Assessing Views towards Energy Sources with Social Media Data: The Case of Nuclear Energy in the UAE

Insights from the analysis of views towards energy sources are of paramount importance for the setting of successful energy policies, especially in instances where the public might be reluctant towards certain projects’ implementations. This work presents an analysis of social media comments data given in response to posts around the connection to the grid of a nuclear plant reactor in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We assessed comments on Facebook posts of local and international media, as well those written in response to a post of a social media influencer. We extracted the main themes and performed sentiment analysis. The results indicate the presence of mixed views towards nuclear energy when focusing on comments on international media’s posts as well as on the social media influencer’s post considered, whilst they were very positive when assessing comments to local media. All in all, nuclear waste and previous nuclear accidents appear to be as the top of the mind; at the same time, solar energy is often suggested in the comments as a viable energy source for the UAE. Implications for the communication of nuclear energy developments in social media are discussed.

Grain Reconstruction of Palladium and Palladium-Nickel Alloys for Platinum Catchment

Platinum-rhodium gauzes are frequently used to catalyse the high temperature ammonia oxidation step for production of synthetic nitrogen-based fertilisers. The gauzes suffer from Pt loss in the form of platinum dioxide (PtO2), due to the highly exothermic nature of the oxidation reaction. Industrially this is mitigated by installing one or more palladium-nickel catchment gauzes directly downstream of the combustion gauzes, to capture the lost Pt. The Pd-Ni catchment gauzes undergo severe structural modification during operation. In this study, we undertake a systematic study in a laboratory-scale furnace system to determine the role of each of the constituent gases O2, H2O and PtO2 on the structural changes of the Pd-Ni gauzes. In addition, some samples are exposed to real industrial conditions in an ammonia combustion pilot plant reactor. Fresh and spent catchment gauzes are analysed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy/optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-MS/OES). By combining analysis of samples from furnace and pilot scale experiments, the main findings are that Pd-Ni gauzes undergo internal oxidation to nickel(II) oxide (NiO); which in the presence of steam results in Ni depletion and that PtO2 vapour causes severe grain reconstruction. Furthermore, in laboratory-scale experiments no significant Pd loss is observed, which is in contrast to observations from the pilot plant where the samples are exposed to real post-ammonia oxidation conditions. Pd loss is likely attributed to some gas species contained in the real post-ammonia oxidation gas stream.

A model of the labor productivity dependence on workforce density

The paper reviews the dependence of labor productivity on the number of workers within a unit of working area (i.e. workforce density) in the construction sector. The relevance of the problem is demonstrated. Some limitations of the linear model for the dependence, assumed in the construction sector, are discussed. These limitations are linked up with the neglect of labor productivity reduction due to the increased density. The proposed by some researchers concepts which account for the above factor are listed. Their drawbacks are indicated, and the necessity of further research is shown. A “hyperbolic model” is proposed, in which one worker productivity is constant for a certain workforce density rate and then it drops down with the increasing speed. Work productivity reduction in such model is described by the “hyperbolic growth” function. The primary approbation of the model was done for some construction operations at the nuclear power plant reactor building. The density rate was optimized (as per deadline reduction criterion) for this case according to the “hyperbolic model”.

Components of small and medium sized HLMC reactor plant circuits

Small and medium sized lead and lead-bismuth cooled reactors currently under development in Russia are Generation IV reactors. This paper presents a review and new scientific and engineering solutions which are in line with the evolutionary development of small and medium sized reactor plants with heavy liquid metal coolants (HLMC). A growing interest in small and medium sized reactor plants for transpolar applications, as well as for regional and other NPPs, and the emerging trend towards the substitution of coal-fired boiler stations for small modular reactors initiate R&D on new designs and operational solutions for fast neutron HLMC reactor plants. Such solutions are based on unique domestic experience of building and operating ground prototype test facilities and series lead-bismuth cooled reactor plants, as well as nuclear power units for various applications. These solutions provide for improved properties of advanced HLMC reactors, primarily in economic and safety terms, as compared to other small and medium sized reactor plants. Theoretical and experimental work was undertaken at Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University (NNSTU) for justifying small and medium sized reactor plant designs with horizontal steam generators (BRS-GPG). Nonconventional scientific and engineering solutions have been considered aimed to improve the cost effectiveness and safety of HLMC NPP units, including for the localization of a potentially dangerous severe accident of the “intercircuit steam generator break” type. The review and integrated research results are presented which make it possible to justify nonconventional engineering solutions for the BRS-GPG reactor plant (reactor circuit circulation pattern, steam generator type, reactor circuit heat removal in standby and emergency modes, etc.).