Nuclear fission: the interplay of science and technology

2010 ◽  
Vol 368 (1923) ◽  
pp. 3295-3313 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Stoneham
Keyword(s):  
Basic Science ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Applied Research ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Nuclear Fission ◽  
Power Station ◽  
Crucial Component ◽  
Basic And Applied Research ◽  
Fission Reactors

When the UK’s Calder Hall nuclear power station was connected to the grid in 1956, the programmes that made this possible involved a powerful combination of basic and applied research. Both the science and the engineering were novel, addressing new and challenging problems. That the last Calder Hall reactor was shut down only in 2003 attests to the success of the work. The strengths of bringing basic science to bear on applications continued to be recognized until the 1980s, when government and management fashions changed. This paper identifies a few of the technology challenges, and shows how novel basic science emerged from them and proved essential in their resolution. Today, as the threat of climate change becomes accepted, it has become clear that there is no credible solution without nuclear energy. The design and construction of new fission reactors will need continuing innovation, with the interplay between the science and technology being a crucial component.

Sustainable Development of China With Nuclear Energy System Beyond Generation-IV

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiwei Zhou ◽  
Hong Xu ◽  
Yongwei Yang
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Nuclear Fission ◽  
Hybrid Reactor ◽  
Fissile Material ◽  
Nuclear Power Generation

Two aspects of the development trend of current nuclear fission technology are discussed. The first aspect is to improve economic competitiveness and safety for searching opportunity of enlarging the share of nuclear power. The second aspect is to explore new ways of improving the efficiency of nuclear fuel utilization and of reducing the geological repository volume of radioactive products from nuclear power generation. Sustainable development of Chinese economy in 21st century will mainly rely on sustainable supply of clean energy with indigenous natural resources. The burden of current coal-dominant energy mix and the environmental pollution due to energy consumptions has led nuclear power to be an indispensable choice for further expanding electricity generation capacity and for reducing greenhouse effect gases emission in China. The long-term sustainable development strategy with nuclear fission technology beyond generation-IV for electric power generation, namely the fusion-fission hybrid subcritical reactor technology, is discussed. The impact of the proposed fission-fusion hybrid reactor to future nuclear power generation technology will reply on the success of the ITER-scale (500MW fusion power) Tokamak to burn plasma continuously in the predictable future. The main challenges and prospects of the strategy are also analyzed. The preliminary analysis has shown that the fission in the subcritical blanket driven by fusion neutrons can effectively amplify the energy carried by fusion neutron and maintain breeding of fissile material and tritium. It has been found from the results of a conceptual design that this new type of fusion-fission hybrid reactor may meet the requirement of China’s long-term sustainable development of nuclear energy.

Public understanding of Nuclear Energy: Challenges and Strategies of Science Communication in India

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1and2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nimish Kapoor ◽  
Abhinav Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Science Communication ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Nuclear Radiation ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
The Media

Energy is the backbone for sustainable development. Any nation cannot progress without adequate resources of energy i.e. must have energy security. In various sources of generating power, i.e. nuclear, coal, hydro, geothermal, wind, solar, crude oil and biomass etc., nuclear is one of the source of energy which is less understood source of energy among our masses. Many misconceptions and rumours are associated with the nuclear energy like nuclear energy fosters nuclear weapons, nuclear radiation is deadly and nuclear reactors are not safe for human being and environment etc. This technological awareness gap of understanding Nuclear Power is the most challenging area for science and technology communication in India today. India faces formidable challenges in meeting its energy needs and providing adequate energy of desired quality to consumers in a sustainable manner at a reasonable cost. Nuclear power can play a bigger role offering sustainable solution to global energy problems. Those working in nuclear technology field face increasing scrutiny from public, the media, political authorities and NGO’s. This paper deals with the need of science and technology communication on nuclear energy for better understanding on the issue and a communication strategy adopted by Vigyan Prasar under ‘Public Awareness Campaign on Nuclear Energy’ as an important way in which a nation can stave off from the misconceptions, fear and uninformed societies.

4. Nuclear power

2019 ◽  
pp. 74-84
Author(s):  
Nick Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Nuclear Fuel ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Fuel Cycle ◽  
Nuclear Reactors ◽  
Nuclear Fission ◽  
Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Of all the sources of energy used for electricity generation, nuclear power is the most contentious with strong opinions both favouring and opposing its use. Some well-known environmentalists consider that the use of nuclear power is essential to limit climate change, while expressing reservations over its environmental impacts. ‘Nuclear power’ explains that there are two mechanisms by which nuclear energy could be used to create heat and so generate power; nuclear fission and fusion. Nuclear power reactors create heat, which is used to make steam that is then passed through a turbine to generate electricity. The nuclear fuel cycle is described along with the different generations of nuclear reactors.

Nuclear energy on the 21st century in climate limits context

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evgeny Pavlovich Velikhov ◽  
Vladimir Dmitrievich Davidenko ◽  
Viktor Filippovich Tsybulskiy
Keyword(s):  
Power System ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
System Development ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Nuclear Power System ◽  
Fission Reactors

Nuclear energy system development in the current century is considered in the article. The importance of this issue both for the future and for the choice of ways to solve current energy problems is high, which is largely due to the increasing environmental restrictions. Nuclear energy using promises negative impact of the energy system on enviroment minimizing. However, the danger of radiative pollution of the environment is a significant deterrent to the large scale industry development. The article discusses the problem of the nuclear power system development in the variant of the coordinated use of fission reactors for energy production and hybrid thermonuclear reactors for production of artificial fuel from thorium raw materials for fission reactors. Estimates are presented to substantiate the preferences of the structure of the nuclear power system under consideration.

