In view of the increase in power demand, the power plants have gone starting from therrnal, hydel, gas and latest to nuclear power generation. Nuclear power plants has application not only for power generation, but also now been used in space applications. Recent advancements are developed in this area since a small amount of nuclear fuel gives more and more energy compared to other conventional fuels. In view of this, what are the recent developments in nuclear research in terms of fuels and their recent adoption methods.
In the field of nuclear fission, the most relevant advantages is the development of the so-called "Small Modular Reactors" . In my book entitled "Small Modular Reactors for Electricity Generation: An Economic and Technologically Sound Alternative published in 2017 you can find a comprehensive study of this type of nuclear power reactors. Additional information about your questions can be found in my chapter entitled "New Technologies Associated with the Construction of Nuclear Power Plants; Chapter of the book “New Development in Nuclear Energy Research”, published in 2013.
In nuclear fusion the research of this type of technology is still under development in some countries and by a group of countries within a joint international cooperation, but it is expected that this new technology will not be in the market at least before 2050.
Nuclear industry moves forward on accident tolerant fuels, having the potential to endure the loss of cooling in a reactor core for longer than current fuel designs and widen the existing safety margin for nuclear plants. They also can improve the performance of existing nuclear plants with longer-lasting fuel and pave the way for licensing fuels for advanced reactors.
Thank you Jorge Morales Pedraza and Florian Glodeanu for your answers. In extension of this what could be the safest fuels and safest reactors concerning to new nuclear technology?
attached I have a paper that is twenty five years old but spells out the requirements of safe reactors
Willem Jan Oosterkam
Thank you Talib Abidzaid Alsharify for following and Thank you Willem Jan Oosterkamp for your answer.
1. Russia has commissioned a Fast Fission commercial generating reactor. the first I think. This has the possibility to burn virtually all its actinide fuel so is far more efficient, it fissions all the heavy isotopic actinides that are left in slow fission spent fuel as well as the 95% of the fuel that is U-238 , and is the major constituent of slow fission spent fuel. Such a reactor can also be used to consume the problem long half life actinides separated from slow fission spent fuel and transmute longer half life fission product isotopes into shorter half life isotopes or even elements. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-lived_fission_product
2. The Russian Akademik Losomonov is being fitted out as a floating nuclear power station using an SMR, basically 2 x 36MW nuclear sub power units that will rock up, plug in and power up a remote mining city on Kamchatka peninsula, I think, the design can also be used all around the Siberian Arctic, to take remote off grid towns through the icy winters. A few months ago they were loading fuel, not sure where has got to. Russian's are well ahead in nuclear development as a strategic future, while the hydrocarbon exports pay for the development. Chinese have the same strategy and are building by far the most nuclear generation
to replace coal in the long term, experimenting with multiple PWR types for the grid, but also with pilot scale GEN 4 technologies.
Fast fission reactors have already operated in the USA, russia and Europe in the USA and Europe they have been abandoned due to the complexity and concern of reprocessing of fuel and the risk of proliferation of fissile material for the production of atomic bombs. There is at present sufficient uranium available to fuel the thermal rectors. theoretically uranium can be extracted from sea water
Willem Jan Oosterkamp
Thank you Brian Catt and Willem Jan Oosterkamp for your interesting answers.
Recent advancements in nuclear power is in space applications.
Nuclear advancements are going on in power generation. This is more advantageous as burning of small amount of fuel may generate a lot amount of power. The disadvantage lies in storage and dumping of residual.
As fossil fuels are depleting day by day, one source that world can depend is on nuclear power. Nuclear fuel is more promising as it has a potential of tremendous energy. This is now used in launching of space vehicles in orbits of larger distance planets from earth. Using these, this can handle and carry less weight.
Nuclear power is the most promising source of energy, so that one can depend on, they are used in research applications and now they are using in space applications.
Due to more population growth, the energy supplied is not up to the mark, hence nuclear power is generated and put to use. This give more energy with the same weight compared to other fossil fuels. These fuels now a days are used in space applications.
