Materials and Processes for Nuclear Energy Today and in the Future

Materials and Processes for Nuclear Energy Today and in the Future
Author: Fanny Balbaud-Célérier
Publisher: Wiley-ISTE
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2024-11-20
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781789451863

As a low carbon energy source, nuclear energy plays a reinforced role in a sustainable electricity mix. However, strengthening the share of nuclear energy implies the guarantee of safe, long-term operation of current systems and potentially the fostering of new constructions. Service life extension – as well as the design of future nuclear power plants – relies on the availability of robust and qualified structural materials, and their manufacturing processes. The science and engineering of materials are key in selecting robust material solutions and predicting aging mechanisms. Materials and Processes for Nuclear Energy Today and in the Future reviews different reactor concepts and fuel management systems. Nuclear equipment has to maintain integrity under extreme conditions, such as high temperature, radiation, loads and/or corrosive environments. This book analyzes the requirements on components, and introduces reference solutions regarding materials and processes. It describes the materials’ main properties, their limits and the current R&D trends. Lastly, innovations are discussed, such as materials with enhanced properties, advanced manufacturing or using AI.

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy
Author: Raymond L. Murray
Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann
Total Pages: 517
Release: 2001
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 075067136X

Energy -- Atoms and nuclei -- Radioactivity -- Nuclear processes -- Radiation and materials -- Fission -- Fusion -- Particle accelerators -- Isotope separators -- Radiation detectors -- Neutron chain reactions -- Nuclear heat energy -- Breeder reactors -- Fusion reactors -- The history of nuclear energy -- Biological effects of radiation -- Information from isotopes -- Useful radiation effects -- Reactor safety -- Nuclear propulsion -- Radiation protection -- Radioactive waste disposal -- Laws, regulations, and organizations -- Energy economics -- International nuclear power -- Nuclear explosions -- The future.

Nuclear Power and the Environment

Nuclear Power and the Environment
Author: Royal Society of Chemistry (Great Britain)
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
Total Pages: 247
Release: 2011
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1849731942

Reviews the political and social context for nuclear power generation, the nuclear fuel cycles and their implications for the environment.

Structural Alloys for Nuclear Energy Applications

Structural Alloys for Nuclear Energy Applications
Author: Robert Odette
Publisher: Newnes
Total Pages: 676
Release: 2019-08-15
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 012397349X

High-performance alloys that can withstand operation in hazardous nuclear environments are critical to presentday in-service reactor support and maintenance and are foundational for reactor concepts of the future. With commercial nuclear energy vendors and operators facing the retirement of staff during the coming decades, much of the scholarly knowledge of nuclear materials pursuant to appropriate, impactful, and safe usage is at risk. Led by the multi-award winning editorial team of G. Robert Odette (UCSB) and Steven J. Zinkle (UTK/ORNL) and with contributions from leaders of each alloy discipline, Structural Alloys for Nuclear Energy Applications aids the next generation of researchers and industry staff developing and maintaining steels, nickel-base alloys, zirconium alloys, and other structural alloys in nuclear energy applications. This authoritative reference is a critical acquisition for institutions and individuals seeking state-of-the-art knowledge aided by the editors' unique personal insight from decades of frontline research, engineering and management. - Focuses on in-service irradiation, thermal, mechanical, and chemical performance capabilities. - Covers the use of steels and other structural alloys in current fission technology, leading edge Generation-IV fission reactors, and future fusion power reactors. - Provides a critical and comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art experimental knowledge base of reactor materials, for applications ranging from engineering safety and lifetime assessments to supporting the development of advanced computational models.

Physics and Technology of Nuclear Materials

Physics and Technology of Nuclear Materials
Author: Ioan Ursu
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 541
Release: 2015-08-03
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1483150577

Physics and Technology of Nuclear Materials presents basic information regarding the structure, properties, processing methods, and response to irradiation of the key materials that fission and fusion nuclear reactors have to rely upon. Organized into 12 chapters, this book begins with selectively several fundamentals of nuclear physics. Subsequent chapters focus on the nuclear materials science; nuclear fuel; structural materials; moderator materials employed to ""slow down"" fission neutrons; and neutron highly absorbent materials that serve in reactor's power control. Other chapters explore the cooling agents; fluids carrying the energy to its final stage of conversion into electric power; thermal and biological shielding materials; some outstanding reactor components; and irradiated fuel reprocessing. The last two chapters deal with nuclear material quality inspection by destructive and non-destructive methods, and specific materials envisaged for use in future thermonuclear reactors. This monograph will be helpful for a wide range of specialists wishing to gear their research and development, education, and other activities toward the field of nuclear power and nuclear technology.

