Renaissance Of Nuclear Energy Research Articles

Investigation of thermally induced phase transitions in uranium perovskites

The physical properties of inorganic solids are intimately related to their crystal structures and there is increasing awareness of the potential importance of metastable structures that exist over a limited temperature and/or pressure range. For the renaissance of nuclear energy to continue it is vital to improve the efficiency and safety of the nuclear fuel process. In order to do this, a comprehensive knowledge of the fundamental chemical, structural, and thermodynamic properties of uranium compounds is required. Compounds of the type A2BUO6 (A = Ba, Sr; B = Ba, Sr, Ca) have been prepared and characterised using neutron and X-Ray diffraction techniques as well as X-ray absorption spectroscopy. For the first time the high temperature behaviour of these complex oxides has been investigated, and as illustrated by Ba2SrUO6, heating such oxides can induce a sequence of phase transitions with the structure of Ba2SrUO6 changing from monoclinic in P21/n at room temperature to cubic in Fm-3m above 1200 K. [1] The compounds Ba2CaUO6 and BaSrCaUO6 were also found to undergo a series of thermally induced phase transitions from the P21/n monoclinic structure. In order to elucidate the structural changes involved in each system, a combination of diffraction techniques was required. We also utilised symmetry-mode analysis in which the structures are refined in terms of the fundamental tilting modes. This elegant way of tracking phase transitions provided vital insight when comparing and contrasting the thermal behaviour of these complex uranium oxides.

A nuclear power renaissance?

Nuclear energy has been experiencing a revival in many countries, since it is considered to be a possible substitute for fossil fuels for electricity generation. This calls for a focused analysis, in order to evaluate whether conditions exist for its wide employment. While typical aspects against this option have to do with waste management, security of power plants and related health concerns, other issues less frequently considered by politics, mass‐media, and public opinion seem particularly crucial to understand if we are really going to face a nuclear energy renaissance. In particular, nuclear energy is well known to depend on parallel dynamics of uranium extraction and reactor startup. In this paper we apply an innovation diffusion framework to model co-evolutionary processes of uranium extraction, reactor startup and nuclear energy consumption at a world level. We also perform an analysis of nuclear consumption dynamics in France, Japan, and the USA, which are the three countries that are mostly invested in it. The results obtained by analyzing all of these processes do not seem to support the idea of a new era for nuclear energy.

Splitting Atoms: Why Do Countries Build Nuclear Power Plants?

Why do countries build nuclear power plants? This article develops a series of arguments for national reliance on nuclear power relating to economic development, energy security, nuclear proliferation, the “supply side,” norms, and nuclear accidents. Statistical tests of these arguments using a dataset on nuclear power plant construction in 129 countries from 1965 to 2000 yield two main conclusions. First, nuclear energy programs emerge and expand largely for innocuous reasons as a means to meet growing energy needs and enhance energy security. The evidence does not support the argument that countries pursue civilian nuclear power to augment nuclear weapons programs. If nuclear power contributes to nuclear proliferation, the former does not appear to take on a sinister dimension from the beginning. Second, major nuclear accidents substantially reduce the probability of reactor construction—especially in democracies and states that have not previously invested in nuclear energy. We are unlikely to observe a true “nuclear energy renaissance” in the aftermath of the March 2011 nuclear disaster in Japan. Accordingly, it is doubtful that nuclear power will be a meaningful solution to global climate change.

Splitting Atoms: Why Do Countries Build Nuclear Power Plants?

Why do countries build nuclear power plants? This article develops a series of arguments for national reliance on nuclear power relating to economic development, energy security, nuclear proliferation, the supply side, norms, and nuclear accidents. Statistical tests of these arguments using a dataset on nuclear power plant construction in 123 countries between the years 1965 and 2000 yield two main conclusions. First, nuclear energy programs emerge and expand largely for innocuous reasons as a means to meet growing energy needs and enhance energy security. The evidence does not support the argument that countries pursue civilian nuclear power to augment nuclear weapons programs. If nuclear power contributes to nuclear proliferation, the former does not appear to take on a sinister dimension from the beginning. Second, major nuclear accidents substantially reduce the probability of reactor construction – especially in democracies and states that have not previously invested in nuclear energy. We are unlikely to observe a true “nuclear energy renaissance” in the aftermath of the March 2011 nuclear disaster in Japan. Accordingly, it is doubtful that nuclear power will be a meaningful solution to global climate change.

Materials and Corrosion Research in the Yucca Mountain Project

There is a current nuclear energy renaissance around the world, mainly in Asia. However, after 60 years of using nuclear power, the issue of nuclear waste still needs to be solved. All the countries currently addressing the issue of nuclear wastes are considering disposing them in stable geologic formations. Most repositories designs in Europe are considering materials such as carbon steel and copper for the container. The US repository in Yucca Mountain is currently on hold waiting for new recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission. A robust corrosion and materials testing program was carried out over the last 20 years at universities and National Laboratories to support the Yucca Mountain Project. For example, the intensive corrosion and electrochemical research helped understanding of how the different variables affect the resistance of C-22 to localized corrosion. Even if the repository of Yucca Mountain is not materialized, the knowledge gained on the corrosion behavior of materials is permanent.

