New nukes : assessments of light water small modular and advanced reactor concepts / Darnell Walters, editor.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Walters, Darnell, editor.

Series:

Energy science, engineering and technology series.

Energy Science, Engineering and Technology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nuclear reactors--Technological innovations--United States.

Nuclear reactors.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (107 p.)

Place of Publication:

New York, [New York] : Nova Publishers, 2016.

Summary:

Energy demand in the United States is expected to continue to grow over the coming decades, and the Department of Energy (DOE) considers nuclear energy to be one way to help meet this increased demand without producing air pollution. However, the current domestic commercial nuclear reactor fleet, consisting of 99 large light water reactors (LWRs) that provide about 20 percent of U.S. electricity is aging, and some reactors have shut down in recent years. LWRs use light, or ordinary, water to cool the reactor. New reactor concepts are under development as alternative energy options. Light water small modular reactors (SMRs) have some similarities, including the coolant used, to the existing large LWRs, and advanced reactors differ more from the large LWRs. Both new reactor concepts differ from the existing large LWRs in potential applications. This book discusses the status of light water SMR and advanced reactor concepts under development; the intended benefits of these new reactor concepts; and the challenges associated with developing and deploying these new types of reactors. Furthermore, the book describes DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy's (NE) approach to advanced nuclear reactor research and development (R&D) and examines how NE plans and prioritizes its advanced reactor R&D activities, including deploying an advanced reactor.

Contents:

NEW NUKES: ASSESSMENTS OF LIGHT WATER SMALL MODULAR AND ADVANCED REACTOR CONCEPTS; NEW NUKES: ASSESSMENTS OF LIGHT WATER SMALL MODULAR AND ADVANCED REACTOR CONCEPTS; Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data; CONTENTS; PREFACE; Chapter 1: NUCLEAR REACTORS: STATUS AND CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF NEW COMMERCIAL CONCEPTS; WHY GAO DID THIS STUDY; WHAT GAO FOUND; ABBREVIATIONS; 1. BACKGROUND; 2. FOUR LIGHT WATER SMR DESIGNERS HAVE DISCUSSED CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING WITH THE NRC, AND DOE HAS ALSO FOCUSED ON TWO ADVANCED REACTOR CONCEPTS

3. NEW REACTOR CONCEPTS COULD PROVIDE BENEFITS THAT MAY ALLOW EXPANSION OF POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS FOR NUCLEAR REACTORS4. DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT EFFORTS FOR NEW REACTOR CONCEPTS FACE SEVERAL CHALLENGES; 5. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS; 6. AGENCY AND THIRD PARTY COMMENTS AND OUR EVALUATION; APPENDIX I: EXPERT PARTICIPATION; Chapter 2: ADVANCED REACTOR RESEARCH: DOE SUPPORTS MULTIPLE TECHNOLOGIES, BUT ACTIONS NEEDED TO ENSURE A PROTOTYPE IS BUILT; WHY GAO DID THIS STUDY; WHAT GAO RECOMMENDS; WHAT GAO FOUND; ABBREVIATIONS; BACKGROUND

NE'S APPROACH TO ADVANCED REACTOR R&D SUPPORTS SEVERAL ADVANCED REACTOR TECHNOLOGIESNE USES INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL REVIEWS TO SET PROGRAM AND FUNDING PRIORITIES BUT DOES NOT HAVE A STRATEGY FOR DEPLOYING AN ADVANCED REACTOR PROTOTYPE; CONCLUSIONS; RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION; AGENCY COMMENTS AND OUR EVALUATION; APPENDIX I: OVERVIEW OF NUCLEAR REACTOR TECHNOLOGIES; INDEX

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-63484-554-4