Download or read book Technical Features to Enhance Proliferation Resistance of Nuclear Energy Systems written by International Atomic Energy Agency and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 39 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Several projects or initiatives for future nuclear energy systems and fuel cycles, which started around 2000, have included proliferation resistance assessment as one of their targets. These are the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) and the IAEA's International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO), and national programmes in France and the USA. These programmes consider proliferation resistance as one of the fundamental considerations and study its assessment methodology. Since each carries out their studies separately, several different definitions and assessment methodologies now exist in the world [1]. However, most assessment methodologies share common considerations, in particular the technical considerations that affect the proliferation resistance of an innovative nuclear energy system and fuel cycle. The purpose of this report is to provide technical readers with a description of a qualitative framework for examination of the proliferation resistance provided by the intrinsic features of innovative nuclear energy systems and fuel cycles, and to provide a high level survey of a number of innovative nuclear energy systems and fuel cycles with respect to that framework

Download or read book Nuclear Energy Basic Principles written by International Atomic Energy Agency and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Describes the rationale and vision for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The publication identifies the basic principles that nuclear energy systems must satisfy to fulfil their promise of meeting growing global energy demands.

Download or read book Nuclear Fuel Additives for LWRs to Enhance Intrinsic Proliferation Resistance written by Rashed Mohammed Almaqdahi and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nuclear energy is a clean reliable source of energy that can play major role in meeting the growing demand for energy worldwide. However, nuclear fuel, especially when depleted, is considered a source of nuclear material that can be used to produce weapon grade material after a series of chemical separation steps. Although security systems and safeguards are used to actively secure these materials, passive protection is highly desirable to ensure robust obstacles toward any proliferator. Passive protection can be achieved by enhancing inherent features in the fuel to make it less attractive and less useful for proliferation purposes. These features will add difficulties toward acquiring the material like the elevated radiation dose rate at close distance from the fuel. They also include altering plutonium and uranium isotopic fraction, which can add complexities or even prevent utilizing them for non-peaceful goals. This project studies the usage of several additives (Co-59, Zn-64, Ta-181, Eu-151, Pa-231, Np-237, Am-241, U-236, U-232, and Th-232) to the nuclear fuel that can enhance the fuel intrinsic proliferation resistance by enhancing the previously mentioned properties of the fuel. A fuel assembly model will be used to study the additives with concentrations fixed at 0.1% and 0.5% in order to compare their added benefits and their impact on fuel performance. Burn-up and photon transport calculations for each case were done using SERPENT 2. It has been found that Co-59 can increases the dose rate above 5 Gy/hr for 8.96 years compare to 0.97 year for the basic case, but it requires more enrichment to fix its impact on fuel performance. Pa-231 doesn't increase the dose rate above 5 Gy/hr, however, it does add significant dose rate at the long term by creating U-232 with a half-life of 68.9 years, which in its decay chain includes strong gamma-rays like 2.6 MeV from Tl-208. U-232, produced from Pa-231, can also lower the attractiveness of uranium as it generates significant heat, which makes weapon production challenging. Moreover, Pa-231 added positive reactivity of +3500 pcm near the end of fuel life as it produces U-232 and U-233. Eu-151, Zn-64, Ta-181, and Th-232 were rejected as they don't significantly increase the dose rate. The other additives, U-236, Np-237, and Am-241, were found to increase Pu-238 fraction above 10%, which would make weapon production difficult. However, for U-236 it requires full burn-up to create the peak Pu-238 fraction, and is associated with negative reactivity added to the fuel along its life. For Am-241, Pu-238 fraction peaks at around 25 GWD/MTU and added positive reactivity near the end of fuel life. Np-237 resulted in rapidest increase in Pu-238 fraction at the beginning of fuel life and it has small negative impact on fuel performance at the end of fuel life of around -500 pcm. Adding small fraction of U-232 (0.025 wt%) to fresh fuel was found to be useful in preventing further enrichment even after some U-232 was depleted. Beside that initial amount of U-232, U-232 can be produced more during burn-up by again using Pa-231 to ensure that further enrichment of spent fuel is impassable or at least can't be accomplished in a short period.

Download or read book Structural Materials for Generation IV Nuclear Reactors written by Pascal Yvon and published by Woodhead Publishing. This book was released on 2016-08-27 with total page 686 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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

Download or read book Thorium Fuel Cycle written by International Atomic Energy Agency and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Provides a critical review of the thorium fuel cycle: potential benefits and challenges in the thorium fuel cycle, mainly based on the latest developments at the front end of the fuel cycle, applying thorium fuel cycle options, and at the back end of the thorium fuel cycle.

