Future of Nuclear Power (eBook)

Front Cover 1
The Future of Nuclear Power 4
Copyright Page 5
Contents 12
Preface 6
Acknowledgements 10
Chapter 1. Present Generation Reactors 28
1.1. Introduction/Objectives 28
1.2. Light Water Reactors 28
1.3. Heavy Water Reactors 38
1.4. Gas-Cooled Reactors 39
1.5. Liquid Metal-Cooled Reactors 43
1.6. Fusion 44
References 45
Chapter 2. Continued Operation of Existing Plant 50
2.1. Introduction/Objectives 50
2.2. Incentives 50
2.3. International Policies 53
2.4. Economic Issues 54
2.5. Safety of Older Plants 58
2.6. Environmental Issues 59
2.7. Nuclear Competence 62
2.8. Extension of Life 63
2.9. Public Safety Concerns 69
References 74
Chapter 3. Operational Safety 78
3.1. Introduction/Objectives 78
3.2. International Support 78
3.3. Safety Performance 80
3.4. Radiation Protection 82
3.5. Waste Management Safety 84
3.6. Spent Fuel 85
3.7. Operator Training 86
3.8. Human Factors 87
3.9. Regulation 89
3.10. Utility and Vendors 90
3.11. Periodic Safety Reviews 91
3.12. Safety Improvements 93
3.13. Seismic Evaluation 95
3.14. Research Reactors 96
3.15. Security 96
References 97
Chapter 4. Operational Efficiency 102
4.1. Introduction/Objectives 102
4.2. Impacts of Deregulation 102
4.3. Plant Management 103
4.4. Operational Flexibility 105
4.5. Operating Margins 105
4.6. Performance Optimisation 106
4.7. Maintenance Practice 107
4.8. Load Factors 108
4.9. Recent Plant Improvements 110
4.10. Component Management and Testing 111
4.11. Reactor Surveillance and Diagnostics 112
4.12. Outage Minimisation 112
4.13. Advances in Design and Technology 114
4.14. Nuclear Fuel Cycle 114
References 114
Chapter 5. Nuclear Fuel Cycle 118
5.1. Introduction/Objectives 118
5.2. Fuel Cycle Optimisation 118
5.3. Fuel Resources and Supply 119
5.4. Enrichment 120
5.5. Fabrication 121
5.6. Fuel Design 121
5.7. Fuel Performance 127
5.8. Fuel Research 131
5.9. Reprocessing 132
5.10. Spent Fuel Management 132
5.11. Summary of Possible Future Trends 132
References 134
Chapter 6. Waste Management and Decommissioning 138
6.1. Introduction/Objectives 138
6.2. Waste Management 138
6.3. Waste Management Policy 144
6.4. General Factors in Decommissioning 145
6.5. Decommissioning Strategy 147
6.6. Technical Issues 149
6.7. Decommissioning Policy 150
6.8. Safety and Environment 151
6.9. Radiological Issues 151
6.10. Public Relations 152
6.11. Economics 152
References 156
Chapter 7. Advanced Reactor Design 160
7.1. Introduction/Objectives 160
7.2. Incentives and Justification 160
7.3. Design Objectives 161
7.4. Utility Requirements 162
7.5. Performance-Related Improvements 164
7.6. Safety Through Design 168
7.7. Design Status 170
7.8. Development and Investment Requirements 171
7.9. Evolutionary Designs 171
7.10. Innovative Designs 172
References 172
Chapter 8. Licensing and Safety Requirements 176
8.1. Introduction/Objectives 176
8.2. International Safety Principles 176
8.3. Safety Infrastructures 177
8.4. National Regulatory Frameworks 178
8.5. Design Basis 183
8.6. Severe Accident Approaches 184
8.7. Safety Standards 186
8.8. Future Reactor Design Strategies 188
8.9. Harmonisation of Regulation 189
8.10. International Collaboration 190
8.11. Evolution of Safety 193
References 194
Chapter 9. Global Developments 198
9.1. Introduction/Objectives 198
9.2. Western Europe 198
9.3. North America 203
9.4. Asia 205
9.5. Central and Eastern Europe 211
9.6. South Africa 214
9.7. Latin America 214
References 215
Chapter 10. Evolutionary Water Reactors 218
10.1. Introduction/Objectives 218
10.2. Light Water Reactors 218
10.3. Heavy Water Reactors 230
References 232
Chapter 11. Passive Systems and Inherent Safety 236
11.1. Introduction/Objectives 236
11.2. Active Heat Removal Systems 237
11.3. Passive Features 238
11.4. Reactor Coolant Systems 239
11.5. Containment 241
11.6. Revolutionary Design Concepts 250
References 252
Chapter 12. Future Generation Reactors 256
12.1. Introduction/Objectives 256
12.2. Supercritical Water Reactors 257
12.3. High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors 261
12.4. Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor 266
12.5. Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactors 270
12.6. Lead and Lead–Bismuth Cooled Fast Reactors 274
12.7. Molten Salt Reactors 278
References 280
Chapter 13. Accelerator Driven Systems 284
13.1. Introduction/Objectives 284
13.2. Physical Systems 285
13.3. Fuel Cycles 287
13.4. Neutronics and Transmutation 288
13.5. Accelerators 289
13.6. Radiation Effects 290
13.7. Modelling 291
13.8. International Projects 292
13.9. Safety 299
13.10. Future Activities 303
References 304
Chapter 14. Nuclear Heat and Other Applications 310
14.1. Introduction/Objectives 310
14.2. Nuclear Heat Applications 311
14.3. District Heating 312
14.4. Desalination 315
14.5. Low-Temperature Process Heat Applications 320
14.6. Low-Temperature Heat Applications and Liquid Metal Technology 323
14.7. Medium- and High-Temperature Applications 324
14.8. Oil Refining 326
14.9. Coal Refining 326
14.10. Hydrogen Production 329
14.11. Other Topics 330
References 331
Chapter 15. Experimental Research Programmes 336
15.1. Introduction/Objectives 336
15.2. Plant Life Extension 337
15.3. Fuel Behaviour 343
15.4. Reactor Physics 346
15.5. Thermal–Hydraulics 346
15.6. Severe Accidents and Their Management 348
15.7. Shielding And Criticality 354
15.8. Radiological Protection Research 354
15.9. Waste Management and Decommissioning 355
15.10. Passive Heat Removal Systems 355
15.11. Future Reactor Research 358
15.12. High-Temperature Materials 359
15.13. Advanced Fuel Design and Reactor Physics 360
15.14. Advanced Coolants 362
15.15. Plant Operational Research 363
References 364
Chapter 16. Analytical Methods Development 370
16.1. Introduction/Objectives 370
16.2. Plant Life Extension 371
16.3. Fuel Behaviour 372
16.4. Reactor Physics 374
16.5. Thermal–Hydraulics 376
16.6. Severe Accidents 378
16.7. Criticality and Shielding 380
16.8. Additional Evolutionary Water Reactor Modelling 381
16.9. Modelling Requirements for Innovative Systems 383
References 384
Chapter 17. The Future of Nuclear Energy 390
17.1. Introduction/Objectives 390
17.2. Future Global Power Requirements 390
17.3. Energy Strategies 391
17.4. Nuclear Industry and The Recent Past 393
17.5. Nuclear Industry and The Near Future 394
17.6. Nuclear Energy Applications 394
17.7. Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies 401
17.8. Summary 405
References 406
Subject Index 408