Nuclear Power Plants

Fish communities and habitat structures were evaluated by underwater visual censuses a rocky location impacted by thermal discharge (I) and at two control locations, one in a Sargassum bed (C1) and the other in a rocky shore with higher structural complexity (C2). Habitat indicators and fish communities exhibited significant differences between the impacted and control locations, with the impacted one

A solar chimney power plant (SCPP) offers an efficient method of converting solar irradiation to electrical power. It can be combined with a nuclear power plant to improve its efficiency and minimize its environmental impact. Rather than dumping the waste heat rejected by a nuclear power plant to a wet cooling tower, a better solution may be to connect it to an SCPP. This is particularly true in arid regions. The SCPP can serve the function of a dry cooling tower and produce additional electrical power. In a solar chimney power plant, the energy of buoyant hot air is converted to electrical energy. SCPP includes a collector at ground level covered with a transparent roof. The sun heats the air inside the collector and the ground underneath. A tall chimney is placed at the center of the collector, with a turbine located at the base of the chimney. In this investigation, the surplus heat from the nuclear cycle is used to increase the temperature of the air in the collector and therefore produce more electricity in the solar chimney power plant. The efficiency of the nuclear plant will be lowered due to the higher temperature of the condenser, but the loss can be made up by the increased power of the solar chimney. Heat from the sun is always free once the solar plant has been constructed and is not normally considered in the efficiency calculation. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and thermal analysis have been performed to apply the available surplus heat from the nuclear cycle and to measure the available kinetic energy of air for the turbine of the solar chimney power plant system. The feasibility of the system is evaluated, and the thermal efficiency of the combined power plant has been computed. By applying this idea to a typical 1000 MW nuclear power plant with a nominal 35.3% thermal efficiency, its efficiency can be increased to 42.0%. The combined cycle as presented is advantageous in environments where water is scarce. The cooling tower is replaced by the solar chimney power plant utilizing the surplus heat from the available warm steam in the secondary loop of the reactor.

As the owners expect that the cost and time for nuclear power plant construction would decrease with new entrants into the market, there will be severer competition in the nuclear industry. In order to achieve performance improvement and to attain competitive advantages under the globalized competition, practitioners and researchers in the nuclear industry have recently exerted to develop an advanced and efficient management methodology for the nuclear mega-projects. Among several candidates, integrated cost and schedule control system is of great concern because it can effectively manage the three most important project performances including cost, time, and quality. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to develop a project numbering system (PNS) of integrated cost and schedule control system for nuclear power plant construction. Distinct attributes of nuclear power plant construction were investigated first in order to identify influencing variables that characterize real-world implementation of advanced cost and schedule controls. A scenario was then developed and analysed to simulate a case-project. By using this case-project, proposed management requirements, management methods, measurement techniques, data structure, and data collection methods for integrated cost and schedule PNS were illustrated. Finally, findings and implications are outlined, and recommendations for further research are presented.

