Overcoming Obstacles to Advanced Reactor Technologies
Overcoming Obstacles to Advanced Reactor Technologies

Author: Edward Geist

Publisher:

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 23

ISBN-13:

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This perspective examines the institutional and technical obstacles to the commercialization of advanced nuclear reactors for electrical power generation in the United States. The nuclear renaissance that seemed imminent ten years ago has failed to materialize, in considerable part because of the failure of large light-water reactors (LWRs) to achieve the envisioned improvement in capital costs. If nuclear fission is to play a substantial role in the future of the U.S. energy supply, a more cost-effective type of nuclear power plant must be commercialized. This piece examines the underlying technical reasons LWRs require expensive engineered safety systems to protect the public. It then explores the institutional barriers that make it difficult for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to evaluate non-LWR nuclear plants and discourage the U.S. Department of Energy and industry from investing the time and resources needed to establish the operational and safety characteristics of these technologies. Finally, it provides an overview of several candidate reactor designs that might offer alternatives to the current technological paradigm and outlines steps policymakers can take to overcome the barriers to the commercialization of next-generation nuclear reactors.

Nuclear Power
Nuclear Power

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1992-02-01

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13: 0309043956

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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.

Challenges in the Development of Advanced Reactors
Challenges in the Development of Advanced Reactors

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2012

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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Past generations of nuclear reactors have been successively developed and the next generation is currently being developed, demonstrating the constant progress and technical and industrial vitality of nuclear energy. In 2000 US Department of Energy launched Generation IV International Forum (GIF) which is one of the main international frameworks for the development of future nuclear systems. The six systems that were selected were: sodium cooled fast reactor, lead cooled fast reactor, supercritical water cooled reactor, very high temperature gas cooled reactor (VHTR), gas cooled fast reactor and molten salt reactor. This paper discusses some of the proposed advanced reactor concepts that are currently being researched to varying degrees in the United States, and highlights some of the major challenges these concepts must overcome to establish their feasibility and to satisfy licensing requirements.

The Power of Change
The Power of Change

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2016-09-30

Total Pages: 341

ISBN-13: 0309371422

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Electricity, supplied reliably and affordably, is foundational to the U.S. economy and is utterly indispensable to modern society. However, emissions resulting from many forms of electricity generation create environmental risks that could have significant negative economic, security, and human health consequences. Large-scale installation of cleaner power generation has been generally hampered because greener technologies are more expensive than the technologies that currently produce most of our power. Rather than trade affordability and reliability for low emissions, is there a way to balance all three? The Power of Change: Innovation for Development and Deployment of Increasingly Clean Energy Technologies considers how to speed up innovations that would dramatically improve the performance and lower the cost of currently available technologies while also developing new advanced cleaner energy technologies. According to this report, there is an opportunity for the United States to continue to lead in the pursuit of increasingly clean, more efficient electricity through innovation in advanced technologies. The Power of Change: Innovation for Development and Deployment of Increasingly Clean Energy Technologies makes the case that America's advantagesâ€"world-class universities and national laboratories, a vibrant private sector, and innovative states, cities, and regions that are free to experiment with a variety of public policy approachesâ€"position the United States to create and lead a new clean energy revolution. This study focuses on five paths to accelerate the market adoption of increasing clean energy and efficiency technologies: (1) expanding the portfolio of cleaner energy technology options; (2) leveraging the advantages of energy efficiency; (3) facilitating the development of increasing clean technologies, including renewables, nuclear, and cleaner fossil; (4) improving the existing technologies, systems, and infrastructure; and (5) leveling the playing field for cleaner energy technologies. The Power of Change: Innovation for Development and Deployment of Increasingly Clean Energy Technologies is a call for leadership to transform the United States energy sector in order to both mitigate the risks of greenhouse gas and other pollutants and to spur future economic growth. This study's focus on science, technology, and economic policy makes it a valuable resource to guide support that produces innovation to meet energy challenges now and for the future.

