Safe nuclear technologies

Among the reactor types studied over the past 4-5 decades, but not reaching the stage of market introduction on a commercial basis, are high-temperature gas-cooled reactors and sodium-cooled fast breeders. Current proposals are aware of the issues raised above, but still far from deal with all of them. The reactor industry has recently concluded that a new generation of safer reactors will require substantial breakthroughs (particularly in materials science) that may push commercialisation at least 25 years into the future (USDoE, 2002b). The proposed concepts are summarised in Table 5.3. 

Conventional breeders sodium low 820 safety, cost, reprocessing 

Supercritical water water very high 800 safety, materials, corrosion 

Very high temperature helium high 1300 safety, materials, accidents 

Gas-cooled breeders helium high 1130 materials, fuels, recycling 

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This paper describes a new nuclear power system which can be used for a greater variety of applications. The 4S liquid metal reactor has high inherent safety and passive safety characteristics. It is also easy to operate, maintain and inspect, faster to construct, more flexible in location, requires less initial investment, and is better suited to electrical grid management. The reactor offers a new route through which to expand the use of safe nuclear technology in the world. 

Proponents of the laboratories counter that, despite these shortcomings, the laboratories seiwe a vital mission of undertaking the high risk and expensive investments that the private sector would never agree to invest in. Although natural gas research and development was minimal, DOE support accelerated technological advances on natural gas-fired turbines. Much of the research and development at the laboratories has provided a net social benefit to the nation and economy, work such as safe nuclear reactors and the development of sophisticated defense weapons. 

We are optimistic that the world in 2030, while still heavily dependent on cleaner fossil fuel use, will be one in which growing demand for electricity as a preferred energy source, new inherently safe nuclear power designs, and dramatic improvements in the economics of renewable technologies and end-use efficiency, will provide a broad spectrum of clean, low-cost reliable electricity choices for the marketplace. 

In Table 5.2 I have compared the features of traditional fossil and nuclear power plants with those of this solar-hydrogen power plant of the future. This comparison shows that BAU (business as usual) technology is inferior even in the short run. This data shows that there is no clean fossil or safe nuclear power and that mankind must fully convert to a renewable energy economy, in the shortest possible time, but definitely not later than the end of this century. 

It follows that this scheme—which would lead to a steady-state, high-technology economy without planetary warming or pollution—depends centrally upon electrochemical technology (water electrolysis, fuel cell conversion). If a clean, safe nuclear source were developed that could compete economically with cheap photovoltaics6,... 

As with other technology, nuclear technology involves a combination of science and art. However, it is unique because of the development of the atomic bomb that contributed to the ending of World War II. Many people view nuclear technology from the point of view of nuclear weapons and more recently nuclear accidents such as those at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. This leads to the view that nuclear technology is only useful for explosive applications and that it is only with great care that it can be safely used. In reality, it is difficult to produce nuclear explosions... 

The purpose of the "safe nuclear scenario" is to investigate if nuclear technologies different from those employed today may solve the problem or strongly reduce the concerns stated above, while forming a solution that is viable in terms of the transition time needed and resource depletion and has reasonable economy. As it turns out, it is hardly possible to address all three of the voiced concerns, and most improvements of nuclear technology are aimed at solving one or at most two of the key problems, while often at the same time improving other performance aspects. 

A spill of such material could be treated by waiting ten half-lives, perhaps by going to lunch. When you return to the laboratory, the material that was spilled will be no more radioactive than the floor itself. An accident with plutonium-239, which has a half-life of 24,000 years, would be quite a different matter After fifty minutes, virtually all of the plutonium-239 would still remain. Long-half-life isotopes, by-products of nuclear technology, pose the greatest problems for safe disposal. Finding a site that will remain undisturbed "forever" is quite a formidable task. 

The preceding introduction to the preface of the first edition of this book can still serve as the theme of this second edition. Since 1957 nuclear power systems have become important contributors to the energy supply of most industrialized nations. This text describes the materials of special importance in nuclear reactors and the processes that have been developed to concentrate, purify, separate, and store safely these materials. Because of the growth in nuclear technology since the fust edition appeared and the great amount of published new information, this second edition is an entirely new book, following the first edition only in its general outline. 

Lithium is a fascinating example of an element, that was originally considered a chemical laboratory curiosity, but finally found to be an ultratrace element which in all probability is essential to humans. Moreover, it became a potent and safe drug, with specific effects mainly in the treatment of manic-depressive illness, and also a valuable versatile industrial material with a well-established broad spectrum of applications and possibilities for further developments. The importance of lithium will increase, for example by the discovery of lithium-dependent enzymes, proteins or hormones, the resolution of its biochemical mechanism in affective disorders, and progress in the battery sector, in the nuclear technology, or with the aluminum electrolysis (Schafer 1995, 2000). 

The main objectives of the key action on nuclear fission (total budget of EURO 191 million) are to enhance the safety of Europe s nuclear installations and improve the competitiveness of Europe s industry. Within these broader objectives, the more detailed aims are to protect workers and the public from radiation and ensure safe and effective management and final disposal of radioactive waste, to explore more innovative concepts that are sustainable and have potential longer term economic, safety, health and environmental benefits and to contribute towards maintaining a high level of expertise and competence on nuclear technology and safety. It covers four principal areas of research ... 

The safely level of small reactors could easily exceed the goals stated for future power reactors. For example, several small reactor designs quote a core melt frequency < l(TVa. Also, consequences of severe accidents will be limited which may reduce public concerns related to nuclear technology which is a prerequisite with respect to urban location. 

C. Goetzmann, D. Bittermann and A. Gdbel, Design Principles of a Simple and Safe 200-MW(thermal) Nuclear District Heating Plant, Nuclear Technology, Vol. 79, 1987 November, pp. 144-157. 

IV-10] SAMOILOV, O.B, et al.. Operation experience of the TVSA fuel assembly within the units of the Kalinin NPP and optimization of its design 14 annual conference of the Russian Nuclear Society Scientific support of a safe use of nuclear technologies (Paper presented at annual conf, 23-27 June 2003, Udomlya, Tverskaya region, Russia, in Russian). 

Technology exists to dispose of nuclear waste safely. 

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