scholarly journals Materials Issues In Modern Reactor Safety

2000 ◽  
Vol 630 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Powers
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Power Industry ◽  
Nuclear Power Industry ◽  
Fuel Cladding ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Plant Safety ◽  
Extended Operation ◽  
Power Needs

ABSTRACTNuclear power currently supplies about 20% of the nation's electrical power needs. The nuclear power industry is going through evolutions that will lead to greater efficiency and competitiveness. Many changes in the nuclear power industry are limited by materials issues. This paper discusses a representative range of the materials issues that are arising in the industry. Materials issues are associated with prolonged use of reactor fuel, extended operation of power plants and realistic analyses of power plant safety. The issues include questions of fuel stability at high burnups, metallurgical issues of fuel cladding, embrittlement of pressure boundaries, detecting and sizing flaws in steam generators and issues of environmental qualification of reactor control and instrumentation systems. The paper concludes with a discussion of the future of nuclear power and the continuing need for better materials for power plants.

Regulatory Perspectives on Fitness for Service Assessments of CANDU Pressure Boundary Components

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Jin ◽  
Blair Carroll
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Operating Life ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Pressure Tubes ◽  
Extended Operation ◽  
Condition Assessments

Major pressure boundary components such as pressure tubes, feeder pipes and steam generators at some Canadian CANDU nuclear power plants are entering periods of extended operation beyond their initially assumed operating life. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has approved their long term operations based on the assurance of fitness for service of those components which was composed of condition assessments and aging management programs carried out and implemented by the Canadian licensees. The condition assessments were conducted to demonstrate that components would be within their design basis for the period of intended long term operation and the aging management program was implemented to ensure that the conditions of the components would be maintained as evaluated in the condition assessments and to monitor if new degradation mechanisms would become active. This paper presents the CNSC regulatory practice adopted in the course of technical reviews of fitness for service assessments of major pressure boundary components conducted by Canadian nuclear licensees to demonstrate the safe long term operation of major components can be achieved.

scholarly journals QSL: Subliminal Messaging by the Nuclear Industry in Germany during the 1980s

Heritage ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 2054-2080
Author(s):  
Dirk H. R. Spennemann
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Power Industry ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Nuclear Power Industry ◽  
Nuclear Movement ◽  
Political Pressure ◽  
Amateur Radio

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the German nuclear power industry came under considerable socio-political pressure from the growing environmental and anti-nuclear movement. As part of a diversified public relations strategy, the Kraftwerk Union (KWU, later Siemens) as the main manufacturer of nuclear power plants distributed pre-printed QSL cards to amateur radio enthusiasts. These cards carried images of the latest nuclear power plants built by KWU. This paper examines the history, iconography and distribution of these QSL cards in the context of the heritage of the German nuclear power industry. It is the first study of its kind to examine the heritage significance of QSL cards.

scholarly journals Problems of Risk-Oriented Approaches for Use in Nuclear Power Industry

10.12737/2775 ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-31
Author(s):  
Комаров ◽  
Yuriy Komarov
Keyword(s):  
Probabilistic Analysis ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Main Tool ◽  
Power Industry ◽  
Nuclear Power Industry ◽  
Accuracy Evaluation ◽  
Operation Efficiency ◽  
Modelling Uncertainty ◽  
Equipment Reliability

Risk-informed approaches (RIA) analysis in relation to nuclear power industry has been presented. Limitations of safety’s probabilistic analysis (SPA) as a main tool for RIA have been demonstrated. In particular, such SPA problems as statistics uncertainty related to equipment reliability and a problem of accidents modelling uncertainty using thermal-hydraulic codes have been analyzed. Recommendations for accounting of these uncertainties have been given. Ways of RIA further development and results of their application for substantiation and implementation of measures to improve the safety and operation efficiency of nuclear power plants have been presented. Results of the RIA application for such measures as equipment change-over to on-condition maintenance, reduction of amount of testing related to hermetic shell, measurement system accuracy evaluation, some systems’ modernisation feasibility study have been illustrated.

