only a few hundred years, rather than the tens of thousands of years ofthe spent fuel wastes from our present reactors,. Thus, the nuclear waste disposal problems are minimal and arrangements for disposal could be made on a global basis. 

Gauthier-Lafaye, F., 2002, 2 billion year old natural analogs for nuclear waste disposal the natural nuclear fission reactors in Gabon (Africa). C. R. Physiquee 3 839-849. 

By 2040-2050, natural gas reserves will be in very short supply, and the production of coal will quite likely be approaching peak production levels.19. While nuclear power plants are a source of large scale electricity generation, there exist major concerns regarding uranium supply (without breeder reactors), safety, waste disposal, and nuclear weapon proliferation. Therefore, it is prudent to explore the economic feasibility of other fuel sources such as PV electrolytic H2 for centralized, electricity generating plants. 

Even a smoothly operating nuclear power plant has certain inherent problems. Thermal pollution, resulting from the use of nearby natural waters to cool reactor parts, is a problem common to all power plants (Section 13.3). More serious is the problem of nuclear waste disposal. Many of the fission products formed in nuclear reactors have long half-lives, and proposals to bury containers of this waste in deep bedrock cannot be field-tested for the thousands of years that the material will remain harmful. It remains to be seen whether we can operate fission reactors and dispose of the waste safely and economically. 

Madic, C. 1989. From the reactor to waste disposal the black-end of the nuclear fuel cycle with emphasis on France. Radiation Protection Dosimetry 26(4) 15-22. 

Write an essay on the pros and cons of nuclear power (based on nuclear fission), paying particular attention to its effect on global warming, nuclear reactor safety and weapon risks, and nuclear waste disposal. 

A metallic fuel is used in the 4S core in consideration of pyro-reprocessing. A fast reactor technology using a metal fuel based cycle (pyro-processing of spent fuel) appears to be a promising approach [XV-4]. The technology is of value because it has the potential to simplify reprocessing and fuel fabrication processes and nuclear waste disposal, and also could help reduce fuel cycle costs. 

Nuclear wastes are classified according to the level of radioactivity. Low level wastes (LLW) from reactors arise primarily from the cooling water, either because of leakage from fuel or activation of impurities by neutron absorption. Most LLW will be disposed of in near-surface faciHties at various locations around the United States. Mixed wastes are those having both a ha2ardous and a radioactive component. Transuranic (TRU) waste containing plutonium comes from chemical processes related to nuclear weapons production. These are to be placed in underground salt deposits in New Mexico (see... 

Other wastes are expected to arise from the decontarnination and decommissioning of existing nuclear faciHties. These include reactors at the time of life extension or at the end of their operating life. Whereas technologies are available for waste disposal, as of this writing (ca 1995) there is much pubHc resistance to the estabHshment of disposal faciHties. 

The main drawback to nuclear power is the production of radioactive waste. Spent fuel from a nuclear reactor is considered a high-level radioactive waste, and remains radioactive for a veiy long time. Spent fuel consists of fission products from the U-235 and Pu-239 fission process, and also from unspent U-238, Pu-240, and other heavy metals produced during the fuel cycle. That is why special programs exist for the handling and disposal of nuclear waste. 

Although the problems associated with the corrosion and protection of jointed structures have been recognised since the early days of structural fabrication, they have taken on a special significance in the past 15 years. The motivation for the increased impetus is mainly one of concern over possible costly, hazardous or environmentally unfriendly failures particularly those concerned with offshore constructions, nuclear reactors, domestic water systems, food handling, waste disposal and the like. 

---