[Part1 can be read here, Part 2 can be read here]
Thorium.
It’s possible to generate nuclear power from thorium but not nuclear weapons. This route was never followed as the object was always to make nuclear weapons. Research is being done in India where they have their own thorium.
Depleted Uranium.
Natural uranium consists of U234, U235 and U238, depending on the number of neutrons in the nucleus of the atoms. U235 is the fissile material needed, less than 1% of the natural uranium. Getting it out is one of the major difficulties, only about half of the available U235 is recoverable using present technology. The other 99.5% remains stashed away and not much use unless you wanted something extremely dense – 50% denser than lead but extremely toxic. Also, the remote possibility that somebody might think of a way of recovering the U235 residue. This is depleted uranium, an unwanted embarrassment hence cheap. At least one million tons of it is in store worldwide. But then a use was found. Ideal for the manufacture of armour-piercing projectiles. These were widely used in the Gulf wars. The projectiles burn their way through normal tank armour and ignites fuel and ammunition within. The crew is incinerated. The fine uranium oxide powder produced is widely dispersed, lasts forever and has resulted in thousands of birth defects in Iraq and Kuwait. Gulf war combat veterans have reported many adverse symptoms. Governments are in denial about all this in order to refute any legal/pension claims. For health considerations, see here.
Fusion power.
Shortly after the opening of Calder Hall power station we all treated to a “you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet” moment. It was explained that just round the corner was the fusion reactor. This works by fusing hydrogen atoms into helium, the same reaction that powers the sun and stars. This on the basis of the recent development of the hydrogen bomb.
Hydrogen is the commonest material on Earth so no problems there. No radioactive materials required and no radioactive waste except when it came to de-commissioning. Also in the event of any mishap, the process would stop instantly unlike fission reactors
The only problems being, after sixty years, little progress has been made in spite of the billions poured into various worldwide projects. So, another dead end from the nuclear power point of view though much esoteric information has been gleaned (source).
Rolls Royce Small Modular Reactor.
Rolls Royce has for long been the UK manufacturer of nuclear power plants for submarines. As there is only limited call for the technology they have come up with the idea that “mini” reactors could be spread about the country providing both domestic heat and electricity (combined Heat and Power or “Cogeneration”.) They could be factory mass-produced and the complex bits delivered in one piece by truck. Lovers of nuclear power have seized upon this scheme as the answer to all our problems. They imagine a thing the size of a telephone kiosk at the end of every road running unattended (source). This is far from the truth, each site would need ten acres of ground and would have to be in a totally secure location .
Converting heat to either mechanical power and/or electricity is massively inefficient. Combined heat and power systems seek to make use of heat otherwise wasted. All combined heat and power generators have a problem, that is that the amount of heat and electricity generated are closely linked. This means surplus heat would need to be dumped in Summer. How would this be done? No simple solutions.
Then there would be the problem of linking the thing into our existing services. Highways and gardens would need to be dug up to install heating water pipes. Would the heat be metered? Where would domestic hot water come from? How would they be linked into our existing electricity system? Where would the trained operators come from? What about reserve capacity?
Summary.
We have yet no safe method of disposing of the nuclear waste.
Whereas little CO2 is emitted during the operation of nuclear reactors, massive amounts are generated during construction.
As nuclear reactors proliferate, so does the chance of a nuclear accident or terrorist incident.
At the moment uranium is cheap. But it still comes from dodgy foreign places plus, as with fossil fuels, there is only a finite supply. It will become more expensive as demand increases.
No matter how careful we are, radioactive materials continue to find their way into the environment.
Nuclear materials have to be transported around the country.
But hey… What’s not to like?
I found this in a cursory search on radioactive waste from nuclear reactors.
https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-wastes/radioactive-wastes-myths-and-realities.aspx
In this write up you will find “To the end of 2013, a total of about 370,000 tonnes of used fuel had been discharged from reactors worldwide”.
One of the Cardington hangers in Bedfordshire is 247 x 55 x 48 metres = 652,080 m3.
Although these are clear dimensions and not total, they could be exterior dimensions. So let’s be generous and say the capacity of one of the two hangers is 600,000 cubic metres.
I don’t know how much nuclear waste weighs per cubic metre but granite is 2.691 tonnes per m3. Granite varies so I will assume that is an average. As I am considering volume I will err on the side of caution and say 2.5 tonnes per m3.