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis implikasi politik dan dampak ekonomi yang muncul akibat pengenaan sanksi oleh Uni Eropa kepada Rusia pada kerja sama energi nuklir Uni Eropa-Rusia (2013-2018). Pada tahun 2014 Krimea menyatakan mengintegrasikan diri ke Federasi Rusia, dan menyatakan memisahkan diri dari Ukraina. Rusia menerima Krimea, meskipun Rusia dan Ukraina telah menandatangani Budapest Memorandum tahun 1994 tentang jaminan atas  pengakuan wilayah Ukraina. Tindakan politik tersebut mendapat respons dari  aliansi negara-negara Barat yang terdiri dari Amerika Serikat, Kanada, Uni Eropa, Australia dan Jepang dengan cara mengenakan sanksi terhadap Rusia. Pemberian sanksi diplomatik dan sanksi ekonomi tersebut tampaknya tidak berlaku untuk sektor-sektor lainnya, diantaranya dalam bidang kerjasama energi nuklir. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dengan dukungan data primer dan sekunder. Dalam penelitian ini dipertanyakan mengapa sanksi Uni Eropa terhadap Rusia secara politik berimplikasi pada kebijakan kerja sama di bidang energi nuklir pada tahun 2014, serta bagaimana dampak ekonomi yang ditimbulkan dalam bidang kerja sama energi nuklir di Rusia setelah tindakan pembatasan oleh EU pada tahun 2014. Analisis pembahasan tentang permasalahan tersebut akan dilakukan dengan menggunakan Organization Process Paradigm, International Sanction Theory, dan Regional Security Complex Theory. Penelitian ini menemukan bahwa implikasi politik yang ada pada pengenaan tindakan pembatasan atau sanksi Uni Eropa terhadap Rusia ialah karena adanya sifat ketergantungan yang besar terhadap bahan bakar nuklir Rusia oleh Uni Eropa, sedangkan dampak ekonomi yang muncul ialah  menurunnya angka neraca perdagangan energi nuklir Rusia terhadap Uni Eropa akibat proyek diversifikasi nuklir Eropa (ESSANUF).

Kata kunci: Kerja Sama Nuklir, Sanksi Ekonomi, Rusia dan Uni Eropa

This is the printable version of the presentation used for the defense of MSc Thesis "Enhancement and validation of the NPP Mühleberg MCNP activation simulations for Swiss decommissioning planning."

Powerpoint (.pptx) version with animations available upon request.

Humans globally consume roughly 15,000 gigawatts (GW) of power, in oil, coal, gas, nuclear, and renewables all added together. To put it
another way, it means that, on average, we use 15,000 gigajoules (GJ) of energy every second of every day. That is an enormous number, equivalent to switching on 15 billion electric kettles.

By far the biggest use for uranium is to produce
electricity - the U.S. produces almost 20% of its
electricity via nuclear power. One pound (0.45 kg)
of yellowcake (U3O8—the final product of the uranium
milling process) has the energy equivalence of
35 barrels (5.6 m3) of oil. One 7 g (0.25 oz) uranium
fuel pellet has an energy-to-electricity equivalent of
17,000 cubic feet (481.4 m3) of natural gas, 564 l (3.5
barrels) of oil, or 1,780 pounds (807.4 kg) of coal.
Today, there are some 441 nuclear power
reactors operating in 30 countries and nuclear
energy provides approximately 15% of the worlds
electricity. These 441 reactors, with combined
capacity of over 376 GW (one GWe equals one
billion watts or one thousand megawatts), require
approximately 152 million pounds U3O8
(69,000 tonnes of uranium oxide, tU).

Paul C. Rizzo1; Melissa Dubinsky2; Erdem Onur Tastan3; Sandra C. Miano4 1, 2, 3 RIZZO Associates Inc.
500 Penn Center Blvd. Suite 100 - Pittsburgh, PA – USA – 15235
paul.rizzo@rizzoassoc.com1; melissa.dubinsky@rizzoassoc.com2; onur.tastan@rizzoassoc.com3
4 Eletrobras Termonuclear S.A. - ELETRONUCLEAR
Pennsylvania State University
Department of Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering
137 Reber Building - State College, PA – USA - 16802
scm27@psu.edu

ABSTRACT
The current methodology for selecting the most advantageous site(s) for nuclear power plant (NPP) development is based on the latest evolution of protocols originally established in the 1990’s by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and others for programs in the USA, and more recently by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), among others. The methodology includes protocols that account for lessons learned from both the Gen III projects and the catastrophic event at Fukushima, Japan. In general, the approach requires consideration of Exclusionary or “fatal flaw” Criteria first, based on safety as well as significant impact to the environment or human health. Sites must meet all of these Exclusionary Criteria to be considered for NPP development. Next, the remaining sites are evaluated for Avoidance Criteria that affect primarily ease of construction and operations, which allow a ranking of sites best suited for NPP development. Finally, Suitability Criteria are applied to the potential sites to better differentiate between closely ranked sites. Generally, final selection of a Preferred and an Alternate Site will require balancing of factors, expert judgment, and client input, as sites being compared will differ in their scores associated with different Avoidance Criteria and Suitability Criteria.

