New, safe nuclear reactors can halt climate change, but they are afraid to build

Date:

2019-03-13 20:30:15

Views:

3588

Rating:

1Like 0Dislike

Share:

New, safe nuclear reactors can halt climate change, but they are afraid to build Source:

In 2018, scientists reported harsh news: despite concerns about global warming due to coal it produced 38% of world's electricity in 2017 — that is, exactly the same as when the first alarming warnings about the climate 20 years ago. Worse, greenhouse gas emissions increased by 2.7% last year — the largest increase in seven years. This stagnation has led to the fact that even politicians and environmentalists began to think about the fact that we need more nuclear energy.

Even the scientists of the UN have not been enthusiastic in the past, they say today that any plan to retain growth temperature of the planet below 1.5 degrees will rely on a significant jump in the use of nuclear energy. But we are moving in the other direction. Germany plans to close all nuclear reactors by 2022; Italy voted to block any future projects in 2011. And even if nuclear energy would have found support for the General public (and not happened), to get it expensive: some nuclear stations in the United States has recently closed because it could not compete with cheap shale gas.

the

Nuclear reactors of a new type

"If the present situation remains the same, more nuclear power plants likely to close and will be replaced primarily with natural gas, which will lead to increased emissions", said the Union of concerned scientists — who have always been skeptics on the part of nuclear power in 2018. According to scientists, if all the stations are closed, carbon emissions will increase by 6%.

At the moment the question of whether to maintain the existing system, not worth it, says Edwin Lyman, acting Director, nuclear safety project, UCS. "The more important question is whether it would be realistic to deploy new nuclear power plants over the next several decades in the required pace."

At the beginning of 2018 in North America had 75 separate projects of nuclear fission, which tried to answer this question. These projects involve the same type of reaction as conventional nuclear reactors that have been used for decades — fission, or the splitting of atoms.

One of the leading technologies is a small modular reactor (SMR): a smaller version of the traditional systems of nuclear fission, which promises to be cheaper and safer. NuScale Power, based in Portland, Oregon, has a 60-megawatt design that needs to be deployed. (The usual costly setup can produce about 1,000 MW of electricity).

NuScale have to set 12 small reactors to maintain the energy requirements of 46 sites throughout the Western United States, however, the project will be implemented only if group members agree to Fund up to the end of the year. History shows that it will not be easy. In 2011, Generation mPower, another SMR developer, received the contract to build up to six reactors like NuScale. He was supported by the corporate owners of Babcock &Wilcox, the world's largest producers of energy, but the contract was broken less than three years, since no new clients. No customers, so the price will not be reduced, and therefore the project will not develop.

While the NuScale approach uses traditional nuclear reactors with water cooling, reducing them, the so-called generation IV system using alternative refrigerants. China is building a large-scale reactor with sodium cooling in Fujian province, which will come into operation in 2023, and TerraPower of Washington have developed a system of sodium-cooled, which can run on spent fuel, depleted uranium or the uranium out of the ground. TerraPower, in which invested, has signed an agreement with Beijing for the construction of a demonstration station in 2022.

Another version of the generation IV reactor with molten salt, it is safer than earlier designs because it can camouflages, even if the system loses power. Canadian company Terrestrial Energy plans to build a power plant 190 MW in Ontario, and the first reactors will produce energy until 2030 at a price that can be associated with natural gas.

One of the reactors of IV generation may soon become operational. The reactors are helium cooled, very high temperature, can work at temperatures up to 1000 degrees. The state-owned China national nuclear Corporation has a prototype with a capacity of 210 MW in the Eastern province of Shandong it will be connected to the network this year.

the

Fusion

Many, however, cherish the hope for fusion. Reactors of thermonuclear synthesis of mimic of the nuclear process inside the Sun, colliding lighter atoms together and transforming them into heavier, and releasing huge amounts of energy along the way. In the Sun, this process is driven by gravity. On the Ground engineers are trying to recreate the conditions of fusion by using extremely high temperatures — about 150 million degrees — but it is difficult to hold the plasma needed for the synthesis of atoms.

One of the solutions presented ITER, formerly known as the international thermonuclear experimental reactor, being built in 2010, in Pencil, France. His system of magnetic confinement has global support, but the cost increased to $ 22 billion because of delays and political disputes. The first experiments, originally scheduled for 2018, was deferred to2025.

Vancouver's General Fusion uses a combination of physical pressure and magnetic fields to generate pulses of plasma that lasts millionths of a second. This approach is less complex than ITER, making the system much cheaper, but there remain technical problems associated with fabrication of titanium components capable of handling the workload. However, General Fusion expects its reactors will be deployed in 10-15 years.

The California company TAE Technologies, meanwhile, has spent 20 years developing a fusion reactor that converts heat energy directly into electricity. This company, which received $ 500 million from investors in January, predicted that will be released on a commercial payback within five years.

Which of these technologies will succeed? Advanced nuclear fission reduces nuclear waste — even using them as fuel and dramatically reduces the chance of tragedy as in Fukushima or Chernobyl. But such reactors are not yet licensed anywhere, except China and Russia. Many people simply don't believe companies when they promise that a new technology will be able to avoid old mistakes.

But it's not just in politics: the cost should also be taken into account. Advanced nuclear fission, promises to knock off an incredibly expensive initial costs of nuclear energy through the creation of reactors that will be built at the factory, and not under the order. This should reduce the cost, as happened with wind and solar energy. But private companies have rarely been successful, completing such projects: the biggest successes have been achieved through a highly centralized, government managed schemes that are easier to absorb risks.

