Nuclear power : technical and institutional options for the future / Committee on Future Nuclear Power Development, Energy Engineering Board [and] Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Future Nuclear Power Development.

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nuclear energy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (233 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington : National Academy Press, 1992.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

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.

Contents:

Nuclear Power

Copyright

Preface

Contents

Summary

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

Electricity Demand

Construction Costs and Times

Performance

Public Attitudes

Safety

Institutional Changes

Industry

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Industry and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Department of Energy

Environmental Protection Agency

Administration and Congress

Other

Alternative Reactor Technologies

Net Assessment

Alternative Research and Development Programs

1 Introduction

THE COMMITTEE'S CHARGE

REFERENCES

2 The Institutional Framework

FUTURE ELECTRICITY GENERATION

Future Demand

Future Supply

Growth in Competition

Integrated Resource Planning

Environmental Factors

ELECTRICITY GENERATION COSTS

Capital Carrying Charges

Operation, Maintenance, and Fuel Costs

Nuclear Costs in Other Countries

Costs of Disallowances

Liability Protection

UTILITY MANAGEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS

Concurrent Design and Construction

Standardization

Plant Management

Plant Performance

PUBLIC ATTITUDES

Influencing Factors

Ambiguity of Polls

Improving Public Attitudes

SAFETY ISSUES

Prevention of Nuclear Accidents

Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Safety Policy

Utility Improvement and Self-Regulation

Safety of Existing Reactors

HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL

LICENSING AND REGULATION

The New Licensing Rule

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Impact of Advanced Reactors

Relations with Licensees

Possible Conflicts of Interest

STATE REGULATION OF NUCLEAR POWER

State Safety Regulation

State Economic Regulation

3 Assessment of Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies

OVERVIEW OF ADVANCED REACTOR TECHNOLOGIES

Large Evolutionary Light Water Reactors

Advanced Boiling Water Reactor.

Core Design.

Fluid Systems.

Control and Instrumentation.

Containment.

Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor

Core Design.

Steam Generators.

System 80+ Standard Design Pressurized Water Reactor

Mid-Sized Light Water Reactors With Passive Safety Features

Advanced Passive Pressurized Water Reactor

Modular Construction.

Simplified Boiling Water Reactor

Other Reactor Concepts

CANDU-3 Heavy Water Reactor

Safe Integral Reactor

Modular High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor

Steam Generator.

Process Inherent Ultimate Safety Reactor

Core Design

PRISM Liquid Metal Reactor

In Situ Metallurgical Reprocessing of Fuel.

Actinide Transmutation.

EVALUATION OF THE TECHNOLOGIES

Discussion

Economy

Market Suitability

Fuel Cycle

Summary.

Safeguards and Physical Security

Development Risks

Licensing

Overall Assessment

4 Federal Research and Development Alternatives

CURRENT PROGRAMS

Funding Projections for Near-Term and Long-Term Technologies

Facilities Currently Supported by Department of Energy

FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES

Assumptions

Irradiation Test Capability

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Research

Common Research Elements

Reactor Research

University Research

Operational Performance Improvement and Plant Life Extension

Alternative Program 1: Light Water Reactor Development and Common Research Elements

Introduction to Alternatives 2 and 3

Alternative Program 2: Alternative 1 Plus Liquid Metal Reactor Development

Alternative Program 3: Alternative 1 Plus Accelerated Liquid Metal Reactor Development, Including Light Water Reactor…

Excluded Programs

Costs of the Alternatives

Additional Considerations

SUMMARY

5 Conclusions and Recommendations

Costs

Construction Costs

Construction Time

Prudency

Operation

Standardization.

Mid-sized Light Water Reactors with Passive Safety Features

CANDU Heavy Water Reactor

Safe Integral Reactor and Process Inherent Ultimate Safety Reactor

Liquid Metal Reactor

Net Assessment.

Alternative Research and Development Programs

Individual Views

NEIL E. TODREAS

HOWARD K. SHAPAR

Appendix A Committee Meetings

Appendix B Criteria Developed for the Comparative Analysis of Advanced Reactor Technologies

A. SAFETY IN OPERATION

B. ECONOMY OF CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION

C. SUITABILITY FOR FUTURE MARKETS

D. FUEL CYCLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

E. RESISTANCE TO DIVERSION AND SABOTAGE

F. TECHNOLOGY RISK AND DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE

G. AMENABILITY TO EFFICIENT AND PREDICTABLE LICENSING

H. NET ASSESSMENT

List of Acronyms.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786610211753

9781280211751

128021175X

9780309595070

030959507X

9780585085494

0585085498

OCLC:

43475722