During an earthquake, the flexibility of the near-surface soil affects the dynamic response of the
supported structure. This dynamic interaction is termed soil-structure interaction (SSI). Soil-structure
interaction is important for performance-based design, which has seen increasing use in earthquake
engineering in the United States in the last decade. Soil-structure interaction analysis is preceded by site response analysis, which is the process of calculating the response of a soil profile to rock motion at depth.

Soil flexibility also results in the interaction of adjacent structures through intermediate soil. This
interaction is termed structure-soil-structure interaction (SSSI), which can be important for the
performance assessment of buildings, especially those constructed in dense, urban areas. The studies
presented herein share the common goal of a better understanding of the phenomena of site response, SSI and SSSI, and advancing the numerical tools that simulate these phenomena.

The state-of-the-art in site-response and SSI analysis of buildings and nuclear structures involves
the use of linear or equivalent-linear numerical methods that function in the frequency domain. However, nonlinear time-domain methods may be more appropriate for cases involving intense earthquakes that result in highly nonlinear soil and foundation response. Such nonlinear methods are available but rarely used due to the higher computational requirements and lack of experience with analysts and regulators.

This report assesses industry-standard equivalent linear and nonlinear site-response and SSI analysis
programs, and provides practical guidelines on their usage. The assessment includes benchmarking the time-domain programs against frequency-domain programs for analyses involving almost linear soil response, and a comparison of the predictions of these programs for analyses involving highly nonlinear soil and foundation response. The assessment also identifies the various pitfalls that can be expected when using these programs and suggests workarounds.

Structure-soil-structure interaction has been rarely studied, mainly due to the lack of experimental
or field-based case-studies that demonstrate its effects on structural response. The US National Science Foundation funded a research project titled ‘Seismic Performance Assessment of Buildings in Dense Urban Environments’ to understand the significance of SSSI in buildings through a series of centrifuge experiments and numerical simulations. The experiments involve small-scale building models with commonly-found superstructure and foundation configurations. This report describes some of these centrifuge experiments, and their numerical simulations, which are comprehensive and performed using both equivalent-linear and nonlinear SSI analysis programs. The numerical and experimental results show that wave-based SSSI does not significantly affect the global response of the buildings considered in this study.

Mr. Campbell and Dr. Conca provided one of the 10 summaries for energy resource commodities on uranium, thorium, and rare earths (pp. 450-458). Other experts provided sections on geothermal, coal and unconventional energy resources, and on an analysis of energy economics and technology, all prepared by
committees of the Energy Minerals Division of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Unconventional energy resources, as used in this report, are those energy resources
that do not occur in discrete oil or gas reservoirs held in structural or stratigraphic traps in sedimentary basins. Such resources include coal-bed methane, oil shale, uranium and thorium
deposits and associated rare-earth elements of industrial interest, geothermal, gas shale and liquids, tight gas sands, gas hydrates, and bitumen and heavy oil. Current U.S. and global
research and development activities are summarized for each unconventional energy resource commodity in the topical sections of this report, followed by analysis of unconventional
energy economics and technology.

Results of investigation biological diversity in technogenic landscapes of Kursk nuclear power plant in 2007-2008 are presented. Lists of fungi, lichen, bryophyta, vascular plants and birds of water reservoir-cooler foreshore of Kursk nuclear power plant are given. Detailed data about detected species from The Red Book of Russia and The Red Book of Kursk region are produced. The maps of arboreal-dumetosous vegetation, localities of rare species of vascular plants, bird’s-nests, mammal’s holes and particular insect species are made up. Recommendations of conservation flora and fauna are given.