Download or read book EVALUATION METHODOLOGY FOR PROLIFERATION RESISTANCE AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION OF GENERATION IV NUCLEAR ENERGY SYSTEMS written by R. BARI and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 9 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper provides an overview of the methodology approach developed by the Generation IV International Forum Expert Group on Proliferation Resistance & Physical Protection for evaluation of Proliferation Resistance and Physical Protection robustness of Generation IV nuclear energy systems options. The methodology considers a set of alternative systems and evaluates their resistance or robustness to a collection of potential threats. For the challenges considered, the response of the system to these challenges is assessed and expressed in terms of outcomes. The challenges to the system are given by the threats posed by potential proliferant States and sub-national adversaries on the nuclear systems. The characteristics of the Generation IV systems, both technical and institutional, are used to evaluate their response to the threats and determine their resistance against the proliferation threats and robustness against sabotage and theft threats. System response encompasses three main elements: (1) System Element Identification. The nuclear energy system is decomposed into smaller elements (subsystems) at a level amenable to further analysis. (2) Target Identification and Categorization. A systematic process is used to identify and select representative targets for different categories of pathways, within each system element, that actors (proliferant States or adversaries) might choose to use or attack. (3) Pathway Identification and Refinement. Pathways are defined as potential sequences of events and actions followed by the proliferant State or adversary to achieve its objectives (proliferation, theft or sabotage). For each target, individual pathway segments are developed through a systematic process, analyzed at a high level, and screened where possible. Segments are connected into full pathways and analyzed in detail. The outcomes of the system response are expressed in terms of PR & amp;PP measures. Measures are high-level characteristics of a pathway that include information important to the evaluation methodology users and to the decisions of a proliferant State or adversary. They are first evaluated for segments and then aggregated for complete pathways. Results are aggregated as appropriate to permit pathway comparisons and system assessment. The paper highlights the current achievements in the development of the Proliferation Resistance and Physical Protection Evaluation Methodology. The way forward is also briefly presented together with some conclusions.

Download or read book Evaluation Methodology For Proliferation Resistance And Physical Protection Of Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems written by and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper provides an overview of the methodology approach developed by the Generation IV International Forum Expert Group on Proliferation Resistance & Physical Protection for evaluation of Proliferation Resistance and Physical Protection robustness of Generation IV nuclear energy systems options. The methodology considers a set of alternative systems and evaluates their resistance or robustness to a collection of potential threats. For the challenges considered, the response of the system to these challenges is assessed and expressed in terms of outcomes. The challenges to the system are given by the threats posed by potential proliferant States and sub-national adversaries on the nuclear systems. The characteristics of the Generation IV systems, both technical and institutional, are used to evaluate their response to the threats and determine their resistance against the proliferation threats and robustness against sabotage and theft threats. System response encompasses three main elements: 1. System Element Identification. The nuclear energy system is decomposed into smaller elements (subsystems) at a level amenable to further analysis. 2. Target Identification and Categorization. A systematic process is used to identify and select representative targets for different categories of pathways, within each system element, that actors (proliferant States or adversaries) might choose to use or attack. 3. Pathway Identification and Refinement. Pathways are defined as potential sequences of events and actions followed by the proliferant State or adversary to achieve its objectives (proliferation, theft or sabotage). For each target, individual pathway segments are developed through a systematic process, analyzed at a high level, and screened where possible. Segments are connected into full pathways and analyzed in detail. The outcomes of the system response are expressed in terms of PR & PP measures. Measures are high-level characteristics of a pathway that include information important to the evaluation methodology users and to the decisions of a proliferant State or adversary. They are first evaluated for segments and then aggregated for complete pathways. Results are aggregated as appropriate to permit pathway comparisons and system assessment. The paper highlights the current achievements in the development of the Proliferation Resistance and Physical Protection Evaluation Methodology. The way forward is also briefly presented together with some conclusions.

Download or read book Nuclear Power written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1992-02-01 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The construction of nuclear power plants in the United States is stopping, as regulators, reactor manufacturers, and operators sort out a host of technical and institutional problems. This volume summarizes the status of nuclear power, analyzes the obstacles to resumption of construction of nuclear plants, and describes and evaluates the technological alternatives for safer, more economical reactors. Topics covered include: Institutional issues-including regulatory practices at the federal and state levels, the growing trends toward greater competition in the generation of electricity, and nuclear and nonnuclear generation options. Critical evaluation of advanced reactors-covering attributes such as cost, construction time, safety, development status, and fuel cycles. Finally, three alternative federal research and development programs are presented.