Nuclear fuel has tremendous amount of energy compared to other fuels existing for power generation. Hence, this gave importance practically in use of equipment to sustain longer and longer duration developing power. One of the application is in space and other to generate power to suit our needs.
Nuclear fuels like uranium, thorium and plutonium are promising. These need only very very small amount to generate good power. As the energy got from this is more with less weight, occupancy and space requirements, in space applications, they are preferred and made use.
Nuclear fuels are used for power generation as well as carrying loads through longer distance (space applications). The advantage of this fuel is it requires less quantity to get good power output but suffers waste disposal.
The dependence on nuclear fuel and its power generation is increasing because of increase in population and to cater the requirements of humankind. This has got lot of applications in submarines and has now recently used in propulsion systems. The need in future will and should be used for good cause of society.
Nuclear fuel is the one, humankind has to depend upon. As this has more energy that this can develop. Hence, this is used for power generation and now used for space applications.
There are so many nuclear elements which are available, i.e., uranium, thorium and plutonium. Plutonium can be used as breeder material. The advantages of all these are, with very less amount of fuel when burnt, they give enormous amount of energy.
Nuclear fuels are used now a days due to their availability as well as sustaining large period of time and hence, they are used in power generation as well as for space applications.
Nuclear power is getting important day by day inorder to meet the power demand. Nuclear elements like uranium, plutonium, thorium are available and one can get power with burning of less fuel. Nuclear fuel is used in space applications.
Nuclear fuel by fission reaction can be used to develop power. A very small amount of fuel consisting of uranium or thorium or plutonium can be used in a reactor to develop power. This nuclear fuel having enormous amount of energy is used now in space applications.
Nuclear power now a days is used to meet the power demand. Nuclear fuels like uranium, thorium and plutonium can be used to get more power with less fuel. This is used in preparation of nuclear weapons and in space applications.
Out of all the power generations had, nuclear fuel gives more energy than any other fuel. A small quantity of nuclear fuel can give tremendous power. Uranium, thorium and plutonium are used as fuels. These are now used for space applications and in nuclear weapons.
Nuclear fuel will become the key source of power generation since fuel source is available like uranium, thorium and plutonium and which are used in nuclear reactors in small quantities to generate huge power.
There are several different types of nuclear power reactors under development in several countries known as “Generation IV.” Besides, there is also a group of new kinds of nuclear power reactors called “SMR or Small Modular Reactor” now under development in several countries. In my paper entitled “New Technologies Associated with the Construction of Nuclear Power Plants” published by Nova Science Publishers in 2013, you can find a good summary of these new types of nuclear power reactors. In the current situation of the SMR, you can see a proper summary in my book entitled “Small Modular Reactors for Electricity Generation: An Economic and Technologically Sound Alternative,” published by Springer in January 2017.
The situation by region on the current situation and perspectives in the use of nuclear power reactor for electricity generation can be summarized as follows:
1- Asia and the Pacific is the region with the highest number of nuclear power reactors under construction 28 units.
2- In Europe, including Russia, Belarus, Turkey, and Ukraine, the number of units under construction is 16.
3- In the Middle East, there are four units under construction.
4- In Latin America, there are two units under construction
5- In the North America region, there are two units under construction
The biggest plan for the construction of nuclear power reactors has been prepared by a group of Asian countries, such as China, India, and South Korea.
A summary of the pro and cons in the use of nuclear power reactors can be found in my paper entitled “Main Advantages and Disadvantages in the Use of Nuclear Energy for Electricity Generation and other Purposes,” published by Energy and Environment Division Newsletter. Vol. 3 Issue 1, in February 2019.
Thank you Jorge Morales Pedraza for your good, beautiful and eloborative answer.
Nuclear power generation is getting importance as the fuel is available and the power demand going high. The present world is depending on clean source of power. Hence, nuclear reactors are erected to get quite good amount of power generation. This was also used now in space applications.
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