Este documento corresponde a la recopilación bibliográfica del Torio como combustible en centrales de energía nuclear. Una reseña de las centrales nucleares existentes en el planeta y los avances en esta tecnología.
La búsqueda de un material productor de energía barato, eficaz y relativamente limpio podría llegar a su fin con este elemento perdido en un rincón de la tabla periódica. El Uranio ha demostrado que no se puede confiar en él por ser perjudicial y demasiado escaso y no existen otros elementos radiactivos que sean comercialmente rentables para llegar a producir energía barata. Considerando, en algunos casos, al Torio como “el nuevo rey de la energía nuclear” [1].

According to a forecast, global energy demand is expected to increase by 56% from 2010 to 2040 (EIA 2013). The nuclear power plant construction market is also growing with sharper competition. In nuclear power plant construction, scheduling is one of the most important functions due to its large size and complexity. Therefore, it is crucial to incorporate the ‘distinct characteristics of construction commodities and the complex characteristics of scheduling techniques’ (Jung and Woo 2004) when selecting appropriate schedule control methods for nuclear power plant construction. However, among various types of construction scheduling techniques, the traditional critical path method (CPM) has been used most frequently in real-world practice. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to examine the viability and effectiveness of linear scheduling method (LSM) applications for specific areas in nuclear power plant construction. In order to identify criteria for selecting scheduling techniques, the characteristics of CPM and LSM were compared and analyzed first through a literature review. Distinct characteristics of nuclear power plant construction were then explored by using a case project in order to develop a methodology to select effective areas of LSM application to nuclear power plant construction. Finally, promising areas for actual LSM application are suggested based on the proposed evaluation criteria and the case project. Findings and practical implications are discussed for further implementation.

Energy is the prime need for the development of a country and its substantial economic growth. Over all forms of energies, nuclear energy is the most prominent, powerful and challenging energy source. Despite the effectiveness of this energy, its hazardous radiation effects can enormously be dangerous and destructive. Our study mainly focuses on the comparative overviews of nuclear energy aspects of Bangladesh, discussions on radiation effects on environment and living objects health. This paper also suggests some challenges to meet the probable future shortcomings of Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh.

Energy is the prime need for the development of a country and its substantial economic growth. Over all forms of energies, nuclear energy is the most prominent, powerful and challenging energy source. Despite the effectiveness of this energy, its hazardous radiation effects can enormously be dangerous and destructive. Our study mainly focuses on the comparative overviews of nuclear energy aspects of Bangladesh, discussions on radiation effects on environment and living objects health. This paper also suggests some challenges to meet the probable future shortcomings of Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh.

This report provides a list of those findings particularly relevant to regulatory authorities that can be derived from the research and development activities in computerized process control conducted at the Halden Reactor Project. The report was prepared by a staff member of the U.S. Nuclear Reirulatorv Commission workinl! at Halden. It identifies those resultS that may be of use to regulatory organizations in three main areas: as support for new requirements, as part of regulatory evaluations of the acceptability of new methods .and techniques, and in exploratory research and development of new approaches to improve operator performance. More than 200 findings arranged in 9 major categories are presented. The findings were culled from Halden Re.actor Project documents, which are listed in the report.

Nuclear power has been a constant subject of intense enquiry and misinformation. This paper explores two main tenets of this enquire, reactor safety & waste disposal, and how contribution to reducing these factors compare to the overall benefit of lowering CO2 emissions.  There is both key analysis of the current and future reactor technology as well as an assessment of the true dangers of nuclear waste, and it is the finding of this paper that the potential hazards and risks by use of increased nuclear power are far outweighed by the benefits.

Монзуль В. Ю. Мирный атом в БССР // Беларуская думка. — 2018. — № 1. — С. 63-70.
В статье на основании архивных материалов реконструируются основные этапы предпроектных и проектных работ по строительству Белорусской атомной электростанции в 1960–1980-е годы. Этот, почти неизвестный по сравнению с Минской атомной ТЭЦ, объект должен был стать ключевым элементом энергетической системы БССР. Автор анализирует основные причины, по которым начало строительства первой в республике АЭС откладывалось. В публикации подчеркивается практическая ценность предложений советских проектных организаций по повышению эффективности использования мирного атома.