Special Issue on Structural Engineering of Nuclear Related Facilities

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-339
Author(s):  
Katsuki Takiguchi
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power Station ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Structural Engineering ◽  
Radioactive Waste Disposal ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Power Station ◽  
Wide Range

Since it was first used, nuclear energy’s control has been an important issue. With the generation of electricity as a major nuclear energy application, the improvement of nuclear power generation technology has been required by society, including power plant design, construction, and maintenance and radioactive waste disposal. Nuclear facilities must also take into account disaster prevention, as in the case of earthquakes and terrorist attacks, particularly because of the extensive potential and actual range of effects. This has made nuclear energy issues important considerations in JDR editorial meetings. In the July 16, 2007, case of the Niigataken Chuetsu-oki Earthquake, quake ground motion equaled or exceeded that presumed in the design of the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station, the world’s largest nuclear power station. Specific safety objectives for nuclear power plants include stopping the nuclear reaction, cooling the nuclear reactor, preventing radioactive material emission, and shielding surroundings from radiation - all of which were almost completely achieved in this case. Many problems were also revealed, however. JDR examined a special issue on Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station earthquake resistance at an editorial meeting but determined that such a topic remains premature. In its stead, we have planned a number featuring the structural engineering of nuclear related facilities as a first step in a series of special issues on nuclear energy. The papers for this number were submitted mainly by the presenters of 20th International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology, held in Espoo, Finland, in 2009 with the catch phrase “Challenges Facing Nuclear Renaissance.” We greatly appreciate the many contributions to this issue, and would like to thank the reviewers, without whose cooperation this number could not have been published. Please note that, independent of special numbers such as this one, JDR looks forward to receiving papers on a wide range of fields related to disaster.

From Chernobyl to Fukujima - A Perspective of Nuclear Safety that “Taoism Co-Works with Ziran (Nature)” - My Perspective on Nuclear Safety

2012 ◽  
Vol 512-515 ◽  
pp. 882-889
Author(s):  
Tong Fa Bao ◽  
Fei Fei Chen ◽  
Jia Xin Cao
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Nuclear Safety ◽  
Nuclear Accidents ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Electronic Industry

Nuclear energy, to some extent, has made great contributions to the electronic industry when the fossil fuels are decreasing. Therefore, scientism drives man indulged in his discoveries about nuclear energy, naively believing the nuclear power as an alternative energy for it is reliable, clean, secure and economical. After the nuclear accidents which happened in the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, especially March 2011, the world-shocking earthquake happened in Japan as well as the nuclear leakage in Fukushima nuclear plant led us to reconsider the development and application of the nuclear energy. From our perspective, how to develop the nuclear energy depends on people’s attitude towards modern science and technology. Man should step out of the limit of scientism, be aware of how much science and technology can do on human beings’ progress under the guideline of the holism that complies with nature, and how application of the nuclear energy goes well with the whole ecological system rather than partially exaggerate its achievements against nature.

Analysis of the Safety of Nuclear Power Plants

2013 ◽  
Vol 724-725 ◽  
pp. 692-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
De Wen Liu ◽  
Jian Xun Zheng ◽  
Zhi Ke Chen ◽  
Liang Kun Liu
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Station ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Power Station ◽  
Modern Development ◽  
The World

Nuclear energy is a carbon-free, clean and efficient energy. It is very important in the progress of human civilization and modern development of the world, however, there are still some problems such as nuclear leak and nuclear waste. In this paper, the worlds nuclear energy utilization and nuclear power plant constructions are reviewed and plans are forecasted. The basic reason of previous nuclear power plant accidents in history is summarized. Taking 2011 Tohuku earthquake-fukushima nuclear power station accident as an example,threats to the nuclear power plant by earthquake are investigated and impacts on social, economic and ecological environment caused by nuclear power station accident are analyzed. This paper drew lessons from previous accidents and put forward a variety of countermeasures which are from both the technical and management aspects. We also appeal people all over the world to respect the nature, enjoy the nature, and to create and enjoy the new civilization of human beings.

scholarly journals The ‘neglected’ chemistry: Fuels and materials preparation in China’s ‘two bombs and one satellite’ project

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 154-167
Author(s):  
Jing Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Science Policy ◽  
Applied Research ◽  
Scientific Practice ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Modern China ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Cultural Variation ◽  
Basic And Applied Research ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Materials Preparation

The ‘two bombs and one satellite’ project was a major achievement of China after 1949 and has since been an important subject in historical and sociological research on science and technology in modern China. However, most accounts of the history or sociology of the project focus on physicists and engineers, rather than the chemists. This study examines the chemists’ work of preparing fuels and materials in the project and their post-project research. By analysing how Chinese scientists engaged in the project, how they understood the relationship between basic and applied research in their scientific practice and how they positioned themselves on issues of science policy, this article offers different and shifting concepts of basic and applied research with cultural variation in the context of China.

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