Nuclear Energy Today

Nuclear Energy Today
Author: OECD Nuclear Energy Agency
Publisher: OECD
Total Pages: 120
Release: 2003
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

As energy demand increases in line with the expansion of the world's leading economies and the growth of developing economies, a key challenge remains of how to provide the energy levels required while protecting our environment and conserving natural resources. Nuclear energy is a complex and controversial technology but also has the potential to provide considerable benefits. This publication explores a range of issues involved in the use of nuclear energy, including safety aspects, whether its use is economically competitive, its role in meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets, how to manage the radioactive waste it generates, whether its use increase the risk of proliferation of nuclear weapons, security of resources, and its potential role in the future.

Structural Materials for Generation IV Nuclear Reactors

Structural Materials for Generation IV Nuclear Reactors
Author: Pascal Yvon
Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
Total Pages: 686
Release: 2016-08-27
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0081009127

Operating at a high level of fuel efficiency, safety, proliferation-resistance, sustainability and cost, generation IV nuclear reactors promise enhanced features to an energy resource which is already seen as an outstanding source of reliable base load power. The performance and reliability of materials when subjected to the higher neutron doses and extremely corrosive higher temperature environments that will be found in generation IV nuclear reactors are essential areas of study, as key considerations for the successful development of generation IV reactors are suitable structural materials for both in-core and out-of-core applications. Structural Materials for Generation IV Nuclear Reactors explores the current state-of-the art in these areas. Part One reviews the materials, requirements and challenges in generation IV systems. Part Two presents the core materials with chapters on irradiation resistant austenitic steels, ODS/FM steels and refractory metals amongst others. Part Three looks at out-of-core materials. Structural Materials for Generation IV Nuclear Reactors is an essential reference text for professional scientists, engineers and postgraduate researchers involved in the development of generation IV nuclear reactors. - Introduces the higher neutron doses and extremely corrosive higher temperature environments that will be found in generation IV nuclear reactors and implications for structural materials - Contains chapters on the key core and out-of-core materials, from steels to advanced micro-laminates - Written by an expert in that particular area

The Technological and Economic Future of Nuclear Power

The Technological and Economic Future of Nuclear Power
Author: Reinhard Haas
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 382
Release: 2019-04-26
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 3658259876

This open access book discusses the eroding economics of nuclear power for electricity generation as well as technical, legal, and political acceptance issues. The use of nuclear power for electricity generation is still a heavily disputed issue. Aside from technical risks, safety issues, and the unsolved problem of nuclear waste disposal, the economic performance is currently a major barrier. In recent years, the costs have skyrocketed especially in the European countries and North America. At the same time, the costs of alternatives such as photovoltaics and wind power have significantly decreased.

Double or Quits?

Double or Quits?
Author: Malcolm C. Grimston
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 249
Release: 2010-09-23
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1136534180

Global energy demand is likely to rise substantially by the mid-21st century. At the same time, the use of fossil fuels may need to be severely curtailed to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Nuclear power is one of the few options that meet these conflicting requirements. However, its potential to do so is an issue of wide disagreement and high emotions, with balanced information hard to find. This text, the culmination of a two-year study, provides a dispassionate and objective assessment of the major disputes on the future role of this controversial fuel. Decisionmakers and their advisers, as well as proponents and opponents of the fuel, should find that this book provides clarification of the main issues influencing the future of nuclear energy: relative economics, public perceptions and the process of decisionmaking, nuclear research and development, waste management, reprocessing and proliferation, nuclear safety and nuclear power and the Kyoto Protocol. In the light of the many uncertainties in the field of energy, the relevance of these issues can only continue to grow.

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy
Author: David Bodansky
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 701
Release: 2007-06-25
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0387269312

This second edition represents an extensive revision of the ?rst edition, - though the motivation for the book and the intended audiences, as described inthepreviouspreface,remainthesame. Theoveralllengthhasbeenincreased substantially, with revised or expanded discussions of a number of topics, - cluding Yucca Mountain repository plans, new reactor designs, health e?ects of radiation, costs of electricity, and dangers from terrorism and weapons p- liferation. The overall status of nuclear power has changed rather little over the past eight years. Nuclear reactor construction remains at a very low ebb in much of the world, with the exception of Asia, while nuclear power’s share of the electricity supply continues to be about 75% in France and 20% in the United States. However,therearesignsofaheightenedinterestinconsideringpossible nuclear growth. In the late 1990s, the U. S. Department of Energy began new programs to stimulate research and planning for future reactors, and many candidate designs are now contending—at least on paper—to be the next generation leaders. Outside the United States, the commercial development ofthePebbleBedModularReactorisbeingpursuedinSouthAfrica,aFrench- German consortium has won an order from Finlandfor the long-plannedEPR (European Pressurized Water Reactor), and new reactors have been built or planned in Asia. In an unanticipated positive development for nuclear energy, the capacity factor of U. S. reactors has increased dramatically in recent years, and most operating reactors now appear headed for 20-year license renewals.