Nuclear Fission, Today and Tomorrow: From Renaissance to Technological Breakthrough (Generation IV)

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georges Van Goethem
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Fission ◽  
Natural Uranium ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Safety And Reliability ◽  
Gen Iv

To better understand the industrial and political contexts of nuclear innovation, it is necessary to consider the history of nuclear fission technologies (four generations of nuclear power plants): (1) GEN I (construction 1950–1970): early prototypes, using mainly natural uranium as fuel, graphite as moderator, and CO2 as coolant (built at the time of “Atoms for Peace,” 1953); (2) GEN II (yesterday, construction 1970–2000): safety and reliability of nuclear facilities and energy independence (in order to ensure security of supply); (3) GEN III (today, construction 2000–2040): continuous improvement of safety and reliability, and increased industrial competitiveness in a worldwide growing energy market; (4) GEN IV (tomorrow, construction from 2040): for increased sustainability (optimal utilization of natural resources and waste minimization) and proliferation resistance. The focus in this paper is on the design objectives and research issues associated to the latter generation IV. Their benefits are discussed according to a series of ambitious criteria or technology goals established at the international level (generation IV international forum (GIF)). One will have to produce not only electricity at lower costs but also heat at very high temperatures, while exploiting a maximum of fissile and fertile matters, and recycling all actinides, under safe and reliable conditions. Scientific viability studies and technological performance tests for each system are being carried out worldwide, in line with the GIF agreement (2001). Their commercial deployment is planned for 2040. In Sec. 6, it is shown to what extent GEN IV can be considered as a beneficial, responsible, and sustainable response to the societal and industrial challenges of the future low-carbon economy.

scholarly journals Polityka klimatyczna UE a rozwój polskiej energetyki konwencjonalnej

2011 ◽  
pp. 137-168
Author(s):  
Piotr Jeżowski
Keyword(s):  
Climate Policy ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Energy Sector ◽  
Energy Prices ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Industrial Emissions ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Eu Climate Policy ◽  
The Eu

The study's aim is the analysis and the assessment the EU climate policy and its impacts on the development of conditions of the Polish conventional energy sector. The EU climate policy has a strong influence on Polish energy sector to the year 2020 and further. The position of Polish energy sector is unusual in Europe due to the structure of domestic energy balance. This all with confrontation to the EU aspirations for low carbon economy gives uncertain perspectives for the conventional energy sector. The very ambitious EU climate package and the New Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) led Poland to enormous investments in modernization of coal power and heat plants, very expensive CCS technologies and nuclear power plants. The energy sector isn't able to finance all theseprograms. The climate package and the IED will generate also the increase of energy prices in the next two decades which will be very difficult to absorpt by the national industry and households. 

Innovative Robot Technologies for Nuclear Power Plants Inspection and Maintenance

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seungho Kim ◽  
Kyung Min Jung ◽  
Sung Uk Lee ◽  
Hocheol Shin ◽  
Chang Hoi Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
Human Errors ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Safety And Reliability ◽  
Inspection And Maintenance ◽  
Remote Inspection

Nuclear energy has become the main energy source in Korea, but the safety issues are being debated since the Fukusima accident. In order to guarantee the safety and reliability of nuclear power plants, the uncertainty of human errors are being minimized by utilizing innovative technologies for inspection and maintenance. KAERI has developed robotic systems to upgrade and ensure the safety of nuclear facilities, to detect unusual conditions of facilities through remote inspection and to prevent human workers from high dose radiation with efficient plant maintenance.

scholarly journals Role of Nuclear Electricity in Low Carbon Economy

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 300-303
Author(s):  
S. M. Sirazam Sadekin ◽  
Sayma Zaman ◽  
M. A. Rashid Sarkar ◽  
Md. Altab Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Safety Issue ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Carbon Economy