At that rate one hanger could house 1.5 million tonnes of waste, theoretically speaking. Practically it could certainly house all the worlds waste up to 2013. Even if one tripled the space and put it on a monolithic concrete and steel slab and encased it in half mile thick concrete casing one would be talking of not even a pin prick on the surface of the planet.
In my visits to Sizewell I found it ominous. The atmosphere for me was hierarchical, tyrannical, chauvinistic, and claustrophobic. It would be very cruel and unfair of one to say ‘boys playing with dangerous toys’ but I sensed an emotional pressure which would not suit me in a permanent working environment. Perhaps one could say the same of the other nuclear mausoleums strategically placed on our coastline.
But that is the cost!
These people have risked their lives in the difficult struggle to move forward and provide a thankless population the energy they need to stay alive. Yes mistakes have been made but what do we really expect.
We must harness the power of the atom.
Mitigate the risks. Move forward cautiously. Do the research and some. Most importantly do not destroy existing methods of power generation until the next source is established. We must remain optimistic and brave.
That is my opinion.
What a fascinating interesting piece. Harold, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
When considering energy policy I think the most important things we should take into account are risk, cost and what is available now.
Risk 1.
The sort of people that run around super-gluing themselves to buildings and climbing onto trains at commuter rush-hour (they only did that once, my, my, but they do learn fast!) would have us believe that we’ll all be dead in 5 years because of CO2. The trouble is in 2009 Big Al told us this and the global warming gang have been telling us this ever since and they’re still at it, so it’s wearing a bit thin. Plus, we know no one’s even slightly bothered about Communist China, the world’s biggest, and fasted growing plant-food producer (CO2 polluter if you prefer). (If this was a genuine risk surely they’d be screaming blue murder and threatening to nuke them by now?)
So since we know that even those that claim to be trying to save us all (or save the planet) with their windmills and stopping us building coal fired power stations etc don’t take this risk seriously why should we? After all there’s been much, much more CO2 in the air before and the climate didn’t explode then, so why should it now?
Risk 2.
High-pressure water-cooled reactors are incredibly safe, considering how intrinsically dangerous they are. However, it is my understanding, (and I admit that I might be wrong on this so if I am someone please comment) that if they do go boom the costs that ensue would be so large that they’re effectively uninsurable. (Think Fukushima.) So in effect ‘we the people’ are the insurer. So, the insurance cost is hidden and is not reflected in the price of the electricity they generate. Although arguably very low, the risk is very real. (Think the next war.)
Cost.
At the moment it appears that the cheapest electricity comes from coal-fired power stations. Why do I think this? Simple. That’s what Communist China’s building hand-over-fist at the moment. (And those are new builds.) Obviously, energy from existing power stations like Drax is likely to less expensive. (Which is why we should be resisting any further attempts to dynamite our existing energy infrastructure with every fibre of our being!)
We should also be fracking. (It could well be that gas-powered electricity production is cheaper than from coal for new builds although over the long-term it might be prudent to keep gas for central heating).
Finally we should certainly be at the forefront of R&D on Thorium (which to me looks very promising) and Fusion energy sources and be willing to publicly fund this. Now that we’re no longer shackled to the EU we need to get back into the lead.
Seems there are a number of us with experience of the nuke industry. Its nice to work by the sea (!).
A couple of comments on incredibly safe Fukushima. BD 5500, previously BS 5500 states right up front that you should not build such vessels in / on seismically active areas e.g. Fukushima or San Andreas Fault.
Agreed it did not blow up (and after Chernobyl) this time killing the industry for good and ever, but the groundwater IS contaminated. Knowledge of geology will tell you this can wind up miles (and miles) away. OK, not tomorrow but sooner than you might think – especially if limestone.
What we are seeing, and indeed what we are a part of, is an incomplete science with new additions and dangers, realised as fact as we go forward ! – But then we must understand that in some areas of science, this is not only inevitable but necessary to perfect a new idea ! ….. We can only hope that care is a priority, which I am sure it is ! – Nuclear science had its box opened many years ago, and it is natural for mankind to find everything that is useful, but also to understand its dangers, and requirements for containment of resultant waste products. – It is that waste, and how to deal with it, that makes Nuclear an incomplete science right now !
is the problem with Tidal Lagoons that So many people, institutions, consultants, builders, councils and politicians all want to make MONEY out of what is, in essence and actuality, dead simple.?. And will up prices of everything and anything, to maximise profits.?
