Swedish Nuclear Power and Economic Rationalities

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Kåberger
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Carbon Taxes ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Reactor Accident ◽  
Energy Supply System ◽  
High Investment ◽  
Market Evaluation ◽  
The Cost

The economic characteristics of nuclear power, with high investment cost and fuel costs lower than conventional fuels, make it possible to achieve low electricity prices when reactors supply marginal electricity. The support for nuclear power by the Swedish electricity consuming industry may be understood as efforts to create and defend a situation of over-capacity in the electricity production sector rather than as support for nuclear power as such. Politically the external costs of routine emissions of radioactive materials are difficult to internalise because they, like carbon dioxide, have global long-term effects. However, like the air pollutants already regulated, costs of reactor accidents, as well as the motives for taking on management costs of nuclear waste, are regional and within a generation in time. The market evaluation of accident risks has been deliberately destroyed by legislation set to favour nuclear power reactors. Societal economic rationality may be successfully applied in the energy sector. This paper describes how climate change risks were internalised in Sweden using carbon taxes under favourable political conditions. The resulting development of biofuels was surprisingly successful, indicating a potential for further modernisation of the energy supply system. Possible ways to restore the nuclear risk market in order to internalise nuclear reactor accident risks and waste costs by legislation are described. This may be done without the difficult quantification of environmental costs. Appropriate legislation may internalise the cost while creating conditions for market evaluation of these uncertain costs.

Kerntechnik als Sicherheitsversprechen

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (84) ◽  
pp. 99-112
Author(s):  
Sascha Brünig
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Industrial Society ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Nuclear Technology ◽  
Reactor Accident ◽  
The West ◽  
The Face ◽  
Public Relations Campaign

Abstract In the mid-1970s, the dangers associated with nuclear power moved to the center of risk debates in Germany. Following the reactor accident at Three Mile Island (1979) and the Chernobyl disaster (1986), the West German nuclear industry’s business prospects severely deteriorated. How did the nuclear industry perceive and confront the challenge of nuclear skepticism? And how did this emerging challenge alter the perceived future of nuclear technology in the Federal Republic and beyond? The article argues that the nuclear industry did not passively accept the »depletion of utopian energies« (J. Habermas) to which the peaceful use of the atom was subjected. Instead, the industry worked to create new (utopian) prospects for nuclear power. The industry’s public relations campaign positioned nuclear power in two interrelated fields of insecurity: the decline of industrial society and environmental crises. Both threats, ran the argument put forth by nuclear proponents, could only be combatted by relying on nuclear power for electricity production. In this way, nuclear power was translated into a comprehensive promise of security that was intended to salvage the future of nuclear power as well as that of its investors in the face of growing anti-nuclear sentiment.

Conceptual Formation of Advanced HIS Design Method for Digital I&C + HMIT

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hidekazu Yoshikawa ◽  
Zhanguo Ma ◽  
Amjad Nawaz ◽  
Ming Yang
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Reactor Accident ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Human Interface ◽  
Conceptual Frame ◽  
Loss Of Coolant Accident

A new conceptual frame of how to design and validate a digital HIS (human interface system) on an innovative numerical simulation basis is proposed for the support of plant operators’ supervisory control of various types of automated complex NPPs (nuclear power plants). The proposed conceptual framework utilizes the object-oriented AI softwares for plant DiD (defense-in depth) risk monitor with the combination of nuclear reactor accident simulation by an advanced nuclear safety analysis code RELAP5/MOD4 and severe accident analysis code MAAP. The developed conceptual frame proposed in this paper will be applied for an example practice for the SBLOCA (small break loss of coolant accident) case of passive safety PWR (pressurized water reactor) AP1000.

A Review on Specific Features of Small and Medium Sized Nuclear Power Plants

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salah Ud-din Khan ◽  
Minjun Peng ◽  
Muhammad Zubair ◽  
Shaowu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Nuclear Reactors ◽  
Fixed Bed ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
Energy Supply System

Due to global warming and high oil prices nuclear power is the most feasible solution for generating electricity. For the fledging nuclear power industry small and medium sized nuclear reactors (SMR’s) are instrumental for the development and demonstration of nuclear reactor technology. Due to the enhanced and outstanding safety features, these reactors have been considered globally. In this paper, first we have summarized the reactor design by considering some of the large nuclear reactor including advanced and theoretical nuclear reactor. Secondly, comparison between large nuclear reactors and SMR’s have been discussed under the criteria led by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Thirdly, a brief review about the design and safety aspects of some of SMR’s have been carried out. We have considered the specifications and parametric analysis of the reactors like: ABV which is the floating type integral Pressurized water reactor; Long life, Safe, Simple Small Portable Proliferation Resistance Reactor (LSPR) concept; Multi-Application Small Light Water Reactor (MASLWR) concept; Fixed Bed Nuclear Reactor (FBNR); Marine Reactor (MR-X) & Deep Sea Reactor (DR-X); Space Reactor (SP-100); Passive Safe Small Reactor for Distributed energy supply system (PSRD); System integrated Modular Advanced Reactor (SMART); Super, Safe, Small and Simple Reactor (4S); International Reactor Innovative and Secure (IRIS); Nu-Scale Reactor; Next generation nuclear power plant (NGNP); Small, Secure Transportable Autonomous Reactor (SSTAR); Power Reactor Inherently Safe Module (PRISM) and Hyperion Reactor concept. Finally we have point out some challenges that must be resolved in order to play an effective role in Nuclear industry.