High performance of phosphonate-functionalized mesoporous silica for U(vi) sorption from aqueous solution

The renaissance of nuclear energy promotes increasing basic research on the separation and enrichment of nuclear fuel associated radionuclides. Herein, we report the first study for developing mesoporous silica functionalized with phosphonate (NP10) as a sorbent for U(VI) sorption from aqueous solution. The mesoporous silica was synthesized by co-condensation of diethylphosphatoethyltriethoxysilane (DPTS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), using cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the template. The synthesized silica nanoparticles were observed to possess a mesoporous structure with a uniform pore diameter of 2.7 nm, and to have good stability and high efficiency for U(VI) sorption from aqueous solution. A maximum sorption capacity of 303 mg g(-1) and fast equilibrium time of 30 min were achieved under near neutral conditions at room temperature. The adsorbed U(VI) can be easily desorbed by using 0.1 mol L(-1) HNO(3), and the reclaimed mesoporous silica can be reused with no decrease of sorption capacity. In addition, the preconcentration of U(VI) from a 100 mL aqueous solution using the functionalized mesoporous silica was also studied. The preconcentration factor was found to be as high as 100, suggesting the vast opportunities of this kind of mesoporous silica for the solid-phase extraction and enrichment of U(VI).

The role of the international integration of nuclear education, nuclear knowledge management and education in providing the basis for the future renaissance of nuclear energy

For Russia, nuclear technologies serve as the basis for economic, energy and political security. However, there are some challenges that significantly inhibit nuclear growth and development. One of these challenges is the shortage of qualified personnel. In the Russian nuclear sector there has been no systematic approach to workforce training and re-education until now. One of the most effective ways of solving the problems of nuclear education is to strengthen the cooperation between the universities at the national and international levels. The establishment of the most important element of the Russian nuclear educational cluster – the National Research Nuclear University (MEPhI) – is one of the initiatives that are in trend with global nuclear developments and one of the efficient solutions for some obstacles to nuclear progress in Russia.

Sources of anthropogenic radionuclides in the environment: a review

Studies of radionuclides in the environment have entered a new era with the renaissance of nuclear energy and associated fuel reprocessing, geological disposal of high-level nuclear wastes, and concerns about national security with respect to nuclear non-proliferation. This work presents an overview on sources of anthropogenic radionuclides in the environment, as well as a brief discussion of salient geochemical behavior of important radionuclides. We first discuss the following major anthropogenic sources and current developments that have lead, or could potentially contribute, to the radionuclide contamination of the environment: (1) nuclear weapons program; (2) nuclear weapons testing; (3) nuclear power plants; (4) uranium mining and milling; (5) commercial fuel reprocessing; (6) geological repository of high-level nuclear wastes that include radionuclides might be released in the future, and (7) nuclear accidents. Then, we briefly summarize the inventory of radionuclides 99Tc and 129I, as well as geochemical behavior for radionuclides 99Tc, 129I, and 237Np, because of their complex geochemical behavior, long half-lives, and presumably high mobility in the environment; biogeochemical cycling and environment risk assessment must take into account speciation of these redox-sensitive radionuclides.

The Prospects for Nuclear Energy in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria the utilisation of nuclear energy for electricity generation is widely supported by the majority of Bulgarians and most political parties. This article follows the development of nuclear energy generation and policy in Bulgaria and points to some of the many unanswered questions regarding the real need for capacity on such a scale for the country and for the region. However, the political decision for the construction of a second new power plant has been taken, plans are well-advanced. If enough financial resources are ensured and there is support from international financing institutions (including the Russian Gazprombank), there will be a renaissance of nuclear energy in Bulgaria even at the price of a significant negative economic impact and an increase of energy dependence of the country.

Meeting the energy challenge for the environment: The role of safety

Nuclear power has an overwhelming potential to meet the demands of an energy hungry world while protecting the environment. However, the renaissance of nuclear energy will only become true when the public can be convinced that nuclear power plants are safe and that a strong safety culture exists around the globe. While the overall safety performance of the world's power plants had been steadily improved after the shock of Chernobyl, unfortunately, the overall plant availability has levelled off in the last few years. The main reason for this is found in a complacency toward nuclear safety issues which can be linked to the arrival of new CEOs in the nuclear industry who – all too often – have no nuclear background and who manage nuclear power plants in the same way they would manage any other industrial plants – being not at all aware of the necessity of a very special and very sensitive safety culture of nuclear installations.