Download or read book The Path to Sustainable Nuclear Energy Basic and Applied Research Opportunities for Advanced Fuel Cycles written by and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The objective of this report is to identify new basic science that will be the foundation for advances in nuclear fuel-cycle technology in the near term, and for changing the nature of fuel cycles and of the nuclear energy industry in the long term. The goals are to enhance the development of nuclear energy, to maximize energy production in nuclear reactor parks, and to minimize radioactive wastes, other environmental impacts, and proliferation risks. The limitations of the once-through fuel cycle can be overcome by adopting a closed fuel cycle, in which the irradiated fuel is reprocessed and its components are separated into streams that are recycled into a reactor or disposed of in appropriate waste forms. The recycled fuel is irradiated in a reactor, where certain constituents are partially transmuted into heavier isotopes via neutron capture or into lighter isotopes via fission. Fast reactors are required to complete the transmutation of long-lived isotopes. Closed fuel cycles are encompassed by the Department of Energy?s Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI), to which basic scientific research can contribute. Two nuclear reactor system architectures can meet the AFCI objectives: a?single-tier? system or a?dual-tier? system. Both begin with light water reactors and incorporate fast reactors. The?dual-tier? systems transmute some plutonium and neptunium in light water reactors and all remaining transuranic elements (TRUs) in a closed-cycle fast reactor. Basic science initiatives are needed in two broad areas:? Near-term impacts that can enhance the development of either?single-tier? or?dual-tier? AFCI systems, primarily within the next 20 years, through basic research. Examples: Dissolution of spent fuel, separations of elements for TRU recycling and transmutation Design, synthesis, and testing of inert matrix nuclear fuels and non-oxide fuels Invention and development of accurate on-line monitoring systems for chemical and nuclear species in the nuclear fuel cycle Development of advanced tools for designing reactors with reduced margins and lower costs? Long-term nuclear reactor development requires basic science breakthroughs: Understanding of materials behavior under extreme environmental conditions Creation of new, efficient, environmentally benign chemical separations methods Modeling and simulation to improve nuclear reaction cross-section data, design new materials and separation system, and propagate uncertainties within the fuel cycle Improvement of proliferation resistance by strengthening safeguards technologies and decreasing the attractiveness of nuclear materials A series of translational tools is proposed to advance the AFCI objectives and to bring the basic science concepts and processes promptly into the technological sphere. These tools have the potential to revolutionize the approach to nuclear engineering R & D by replacing lengthy experimental campaigns with a rigorous approach based on modeling, key fundamental experiments, and advanced simulations.

Download or read book Uranium Enrichment and Nuclear Weapon Proliferation written by Allan S. Krass and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-11-20 with total page 325 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Originally published in 1983, this book presents both the technical and political information necessary to evaluate the emerging threat to world security posed by recent advances in uranium enrichment technology. Uranium enrichment has played a relatively quiet but important role in the history of efforts by a number of nations to acquire nuclear weapons and by a number of others to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. For many years the uranium enrichment industry was dominated by a single method, gaseous diffusion, which was technically complex, extremely capital-intensive, and highly inefficient in its use of energy. As long as this remained true, only the richest and most technically advanced nations could afford to pursue the enrichment route to weapon acquisition. But during the 1970s this situation changed dramatically. Several new and far more accessible enrichment techniques were developed, stimulated largely by the anticipation of a rapidly growing demand for enrichment services by the world-wide nuclear power industry. This proliferation of new techniques, coupled with the subsequent contraction of the commercial market for enriched uranium, has created a situation in which uranium enrichment technology might well become the most important contributor to further nuclear weapon proliferation. Some of the issues addressed in this book are: A technical analysis of the most important enrichment techniques in a form that is relevant to analysis of proliferation risks; A detailed projection of the world demand for uranium enrichment services; A summary and critique of present institutional non-proliferation arrangements in the world enrichment industry, and An identification of the states most likely to pursue the enrichment route to acquisition of nuclear weapons.