Integrated Risk Evaluation for Probabilistic Safety Assessment Levels 1, 2, and 3 for Nuclear Power Plant Applications

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. L. Cho
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Risk Evaluation ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Safety Assessment ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Reactor Accident ◽  
Probabilistic Safety Assessment ◽  
Integrated Risk ◽  
Probabilistic Safety

This paper introduces a newly developed paradigm for performing an integrated risk evaluation using Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) Levels 1, 2 and 3 results for nuclear power plant applications. This paradigm focuses on the issues of radionuclide release transport phenomena and source term determination from a severe nuclear reactor accident.

scholarly journals Nuclear Energy: An Ethical Use of Resources

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahrul Khair Alang Md Rashid
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Turbo Generator ◽  
Use Of Knowledge

Energy is the lifeblood of development, but its amount is finite. It can neither be created nor destroyed; but it can be converted from one form to another. The conversion changes the state of the resources and the change generally is not reversible. Nuclear energy steadily contributes about sixteen percent to global total electricity demand. Its application for electricity production is expected to increase due to dwindling natural resources, concern for greenhouse gaseous emission, and the limited capability of renewable energy and biofuels to be major energy resources. Nuclear energy, however, is plagued with ever presence public perception issues, some are real some are due to misperceptions. The trio of accidents: Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and most recently, Fukushima, however has slightly dampened the prospect. Nuclear energy makes use of uranium, an element that has no peaceful applications other than to be used in nuclear power reactors to generate heat or neutrons, produce steam, and drive turbo-generators for electricity production. Other resources, such as oil, coal, and gas have multiplicity of uses that cannot be substituted by uranium. On that premise, this paper argues that the use of nuclear energy is an ethical choice. This choice overrides considerations such as waste, complexity, and safety that are often projected as reasons for avoiding it altogether. Those considerations are of scientific and engineering dimensions that mankind has to wrestle and overcome as the khalifah. In so doing, proper education and ethical use of knowledge become imperative.   ABSTRAK: Tenaga adalah nadi pembangunan, tetapi jumlahnya terbatas. Ia tidak boleh dicipta atau dimusnahkan; tetapi ia boleh ditukar dari satu bentuk ke bentuk lain. Pertukaran bentuk ini mengubah keadaan sumber tenaga dan perubahan tersebut tidak boleh ditukarbalik. Tenaga nuklear menyumbang kira-kira enam belas peratus kepada jumlah permintaan elektrik global. Keperluan tenaga elektrik dijangka meningkat kerana pengurangan sumber asli, kebimbangan atas pelepasan gas rumah hijau, dan keupayaan biofuel dan tenaga boleh diperbaharui untuk menjadi sumber tenaga utama. Namun begitu, tenaga nuklear sentiasa dibelenggu oleh isu-isu persepsi umum, sebahagiannya benar dan sebahagian lagi disebabkan oleh salah anggap. Ketiga-tiga kemalangan nuklear: Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, dan baharu-baharu ini, Fukushima, bagaimanapun menjejaskan sedikit prospek berkenaan. Tenaga nuklear menggunakan uranium, suatu unsur yang tidak mempunyai sebarang kegunaan aman selain daripada digunakan dalam reaktor nuklear untuk menjana neutron atau haba, menghasilkan wap, dan memacu turbo-generator yang mengeluarkan elektrik. Sumber-sumber lain seperti minyak, arang batu dan gas mempunyai pelbagai kegunaan yang tidak boleh digantikan oleh uranium. Atas hujjah itu, rencana ini mengutarakan bahawa penggunaan tenaga nuklear adalah pilihan yang beretika. Pilihan ini mengatasi pertimbangan-pertimbangan seperti sisa, kerumitan teknologi, dan keselamatan yang sering ditonjolkan sebagai alasan untuk mengelakkan sama sekali kegunaan tenaga nuklear. Pertimbangan-pertimbangan tersebut adalah dalam dimensi saintifik dan kejuruteraan yang manusia, sebagai khalifah, perlu tangani dan atasi. Dalam berbuat demikian, pendidikan yang sempurna dan penggunaan pengetahuan yang beretika menjadi penting.  Keywords-nuclear energy;greenhouse gas; renewable energy;ethical energy use; nuclear fuel; uranium; nuclear reactor.

scholarly journals International and Indian Civil Liability Regime for Nuclear Damage - Operator's Liability v. Supplier's Liability

2011 ◽  
pp. 87-97
Author(s):  
Sidhant Chandalia
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Electricity Supply ◽  
Catastrophic Failure ◽  
Nuclear Accidents ◽  
The World ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Nuclear Damage