Reflections and Suggestions on the Inspection Qualification System Development in China Nuclear Power Industry

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhimin Zhong ◽  
Jinsong Li
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
System Development ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Power Industry ◽  
Nuclear Power Industry ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Safety Operation ◽  
Technical Basis ◽  
Service Inspection

This paper briefly introduces the history, development, aims and roles, state of the art of Inspection Qualification in nuclear power industry in developed countries, such as US and UK. Then, the author reviewed the related works in China in past years and the state of art, the challenges and reflections of building China inspection qualification system. Furthermore, based on the actual situation in China, combined with the advantages and disadvantages of European Inspection Qualification system and ASME Performance Demonstration method, the author put forward some suggestions on organization, system and related technical basis to promote the establishment and development of inspection qualification system in China. It was obvious that the inspection qualifications have to be taken before nuclear power plant pre-service inspection or in-service inspection. The inspection qualification system shall be developed as soon as possible and it will improve nuclear power plants safety operation in China.

scholarly journals Effect of Depreciation Method for Long-Term Tangible Assets on Sustainable Management: From a Nuclear Power Generation Cost Perspective under the Nuclear Phase-Out Policy

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5270
Author(s):  
SungSig Bang ◽  
SangYun Park
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Power Industry ◽  
Nuclear Power Industry ◽  
Capacity Factor ◽  
Nuclear Phase ◽  
Phase Out

The Korean Government has been implementing a nuclear phase-out policy since 2017. Nuclear power plants accounted for 30.0% of the total power generation in 2016; this figure fell to 25.9% at the end of 2019, and the average Capacity Factor (CF) of a nuclear power plant approximately dropped from 89.1% to 69.2%. The nuclear phase-out policy presents severe consequences for the sustainable management of the nuclear power industry. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of a decrease in the nuclear capacity factor under the nuclear phase-out policy on the depreciation cost per unit using the Straight-Line Method (SLM) and Decelerated Depreciation Method (DDM) and to provide recommendations from a sustainable management perspective. The results show that the decrease in CF of nuclear power plants has a negative impact on sustainable development of the nuclear power industry. DDM is more beneficial than the SLM during this initial stage of depreciation under the nuclear phase-out policy. In addition, in the early stages of projects or immediately after attracting large-scale investments, DDM can offer more positive signs for stockholders by calculating a smaller net loss or a higher net profit.

scholarly journals Economic efficiency of the nuclear power industry and social aspects of its development

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 598-608
Author(s):  
Artem S Lukyanets ◽  
Canh Toan Nguyen ◽  
Evgeniya M Moiseeva
Keyword(s):  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Power Industry ◽  
Nuclear Power Industry ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Economic Point

The article attempts to develop a system of parameters for an objective and comprehensive assessment of the efficiency of the nuclear power industry in terms of its contribution to the country’s economic and social development, as well as its environmental well-being and its geopolitical position. Currently, nuclear power industry makes up a significant part of the energy supplies in the developed countries throughout the world. However, in the developing economies, including those of East and Southeast Asia, it plays a less prominent role. Nevertheless, in recent years, China has been the leader in commissioning new atomic facilities, thanks to the consistent implementation of its state program for the development of the nuclear power industry. Forecasts indicate that in the near future, the share of atomic energy will remain stable and account for about 10 % of all global energy capacity, which is confirmed by the estimates made during the study. However, in the long term nuclear energy cannot be ignored as an economically efficient and environmentally friendly source of energy, as well as a factor in improving the quality of life of the population when developing a strategy for the sustainable development of a country. The article examines the already existing assessment criteria for the economic efficiency of nuclear power plants (NPPs), and proposes new standards for the assessment of its contribution to the development of the community and a country’s stance on the global political stage. The article also identifies the main obstacles to the further development of the industry in the modern world. The research showed that the main specific feature of an NPP operation from the economic point of view is extremely high initial construction and commissioning costs, with relatively low further operation costs, which determines long payback lines and liquidity shortages reducing the attractiveness of such projects for potential investors. These peculiarities determine the leading role of state authorities in the launch, operation and modernization of nuclear power facilities.

scholarly journals The governance of nuclear power in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-46
Author(s):  
Philip Andrews-Speed
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Power Industry ◽  
Nuclear Safety ◽  
The Body ◽  
Nuclear Power Industry ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
The Government