Download or read book Viability of Inert Matrix Fuel in Reducing Plutonium Amounts in Reactors written by International Atomic Energy Agency and published by IAEA. This book was released on 2006 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The reactors around the world have produced more than 2000 tonnes of plutonium, contained in spent fuel or as separated forms through reprocessing. Disposition of fissile materials has become a primary concern of nuclear non-proliferation efforts worldwide. There is a significant interest in IAEA Member States to develop proliferation resistant nuclear fuel cycles for incineration of plutonium such as inert matrix fuels (IMFs). This publication reviews the status of potential IMF candidates and describes several identified candidate materials for both fast and thermal reactors: MgO, ZrO2, SiC, Zr alloy, SiAl, ZrN; some of these have undergone test irradiations and post irradiation examination. Also discussed are modelling of IMF fuel performance and safety analysis. System studies have identified strategies for both implementation of IMF fuel as homogeneous or heterogeneous phases, as assemblies or core loadings and in existing reactors in the shorter term, as well as in new reactors in the longer term.

Download or read book Innovation in Nuclear Energy Technology written by and published by OECD Publishing. This book was released on 2007 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Innovation has been a driving force in the successful deployment of nuclear energy and remains essential today for its sustainable future. This report provides an overview of the state of the art in nuclear innovation systems, including their driving forces, main actors, institutional and legal frameworks, and infrastructure for knowledge and programme management. It also offers policy recommendations based on country reports and case studies supplied by participating member countries.

Download or read book Internationalization of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle written by Russian Academy of Sciences and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2009-01-26 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The so-called nuclear renaissance has increased worldwide interest in nuclear power. This potential growth also has increased, in some quarters, concern that nonproliferation considerations are not being given sufficient attention. In particular, since introduction of many new power reactors will lead to requiring increased uranium enrichment services to provide the reactor fuel, the proliferation risk of adding enrichment facilities in countries that do not have them now led to proposals to provide the needed fuel without requiring indigenous enrichment facilities. Similar concerns exist for reprocessing facilities. Internationalization of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle summarizes key issues and analyses of the topic, offers some criteria for evaluating options, and makes findings and recommendations to help the United States, the Russian Federation, and the international community reduce proliferation and other risks, as nuclear power is used more widely. This book is intended for all those who are concerned about the need for assuring fuel for new reactors and at the same time limiting the spread of nuclear weapons. This audience includes the United States and Russia, other nations that currently supply nuclear material and technology, many other countries contemplating starting or growing nuclear power programs, and the international organizations that support the safe, secure functioning of the international nuclear fuel cycle, most prominently the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Download or read book The Technological and Economic Future of Nuclear Power written by Reinhard Haas and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-01-01 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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. Contents History and Current Status of the World Nuclear Industry The Dramatic Decrease of the Economics of Nuclear Power Nuclear Policy in the EU The Legacy of Csernobyl and Fukushima Nuclear Waste and Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Plants Alternatives: Heading Towards Sustainable Electricity Systems Target Groups Researchers and students in the fields of political, economic and technical sciences Energy (policy) experts, nuclear energy experts and practitioners, economists, engineers, consultants, civil society organizations The Editors Prof. Dr. Reinhard Haas is University Professor of energy economics at the Institute of Energy Systems and Electric Drives at Technische Universität Wien, Austria. PD Dr. Lutz Mez is Associate Professor at the Department for Political and Social Sciences of Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. PD Dr. Amela Ajanovic is a senior researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Energy Systems and Electrical Drives at Technische Universität Wien, Austria.--

Download or read book Modelling Nuclear Energy Systems with MESSAGE written by International Atomic Energy Agency and published by IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No.. This book was released on 2016 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Assessing nuclear energy transition scenarios requires appropriate modelling tools. The IAEA tool Model for Energy Supply System Alternatives and their General Environmental Impacts (MESSAGE) is described in this publication. The tool simulates the development of a complete energy system and provides a convenient platform for modelling and analysing nuclear energy systems (NES), as it can efficiently model nuclear technologies with their specific features. Among other things, the tool can help produce a description of an entire NES with time dependent parameters for long-term planning; confirm the feasibility of a NES through correlation and consistency of all NES components, taking into account all constraints and boundary conditions imposed on the system; balance fissile material in a close fuel cycle and determine fuel cycle requirements. In addition, it assists the user in the choice of alternatives by comparison of different options relating to fuel requirements and volume and toxicity of waste. The publication provides a detailed guidance on how to build mathematical models representing complex nuclear energy systems within the framework of the MESSAGE tool.

Download or read book Nuclear Power Objectives written by International Atomic Energy Agency and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 31 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This publication outlines the expectations to be met in the various areas of nuclear power at different stages of implementation. The intended audience are Member States and other users who have an interest in the objective of the peaceful use of nuclear power.

Download or read book Nuclear Energy Today written by OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and published by OECD. This book was released on 2003 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.