3D Immersive Display Application for Nuclear Education and Public Acceptance

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Lam Luk ◽  
Miu-Ling Lam ◽  
Ting-Hsuan Chen ◽  
Jiyun Zhao ◽  
Suet Man Tsui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Reactors ◽  
Literacy Education ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Daya Bay ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) systems based on multiple stereoscopic projectors are very popular in many applications, such as training operators for nuclear power plants and surgeons for surgical operations. Due to the increasing number of nuclear reactors in Guangdong province of China, Hong Kong residents are concerned about the nuclear safety and impact on Hong Kong society. There is clearly a strong demand for nuclear literacy education in order to make the public aware of and accept nuclear energy. Thus, City University of Hong Kong has built an IVR system with a 9-meter diameter, 4-meter-height, 235° curved screen for nuclear literacy education. The actual CAD drawings of the Daya Bay nuclear power plant were used to recreate the virtual Daya Bay plant in our IVR system, emphasizing the reactor pressure vessel and steam generators inside the containment building. Visitors can enter the virtual containment building, and experience the actual operation environment in order to understand the basic knowledge of nuclear reactors. At present, the system is not only capable of illustrating the basic knowledge of nuclear reactor physics but also shows the normal and abnormal operations including reactor scram and emergency containment spray. In order to provide visitors with a full understanding of the role of nuclear power in Hong Kong’s fuel mix, a Low Carbon Energy Education Center (LCEEC) was set up in which the IVR system was the main attraction. Other low carbon energy sources are also introduced in LCEEC. The Centre was visited by thousands of visitors since its opening in April 2017. Surveys have been conducted to collect their comments and suggestions. The results showed that the IVR system is very helpful in raising public understanding of nuclear power.

An Overview for Achieving Public Understanding and Acceptance of Nuclear Power: Bangladesh Perspective

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Mollah
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Nuclear Reactors ◽  
Energy Development ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Public Concern ◽  
Opinion Survey ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Public Concerns

Nuclear power is a safe, clean and economic energy source. The growth of the nuclear power option is impeded in many countries by public concerns over the safety and environmental consequences of producing electricity by means of nuclear reactors. Nuclear power is more compatible with the environment through reduction in emission of green-house gases, fuel diversification, and energy security. Public concern has been expressed in most countries about the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, and this public concern has in many cases led to postponement or failure to start or expand nuclear power programs, and in some cases even caused a retrenchment of existing programs. This paper examines the nature and causes of public concerns about the development nuclear power and the need for public understanding and acceptance of nuclear energy. Some preliminary results on public opinion survey on nuclear energy in Bangladesh are presented in this report. Preliminary survey shows that, Bangladeshi people have a quite satisfactory rate of support to nuclear energy development, which exceeds 60%.

Low Carbon Energy Transitions

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Araújo
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Good News ◽  
Energy Planning ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Technological Complexity ◽  
Energy Transitions ◽  
Oil Crisis ◽  
Government Workers ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

The world is at a pivotal crossroad in energy choices. There is a strong sense that our use of energy must be more sustainable. Moreover, many also broadly agree that a way must be found to rely increasingly on lower carbon energy sources. However, no single or clear solution exists on the means to carry out such a shift at either a national or international level. Traditional energy planning (when done) has revolved around limited cost projections that often fail to take longer term evidence and interactions of a wider set of factors into account. The good news is that evidence does exist on such change in case studies of different nations shifting toward low-carbon energy approaches. In fact, such shifts can occur quite quickly at times, alongside industrial and societal advance, innovation, and policy learning. These types of insights will be important for informing energy debates and decision-making going forward. Low Carbon Energy Transitions: Turning Points in National Policy and Innovation takes an in-depth look at four energy transitions that have occurred since the global oil crisis of 1973: Brazilian biofuels, Danish wind power, French nuclear power, and Icelandic geothermal energy. With these cases, Dr. Araújo argues that significant nationwide shifts to low-carbon energy can occur in under fifteen years, and that technological complexity is not necessarily a major impediment to such shifts. Dr. Araújo draws on more than five years of research, and interviews with over 120 different scientists, government workers, academics, and members of civil society in completing this study. Low Carbon Energy Transitions is written for for professionals in energy, the environment and policy as well as for students and citizens who are interested in critical decisions about energy sustainability. Technology briefings are provided for each of the major technologies in this book, so that scientific and non-scientific readers can engage in more even discussions about the choices that are involved.