To deal with climate change, low carbon economy is an utmost necessity for the present world. Energy requirement is growing faster exponentially in each decade. Over the long term some of the traditional sources (coal, gas, oil) have become inadequate to meet up the increasing demand. Current consumption rate of fossil fuel will make them extinct by year 2050 to 2100. Based on these facts nuclear power plant is a strategic choice to develop a clean energy. This paper presents - the role of nuclear electricity in low carbon economy. Though nuclear energy can't be called as 'carbon neutral' but it gives rise to much less emission of carbon dioxide than fossil fuels. Comparing with other energy structures, nuclear electricity chain emits a limited amount of greenhouse gas emission. Despite the uncertainty of building future nuclear power plants, this paper further discussed climate policies have larger impact than the policies that are against nuclear electricity production. The safety issue which is a public concern is also discussed here in short.

Recent Patents on Valve Mechanism Device

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-241
Author(s):  
Ye Dai ◽  
Hui-Bing Zhang ◽  
Yun-Shan Qi
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Valve Mechanism ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Valve Structure ◽  
Valve Leakage ◽  
Safety And Reliability

Background: Valves are an important part of nuclear power plants and are the control equipment used in nuclear power plants. It can change the cross-section of the passage and the flow direction of the medium and has the functions of diversion, cutoff, overflow, and the like. Due to the earthquake, the valve leaks, which will cause a major nuclear accident, endangering people's lives and safety. Objective: The purpose of this study is to synthesize the existing valve devices, summarize and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of various devices from many literatures and patents, and solve some problems of existing valves. Methods: This article summarizes various patents of nuclear-grade valve devices and recent research progress. From the valve structure device, transmission device, a detection device, and finally to the valve test, the advantages and disadvantages of the valve are comprehensively analyzed. Results: By summarizing the characteristics of a large number of valve devices, and analyzing some problems existing in the valves, the outlook for the research and design of nuclear power valves was made, and the planning of the national nuclear power strategic goals and energy security were planned. Conclusion: Valve damage can cause serious safety accidents. The most common is valve leakage. Therefore, the safety and reliability of valves must be taken seriously. By improving the transmission of the valve, the problems of complicated valve structure and high cost are solved.

scholarly journals Sustainable Energy-Related Infrastructure Development in the Mekong Subregion: Key Drivers and Policy Implications

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5720
Author(s):  
Han Phoumin ◽  
Sopheak Meas ◽  
Hatda Pich An
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Infrastructure Investment ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Access ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
The One

Many players have supported infrastructure development in the Mekong Subregion, bridging the missing links in Southeast Asia. While the influx of energy-related infrastructure development investments to the region has improved the livelihoods of millions of people on the one hand, it has brought about a myriad of challenges to the wider region in guiding investments for quality infrastructure and for promoting a low-carbon economy, and energy access and affordability, on the other hand. Besides reviewing key regional initiatives for infrastructure investment and development, this paper examines energy demand and supply, and forecasts energy consumption in the subregion during 2017–2050 using energy modeling scenario analysis. The study found that to satisfy growing energy demand in the subregion, huge power generation infrastructure investment, estimated at around USD 190 billion–220 billion, is necessary between 2017 and 2050 and that such an investment will need to be guided by appropriate policy. We argue that without redesigning energy policy towards high-quality energy infrastructure, it is very likely that the increasing use of coal upon which the region greatly depends will lead to the widespread construction of coal-fired power plants, which could result in increased greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions.

scholarly journals Benefits, Drawbacks, and Future Trends of Brayton Helium Gas Turbine Cycles for Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor and Very-High Temperature Reactor Generation IV Nuclear Power Plants

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnold Gad-Briggs ◽  
Emmanuel Osigwe ◽  
Pericles Pilidis ◽  
Theoklis Nikolaidis ◽  
Suresh Sampath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Optimum Operating ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Design Point ◽  
Gen Iv ◽  
Very High