Uladzimir Monzul. Peaceful atom in BSSR // Bielaruskaja Dumka. 2018. No 1. P. 63-70 (in Russian).
The article deals with unrealized proposals and projects of nuclear power plants construction in Soviet Belarus in 1960s — 1980s.

Following the news that the radiation level in Iitate Village, located 25-45 km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, was seriously increased, an urgent field survey was carried out on 28 and 29 March 2011. Radiation levels at 130 locations were measured inside a van that traveled throughout the village using a CsI pocket survey meter and an ionization chamber. Soil samples were also taken at five locations and submitted to gamma ray analysis using a Ge detector. A radiation exposure rate of more than 20 μSv h was observed in the southern part of Iitate Village. Volatile radionuclides such as iodine and cesium were found to be the main components of radioactive contamination. A trace amount of plutonium isotopes originating from the accident was also confirmed in several soil samples, the level of which was less than the global fallout. Based on the measured density of radionuclides at the highest contamination location during the present survey, an exposure rate of about ...

When Belarus embarked on the construction of its first nuclear power plant in Astravyets in 2012, the official objective was to significantly reduce the share played by imported Russian gas in the country’s electricity production. However, the Belarusian leadership’s decision to build the plant in close co-operation with Russian partners defeated that purpose. Russia has in fact taken over full control of its implementation as it is financing the US$ 10 billion project almost entirely. Russia is the project’s contractor, is providing the technology and will also provide the nuclear fuel. The plant will thus diversify the fuel mix in electricity production, but not the source of imports. Moreover, as Poland and Lithuania have refused to buy electricity from the plant, Belarus now faces the challenge of utilising the energy surplus that will emerge.

People living in communities surrounding the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Plant (IPNGP) inevitably face potential risks associated with a nuclear plant issue, which could become a potential extreme event. The study searches for answers to the three research questions: (1) What is the population makeup of those residing nearby the IPNGP (2) Which racial and ethnic groups are more vulnerable to the potential risks associated with the IPNGP (3) Who would be exposed to the radioactive plume if the IPNGP experienced a core-meltdown accident? The study utilizes Radiological Assessment System for Consequence Analysis (RASCAL) computer software code to project the radioactive plume dispersion when the IPNGP encounters a core-meltdown accident. Findings show that there are between 1.39 million and 19.85 million people that could possibly be exposed to the radioactive plume under four different typifying weather conditions in a calendar year. The study suggests this potential risk of an extreme event should be taken into consideration for “flexible adaptation approach” for building a resilient and sustainable New York City, rather than the one where a serious disaster could impact thousands of lives, create millions of dollars in damage, and create another scenario where emergency response is tested and fails to meet the requirements of appropriate sources to respond and do their part accordingly and appropriately to protect and save the lives of residents.

Bangladesh is said to be one of the biggest energy starved countries, with the present demand for electricity at 9000 plus MW (Mega Watt) as opposed to the production of 6500 to 7500 MW. Access to electricity in Bangladesh is one of the lowest, about 40 percent of the total population are without access to adequate, cheap and quality energy. At present, we have to depend on indigenous energy resources, which are finite as well – gas, oil, furnace oil and coal to produce electricity. And about 55 per cent of our natural gas is used to produce this power. The reserve of gas is not infinite and will soon run out and before that happens, we must adopt alternative energy sources, be it renewable with a bio ecological/ green revolution or build nuclear power plants (NPP). Hence, the government recently decided to join the world’s 30strong nuclear power club, signing an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Russia on November 2, 2011 for a nuclear power plant at Rooppur, Ishwardi of Pabna district, in the country’s northwest region. This paper discusses about the prospect of green power generation in our country by using nuclear energy and find out if it is a proper decision to build a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.