Abstract China has the third largest fleet of nuclear power plants in the world, totalling more than 45 GWe at the end of 2019. With the current high rate of growth, its capacity will soon overtake that of France. The country’s nuclear power industry has suffered no serious accidents to date. Nevertheless, the poor safety record of some other heavy industries in China, combined with the rapid growth of civil nuclear power capacity, has raised concerns over the industry’s ability to prevent a serious accident. The organization, development and governance of China’s nuclear power industry reflects the high strategic importance that the government has placed on the industry over several decades. At the same time, it has taken steps to address domestic and international concerns over its ability to effectively govern nuclear safety and security. The country has become party to most major treaties and conventions relating to nuclear matters and has frequent interaction with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Despite many significant steps taken by the government, a number of questions remain concerning: the capacity and independence of the National Nuclear Safety Administration; the relatively incoherent nature of the body of laws, regulations and rules that govern nuclear safety and security; the absence of a clear legal basis for managing civil nuclear liability, especially in the context of an accident with transboundary consequences; and the quality of public participation, especially in the case of planned nuclear power plants.

Study on Current Status and Future Developments in Nuclear-Power Industry of Ukraine

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Zvorykin ◽  
Igor Pioro ◽  
Raj Panchal
Keyword(s):  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Power Industry ◽  
Nuclear Power Industry ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Gas Generation ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Hydro Power ◽  
Installed Capacity

Nuclear power in Ukraine is the most important source of electricity generation. Currently, Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) generate 45.5% of the total electricity in the country followed with coal generation – 38%, gas generation 9.6% and the rest is based on renewable sources, mainly on hydro power plants – 5.9%. Nuclear-power industry is based on 4 NPPs including the largest one in Europe – Zaporizhzhya NPP with about 6,000 MWel gross installed capacity. These NPPs are equipped with 13 VVER-1000 and 2 VVER-440 Russian-design Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) with the total gross installed capacity of 13,800 MWel. Layout of these NPPs, thermodynamic diagram and thermal efficiencies are provided. Thermal efficiencies have been calculated with the IAEA Desalination Thermodynamic Optimization Programme DE-TOP and compared to the actual ones. Two of these reactors have been built and put into operation in 70-s, ten in 80-s, one in 90-s and just two in 2004. Therefore, based on an analysis of the world power reactors in terms of their maximum years of operation (currently, the oldest reactors are 45-year old) several projections have been made for future of the nuclear-power industry in Ukraine. Unfortunately, all these projections are quite pessimistic. There is a possibility that around 2030–2035 the vast majority of the Ukrainian reactors will be shut down, and Ukraine can be left without the basic and vital source of electricity generation. Also, current problems of Ukrainian NPPs are: 1) lower capacity factors (around 80%) compared to those in other countries (∼90%); 2) uncertainties with nuclear-fuel supply due to political situation; and 3) service and repairs of relatively old reactors.

Evaluating the Use of Ultrasonic Testing in Lieu of Radiography for Inspecting Welds in Nuclear Power Plants

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Traci L. Moran ◽  
Pradeep Ramuhalli ◽  
Allan F. Pardini ◽  
Steven R. Doctor ◽  
Michael T. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasonic Testing ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Power Industry ◽  
Nuclear Power Industry ◽  
Inspection Time ◽  
Radiation Fields ◽  
Replacement Method ◽  
Nondestructive Testing Method

The nuclear power industry has recently proposed using ultrasonic testing (UT) in lieu of radiographic testing (RT) on new construction welds and on the repairs of operating reactor component welds. Advantages of UT include a reduction in inspection time, costs, and plant personnel exposure to radiation fields. The replacement of one nondestructive testing method with another, however, requires a detailed analysis of the capabilities of the replacement method as compared to the existing method. Capabilities of interest in this context include detection reliability, false call rates, flaw characterization and sizing accuracy, human factors, data recording capabilities, and cost. The interchangeability of UT and RT has been studied by several institutions, but the evidence found to date in a literature search is not conclusive and therefore requires further investigation to assess the ability of UT to meet nuclear power industry fabrication and pre-service inspection standards. This paper reviews relevant literature on the interchangeability of UT and RT, and identifies potential gaps that may need to be addressed in this area.

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