Abstract
An attempt is made to locate nuclear technology within a logical context considering history, risks, societal catastrophes and perspectives: the need is identified for a new direction in the exploitation in order to restore the role in energy production. We depict the situation coming from a marvelous history of discoveries started at the beginning of the XX century; heroes are recalled who made possible something that is inconceivable today: design, construction and production of electricity in a few years; that history was tainted by intentional nuclear explosions, i.e. the original sin that we are now paying. Then, we attempt to show that the societal risk is an inherent part of the civilization. Restoring the public trust (towards nuclear fission technology) by matching nuclear safety with the current technological status and advancers in risk assessment is the key objective. The “independent assessment”, or a principle for the exploitation of nuclear energy already stated in the 50’s of the previous century, shall then re-appear. This is used to erect the signpost for a “dynamic barricade” to further reduce the risk of operation of nuclear reactors and to match the design with current technological capabilities and with the frontiers of the research.
Highlights
An attempt is made to locate nuclear technology within a logical context considering history, risks, societal catastrophes and perspectives: the need is identified for a new direction in the exploitation in order to restore the role in energy production
The Overall Functional Design and Essential Features. These insights into the history of nuclear physics and societally acceptable risks create a different background perspective for here we introduce the idea of the dynamic barricade, see below
Fishing net with hooks and a series of anchors has been thrown into the ocean to catch the big fish
Summary
4) Innovation: many of the so-called new or advanced nuclear energy concepts and ideas have been around for decades, or are recycled reincarnations already not accepted in the marketplace; and (possibly, apart from in China) the needed prototypes, (expensive) demonstrations, risky testing and “true” innovations are not happening. This is clearly “tough sledding” for any technology, development or science, and the intertwining of nuclear energy with the nuclear weapons past, national policies of the present, and the global energy supplies of the future cannot be just dismissed. Signposting the future, considering of risk-defined “extreme events” to support the demonstration of resilience for the conceived dynamic framework and ensure public trust (Section 7): i.e. to identity a way to slow down and to stop the decline of nuclear technology
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