Advanced Reactor Research - Doe Supports Multiple Technologies, But Actions Needed to Ensure a Prototype Is Built
Advanced Reactor Research - Doe Supports Multiple Technologies, But Actions Needed to Ensure a Prototype Is Built

Author: U.s. Government Accountability Office

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2017-07-28

Total Pages: 52

ISBN-13: 9781973958833

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" NE conducts R&D on advanced nuclear reactor technologies with multiple aims, including (1) improving the economic competitiveness of nuclear technology to ensure that nuclear power continues to play a role in meeting our nation's energy needs; (2) increasing safety; (3) minimizing the risk of nuclear proliferation and terrorism; and (4) addressing environmental challenges, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. External groups have been critical of NE for, among other things, how it prioritizes advanced reactor R&D. GAO was asked to review NE's advanced reactor R&D efforts. This report (1) describes NE's approach to advanced nuclear reactor R&D and (2) examines how NE plans and prioritizes its advanced reactor R&D activities, including deploying an advanced reactor. GAO reviewed laws and reports concerning NE's efforts to develop advanced reactor technologies and interviewed NE officials and a nonprobability sample of companies developing such technology, selected because of their involvement with DOE's R&D efforts. "

Advanced Reactor Research
Advanced Reactor Research

Author: Frank Rusco

Publisher:

Published: 2014-07-25

Total Pages: 52

ISBN-13: 9781457855986

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The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy's (NE) conducts R&D on advanced nuclear reactor technologies with multiple aims, including (1) improving the economic competitiveness of nuclear technology to ensure that nuclear power continues to play a role in meeting our nation's energy needs; (2) increasing safety; (3) minimizing the risk of nuclear proliferation and terrorism; and (4) addressing environmental challenges, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. External groups have been critical of NE for, among other things, how it prioritizes advanced reactor R&D. This report (1) describes NE's approach to advanced nuclear reactor R&D; and (2) examines how NE plans and prioritizes its advanced reactor R&D activities, including deploying an advanced reactor. Tables. This is a print on demand report.

Advanced Reactors
Advanced Reactors

Author: Emelia Clarke

Publisher: Nova Science Publishers

Published: 2014-01-01

Total Pages: 110

ISBN-13: 9781634632898

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The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy's (NE) approach to advanced reactor research and development (R&D) focuses on three reactor technologies--high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, sodium-cooled fast reactors, and fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactors--but NE is also funding research into other advanced reactor technologies. NE's approach is to conduct research in support of multiple advanced reactor technologies, while collaborating with industry and academia, with the ultimate goal for industry to take the results of NE's research to the next step of development and commercialization. This book describes NE's approach to advanced nuclear reactor R&D and examines how NE plans and prioritizes its advanced reactor R&D activities, including deploying an advanced reactor. This book also discusses the DOE's International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Agreement. It examines how and why the estimated costs and schedule of the U.S. ITER Project have changed since 2006; the reliability of DOE's current cost and schedule estimates; and actions DOE has taken to reduce U.S. ITER Project costs and plan for their impact on the overall U.S. fusion program.

Advanced Reactor Research Doe Supports Multiple Technologies, But Actions Needed to Ensure a Prototype Is Built
Advanced Reactor Research Doe Supports Multiple Technologies, But Actions Needed to Ensure a Prototype Is Built

Author: United States Government Accountability

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2015-06-26

Total Pages: 54

ISBN-13: 9781511414579

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According to its 2010 Nuclear Energy Research and Development Roadmap: A Report to Congress, NE's primary mission is to advance nuclear power as a resource capable of meeting the nation's energy supply, environmental, and energy security needs by resolving technical, cost, safety, proliferation resistance, and security barriers through research, development, and demonstration, as appropriate.

Advanced Water-cooled Reactor Technologies
Advanced Water-cooled Reactor Technologies

Author: OECD Nuclear Energy Agency

Publisher: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ; [Washington, D.C. : OECD Publications and Information Centre

Published: 1989

Total Pages: 112

ISBN-13:

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Examines key policy and technical issues which are considered important to the future development and application of advanced water reactor technologies.