scholarly journals French Energy Sector in Search for Optimal Model

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 156-171
Author(s):  
A. V. Zimakov
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Reactors ◽  
Current Model ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Green Energy ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
The Eu

Clean energy transition is one of major transformation processes in the EU. There are different approaches among EU countries to decarbonization of their energy systems. The article deals with clean energy transition in France with the emphasis on power generation. While this transformation process is in line with similar developments in the EU, the Franch case has its distinct nature due to nuclear power domination in electricity production there. It represents a challenge for the current model as the transition is linked to a sharp drop of nuclear share in the power mix. It is important to understand the trajectory of further clean energy transition in France and its ultimate model. The article reviews the historical roots of the current model (which stems from Messmer plan of the 1970-es) and its development over years, as well as assesses its drawbacks and merits in order to outline possible future prospects. The conclusion is that the desired reduction of nuclear energy is linked not solely to greening process but has a complex of reasons, the ageing of nuclear reactors being one of them. Nuclear power remains an important low-carbon technology allowing France to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. A desired future energy model in France can be understood based on the analysis of new legislation and government action plans. The targeted model is expected to balance of nuclear and green energy in the generation mix in 50% to 40% proportion by 2035, with the rest left to gas power generation. Being pragmatic, French government aims at partial nuclear reactors shut down provided that this will not lead to the rise of GHG emissions, energy market distortions, or electricity price hikes. The balanced French model is believed to be a softer and socially comfortable option of low-carbon model.

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.

scholarly journals A Survey of Environmental 14C Levels in Hong Kong

Radiocarbon ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 505-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. L. Leung ◽  
M. J. Stokes ◽  
S.H. Qiu ◽  
L. Z. Cai
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Guangdong Province ◽  
Daya Bay ◽  
Guangxi Province ◽  
Marine Plants ◽  
Annual Grasses ◽  
Different Parts

As an industrialized city, Hong Kong annually consumes a large amount of fossil fuel. In addition, the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, has just begun operation 20 km from Hong Kong. These factors suggest that it may be appropriate and significant to examine the variation of atmospheric 14C levels in Hong Kong. We have collected and tested a variety of samples from different parts of Hong Kong: terrestrial annual grasses, marine plants and atmospheric CO2. We measured their 14C activity and compared it with that of cassia oil samples from Guangxi Province, China. The values obtained indicate that environmental 14C levels in the Hong Kong region agree with those found in Guangxi, both of which are significantly higher than the levels predicted by Povinec, Chudý and Šivo (1986).

Development Trends in Nuclear Technology and Related Safety Aspects

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Kuczera ◽  
P. E. Juhn ◽  
K. Fukuda
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Fuel Cycle ◽  
Nuclear Reactors ◽  
Nuclear Technology ◽  
User Requirements ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Safety Requirements ◽  
Fuel Cycles ◽  
High Level

The IAEA Safety Standards Series include, in a hierarchical manner, the categories of Safety Fundamentals, Safety Requirements and Safety Guides, which define the elements necessary to ensure the safety of nuclear installations. In the same way as nuclear technology and scientific knowledge advance continuously, also safety requirements may change with these advances. Therefore, in the framework of the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO) one important aspect among others refers to user requirements on the safety of innovative nuclear installations, which may come into operation within the next fifty years. In this respect, the major objectives of the INPRO subtask “User Requirements and Nuclear Energy Development Criteria in the Area of Safety” have been: a. to overview existing national and international requirements in the safety area, b. to define high level user requirements in the area of safety of innovative nuclear technologies, c. to compile and to analyze existing innovative reactor and fuel cycle technology enhancement concepts and approaches intended to achieve a high degree of safety, and d. to identify the general areas of safety R&D needs for the establishment of these technologies. During the discussions it became evident that the application of the defence in depth strategy will continue to be the overriding approach for achieving the general safety objective in nuclear power plants and fuel cycle facilities, where the emphasis will be shifted from mitigation of accident consequences more towards prevention of accidents. In this context, four high level user requirements have been formulated for the safety of innovative nuclear reactors and fuel cycles. On this basis safety strategies for innovative reactor designs are highlighted in each of the five levels of defence in depth and specific requirements are discussed for the individual components of the fuel cycle.

Attitudes of Hong Kong residents toward the Daya Bay nuclear power plant

Energy Policy ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 62 ◽  
pp. 1172-1186 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Chung ◽  
Iris M.H. Yeung
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Daya Bay

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.

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