Nuclear energy has seen tremendous growth in the last two decades and has a considerable share in world electricity supply. No nuclear reactor can be 100 % safe. Every reactor has a small, but finite chance of catastrophic failure, as seen in Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, Fukushima and many smaller accidents around the world, including those in India. Nuclear projects are non-bankable in the sense that they cannot be insured. If they could, the matter would be simple enough. The nuclear plant and every person likely to be affected by radiation would be insured for a suitable sum, but the cost of a disaster and the lawsuits that would ensue make it virtually impossible to insure a nuclear power plant. Hence, there is a need to put an artificial compensation and liability mechanism in place to deal with nuclear accidents. The issue is not merely the amount of compensation to be paid in the event of an accident but also who would be encumber with the bill, the operators or the suppliers, and to what extent.

INITIAL EVALUATION OF INDIVIDUAL DOSES IN THE EARLY PHASE OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR ACCIDENT BASED ON IN-VIVO MONITORING DATA AND SIMULATED RADIOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES

2018 ◽  
Vol 185 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-108
Author(s):  
Cécile Challeton-de Vathaire ◽  
Emmanuel Quentric ◽  
Damien Didier ◽  
Eric Blanchardon ◽  
Estelle Davesne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Phase ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
External Irradiation ◽  
Reactor Accident ◽  
In Vivo Monitoring ◽  
In Vivo Measurement ◽  
Loss Of Coolant Accident ◽  
Core Meltdown

Abstract In the early phase of a nuclear reactor accident, in-vivo monitoring of impacted population would be highly useful to detect potential contamination during the passage of the cloud and to estimate the dose from inhalation of measured radionuclides. However, it would be important to take into account other exposure components: (1) inhalation of unmeasured radionuclides and (2) external irradiation from the plume and from the radionuclides deposited on the soil. This article presents a methodology to calculate coefficients used to convert in-vivo measurement results directly into doses, not only from the measured radionuclides but from all sources of exposure according to model-based projected doses. This early interpretation of in-vivo measurements will provide an initial indication of individual exposure levels. As an illustration, the methodology is applied to two scenarios of accidents affecting a nuclear power plant: a loss-of-coolant accident leading to core meltdown and a steam generator tube rupture accident.

Eds Of Radioactive Particles By Self-Induced Fluorescence

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-239
Author(s):  
Gregory L. Finch ◽  
Richard G. Cuddihy
Keyword(s):  
Electron Beam Irradiation ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Reactor Accident ◽  
Internal Radiation ◽  
X Ray ◽  
External Sources ◽  
X Irradiation ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Individual Particles

The elemental composition of individual particles is commonly measured by using energydispersive spectroscopic microanalysis (EDS) of samples excited with electron beam irradiation. Similarly, several investigators have characterized particles by using external monochromatic X-irradiation rather than electrons. However, there is little available information describing measurements of particulate characteristic X rays produced not from external sources of radiation, but rather from internal radiation contained within the particle itself. Here, we describe the low-energy (< 20 KeV) characteristic X-ray spectra produced by internal radiation self-excitation of two general types of particulate samples; individual radioactive particles produced during the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident and radioactive fused aluminosilicate particles (FAP). In addition, we compare these spectra with those generated by conventional EDS.Approximately thirty radioactive particle samples from the Chernobyl accident were on a sample of wood that was near the reactor when the accident occurred. Individual particles still on the wood were microdissected from the bulk matrix after bulk autoradiography.

Danube Field Excursion 1988: Tritium Content of River Water; Radioactivity of Danube Sediments

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 203-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Rank ◽  
F. J. Maringer ◽  
W. Papesch ◽  
V. Rajner
Keyword(s):  
River Water ◽  
Bottom Sediments ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Reactor Accident ◽  
Tritium Content ◽  
Fine Sediments ◽  
Fish Samples ◽  
Field Excursion

Water, sediment, and fish samples were collected during the Danube excursion 1988, within a coordinated sampling program of the Radiology Working Group of the “Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft Donauforschung ” (K.Hübel, Munich; I. Kurcz, Budapest; D.Rank, Vienna). The H-3 content of the river water and the radioactivity of the bottom sediments were measured at the BVFA Arsenal, Vienna. The determined H-3 content of the Danube water corresponds with the long-term trend in the H-3 content of the hydrosphere; the values lie in the range of 3 Bq/kg downstream from Belgrade, upstream from Belgrade they are about 4 Bq/kg. It was only in the waste water plume of the nuclear power station of Kozloduj that a slightly elevated H-3 value - 6 Bq/kg - was determined. The content of the sediments of artificial radionuclides was found, at the time of the Danube field excursion, to be almost exclusively due to the radioactive material released following the reactor accident at Chernobyl in April 1986 (mainly Cs-137 and Cs-134). As a consequence of the air currents and precipitation conditions prevailing at the time of the accident, the bottom sediments in the lower course of the Danube were less contaminated than those in the upper course. The fine sediments were found to contain over 3000 Bq/kg of Cs-137 in the upper course of the Danube.

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