Abstract Numerous studies are on-going on to understand the performance of generation IV (Gen IV) nuclear power plants (NPPs). The objective is to determine optimum operating conditions for efficiency and economic reasons in line with the goals of Gen IV. For Gen IV concepts such as the gas-cooled fast reactors (GFRs) and very-high temperature reactors (VHTRs), the choice of cycle configuration is influenced by component choices, the component configuration and the choice of coolant. The purpose of this paper to present and review current cycles being considered—the simple cycle recuperated (SCR) and the intercooled cycle recuperated (ICR). For both cycles, helium is considered as the coolant in a closed Brayton gas turbine configuration. Comparisons are made for design point (DP) and off-design point (ODP) analyses to emphasize the pros and cons of each cycle. This paper also discusses potential future trends, include higher reactor core outlet temperatures (COT) in excess of 1000 °C and the simplified cycle configurations.

Cyber Security Assessment of NPP I&C Systems

2020 ◽  
pp. 221-238
Author(s):  
Oleksandr Klevtsov ◽  
Artem Symonov ◽  
Serhii Trubchaninov
Keyword(s):  
Control Systems ◽  
Cyber Security ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Cyber Attacks ◽  
Security Assessment ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
Security Risks ◽  
Cyber Threats ◽  
And Control

The chapter is devoted to the issues of cyber security assessment of instrumentation and control systems (I&C systems) of nuclear power plants (NPP). The authors examined the main types of potential cyber threats at the stages of development and operation of NPP I&C systems. Examples of real incidents at various nuclear facilities caused by intentional cyber-attacks or unintentional computer errors during the maintenance of the software of NPP I&C systems are given. The approaches to vulnerabilities assessment of NPP I&C systems are described. The scope and content of the assessment and periodic reassessment of cyber security of NPP I&C systems are considered. An approach of assessment to cyber security risks is described.

The Climate Vulnerabilities of Global Nuclear Power

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 3-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah M. Jordaan ◽  
Afreen Siddiqi ◽  
William Kakenmaster ◽  
Alice C. Hill
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Extreme Event ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
And Sea Level

Nuclear power—a source of low-carbon electricity—is exposed to increasing risks from climate change. Intensifying storms, droughts, extreme precipitation, wildfires, higher temperatures, and sea-level rise threaten supply disruptions and facility damage. Approximately 64 percent of installed capacity commenced operation between thirty and forty-eight years ago, before climate change was considered in plant design or construction. Globally, 516 million people reside within a fifty mile (80 km) radius of at least one operating nuclear power plant, and 20 million reside within a ten mile (16 km) radius, and could face health and safety risks resulting from an extreme event induced by climate change. Roughly 41 percent of nuclear power plants operate near seacoasts, making them vulnerable to increasing storm intensity and sea-level rise. Inland plants face exposure to other climate risks, such as increasingly severe wildfires and warmer water temperatures. No entity has responsibility for conducting risk assessments that adequately evaluate the climate vulnerabilities of nuclear power and the subsequent threats to international energy security, the environment, and human health. A comprehensive risk assessment by international agencies and the development of national and international standards is necessary to mitigate risks for new and existing plants.

INTERCOMPARISON ON INTERNAL DOSE ASSESSMENT FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN KOREA

2019 ◽  
Vol 186 (4) ◽  
pp. 524-529
Author(s):  
Si Young Kim
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Dose Assessment ◽  
Assessment Procedure ◽  
Internal Dose ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
International Intercomparison ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract The intercomparison test is a quality assurance activity performed for internal dose assessment. In Korea, the intercomparison test on internal dose assessment was carried out for nuclear facilities in May 2018. The test involved four nuclear facilities in Korea, and seven exposure scenarios were applied. These scenarios cover the intake of 131I, a uranium mixture, 60Co and tritium under various conditions. This paper only reviews the participant results of three scenarios pertinent to the operation of nuclear power plants and adopts the statistical evaluation method, used in international intercomparison tests, to determine the significance values of the results. Although no outliers were established in the test, improvements in the internal dose assessment procedure were derived. These included the selection of intake time, selection of lung absorption type according to the chemical form and consideration of the contribution of previous intake.

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