How about if a group of pensioners and enthusiasts built some small ones on the Hadrian design: and Councils bought the turbines for a local electricity company. Cut out out the government, entrepreneurs (sic), so called energy companies ( Actually invoice preparers ) and all the hangers on. Bit of electronics and youre away.
Of course the Energy industry (sic) ( As is Civil engineering ) is so bound up with subsidies, grants, bribes for this and that, Peoples jobs, and political positions and. other nonsense. That parliament just dare not move a muscle.
As a specified contractor on several Nuke power stations, I am still concerned at the way in which decisions are made, and the results. which truly amaze.
There should be a qualification; a B.A.in forms and practice of corruption. ( Not a BSc , its an artform )
An exciting new industry to load onto anybody actually making things . Every factory to have a new door marked BA.F&PoC(govt contracts )…..Next door to HR and between Risk Dept and Compliance. and down the hall from Project Management. and IT. It’ld be easier to chew something out of a block of metal than making it. Gracie Fields would never make it. And as for JIT and supply chains. God give me strength.
Our betters are worse and have no idea and unaware.
JIT can so easily and so often become JTL.
It’s just a daft idea Jack. It actually makes no sense… The ramifications and theory of these idiocies is hidden in programs and sloppy thinking. And has lead to very serious consequences.like supply chains, buying markest and so on. All with a consequence of weakening Britain.( Planned ? I have no idea ! Stupidity ? probably helps )
I have read each part of your article and found it very interesting. The information has filled in missing bits of my understanding and you have given lots of leads to investigate further.
Standing back from the evolution and viability of nuclear energy the pertinent question is what are the alternatives? We cannot rule out everything which is what seems to be happening.
Throughout the technical development of humans, advances have always had a cost. I always marvel when reminded of the herbal knowledge of our ancestors. Probably every step involved cost, risk, and then consequence.
The false demonization of CO2 will, if it doesn’t ruin us all, propel us into a new era. The falsehood of flat earth had to be proved by exploration, a risky and courageous venture which took us into a new era. We cannot live in a box we will die.
Life may have started over many times over and possibly our planet has time to allow that to happen again. An irrelevancy to this argument but it maintains perspective.
If we are going to die, as is likely, surely we cannot duck the challenges of quantum mechanics?
To me the sensible answer would be to mitigate the risk. We should not be destroying one stepping stone before establishing the next.
I believe! Nuclear power is the devil incarnate! Only by denouncing its subtle and evil seduction – cheap despatchable energy that will enable us not to carpet our countryside with toxic solar panels and value destroying windmills – can we move forward to a happy, energy deficient future!
Radiation toxicology made the assumption that there was no lowest dose below which it causes no effective damage. Just one alpha particle from Castle Doom (aka Sizewell B) is enough to lead to a fatal something or other. Radioactive waste lasts for millennia and there’s nothing we can do about it.
Both in error or at best partial half-truths.
The major problem with nuclear power is that CND in its Greenpeace incarnation has confused reactors with weapons
Being grown up means making choices. Choosing renewables as presently offered will literally kill thousands every winter. Still, they’re mainly the old and poor, so never mind
Sheesh!
JF
Self promotion organisation greenpi** has confused reactors with weapons:-
After shot blasting corrosion from a reactor, we had six tons of contaminated iron shot.
Coveralls, cameras, air tools, respirators, survey equipment electric cables, lights and loads of other items – above general background level but below that of Aberdeen (the Granite / radon City) are used / produced.
This ”weapons grade material” cannot be just chucked out. But greenpi** et al can elevate it to ”leaping with radiation”.
A couple of observations. GB designed and built advanced gas reactors (AGR). American pressurised water reactor based designs such Three Mile Island, Fukushima, Chernobyl and more have had the odd problem or two. These latter uS designs are about half the price of AGRs.
Just as
– the great German Diesel engine scandal was not down to engineering but to unscrupulous upper, upper management;
– the Shell reserves massaging scandal 20 yrs ago, was not down to subsurface scientists but to unscrupulous upper, upper management;
and many other upper management interventions.
Then there are those that I have personally suffered and resigned over.