General Fusion CEO Chris Maury agrees that nuclear fission is faced with too large a number of barriers to success. He has experience: he has established mPower, a company producing small nuclear modules, which were mothballed in 2014. The synthesis reactors will be more difficult to build, but they are easier to take society. That's where will start the infusion of capital — investors are sure that the one who get the synthesis to work first, become fabulously rich.

But whether the synthesis of more space? What is low-level and short-lived radioactive waste of tritium pose no serious threat, it is true, as that melting is impossible. But the costs are high and time is very remote — ITER came out much more expensive than originally planned, and will not be ready for at least another 15 years. Meanwhile, many want close to ITER, and people don't see the difference between fission and fusion.

There are No guarantees that nuclear power will be the energy of the future. But it would be very good, agree? Or not? Tell us .

Recommended

To work with PDF difficult? Try this app

To work with PDF difficult? Try this app

PDFelement — a powerful processor to work with PDF Many of us somehow have to work with documents in PDF format. One needs it in the office, others just prefer to share documentation in PDF format as it is convenient to use and economical in ba...

How to get started with the training of neural networks

How to get started with the training of neural networks

No machine learning can not work none of the neural network. a few years ago neural networks were something outlandish. Now this tool is mastering more and more people. And this industry is evolving at an incredible pace: recently, the neural network...

Why China began to raise pigs the size of a polar bear?

Why China began to raise pigs the size of a polar bear?

Pigs can weigh more than a ton In the article about the successful establishment we mentioned that is one of the largest consumers of pork meat. However, at the moment, Asia is widely distributed so-called African swine fever. This disease is not for...

Comments (0)

This article has no comment, be the first!

Add comment

Related News

Half of the startups with the AI not really using artificial intelligence

Half of the startups with the AI not really using artificial intelligence

Over the past several there a lot of startups who say that use artificial intelligence in their designs. But is it really? London venture capital firm MMC examined the activities of nearly 3,000 start-UPS in 13 countries of Europe...

As Moscow authorities follow the movements of citizens (and how much it costs)

As Moscow authorities follow the movements of citizens (and how much it costs)

It is believed that our smartphones record everything that is happening around them and transmit to third parties who can use the collected data for targeted advertising. Confirmation of this is still not found, but this does not ...

What are you working on the most valuable company in the world in the field of AI?

What are you working on the most valuable company in the world in the field of AI?

He recognizes faces. He knows what kind of video would you like. He might be able to recommend the best treatment specifically for your case. Artificial intelligence and its sub disciplines such as machine learning, natural langua...

Access denied: top 7 best anonymous cryptocurrency

Access denied: top 7 best anonymous cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency — a difficult topic, so the myths in a niche rife. For example, many believe Bitcoin is completely anonymous coin, which leaves no residue. The true part: if you try and link the address in the blockchain with a rea...

Tesla lost a billion dollars for 2018, but Elon Musk is not discouraged

Tesla lost a billion dollars for 2018, but Elon Musk is not discouraged

last year, Tesla was faced with a huge number of problems. As it turned out, all of it hit hard on its financial condition corporate report showed that in 2018 the company lost nearly $ 1 billion. On the background of this news an...

The company TKEY DMCC creates an independent payment service Tkeycoin

The company TKEY DMCC creates an independent payment service Tkeycoin

the Company TKEY DMCC completes the preparation phase to launch a universal mobile payment service based on blockchain technology and infrastructure . The new system will ultimately simplify and expedite the transfer of funds, wil...

Alexa captures the world. Soon it will begin to brew you a coffee and offer to relax

Alexa captures the world. Soon it will begin to brew you a coffee and offer to relax

Motorcycle helmet? Yes, it works with Alexa. Rachio irrigation controller 3? Yeah, that works too. What about the guy who plays with a Roland keyboard? Really? Stand Amazon with Alexa at CES, held last week in Las Vegas, made obvi...

Billion yuan: corruption in DJI has resulted in the largest theft in the history of Chinese technology

Billion yuan: corruption in DJI has resulted in the largest theft in the history of Chinese technology

according to Bloomberg and other sources, the world's largest drone manufacturer DJI said that due to employee fraud he will suffer losses in the amount of up to one billion yuan (150 million dollars). The company said it fired se...

Again rumor: Intel could buy AMD

Again rumor: Intel could buy AMD

Probably, hardly more bitter struggle than between and AMD. And now, when rumors about a takeover of one company to another again gaining momentum, we can only inflame the discussion. CES ended and the sudden absence of the Genera...

China has offered to Elon musk to move. USA should think

China has offered to Elon musk to move. USA should think

it Seems that Elon Musk still found a reserve airfield — and no, he's not on the surface of the moon. During the visit, the Creator of Tesla and SpaceX to China, the local government gave the owner of the Chinese "green card...

"Mail of Russia" will remotely charge on orders over € 500

From January 1, 2019 tax-free threshold is reduced in two times and amounts to 500 euros for purchases in online stores that are made within one month. Still, it was not clear how the buyers will pay a fee in excess of this thresh...

Bitcoin all? Why the cryptocurrency has broken the price of 3800 $ and it continues to fall?

Bitcoin all? Why the cryptocurrency has broken the price of 3800 $ and it continues to fall?

For those who willingly or unwillingly found themselves in the cryptocurrency world in December 2017 or January 2018, purchase bags of bitcoins to see what is happening now is very painful. This week the price for the first time b...

Update Tkeycoin has increased the capacity of the project

Update Tkeycoin has increased the capacity of the project

the Company TKEY DMCC conducted a large-scale project Obnovlenie Tkeycoin and its technological component. Important changes occurred at all levels, from the design and filling of official online resource to the architecture of Pr...

Elon Musk may lose the position of the head of Tesla and other companies

Elon Musk may lose the position of the head of Tesla and other companies

Hasty message of the founder of PayPal, SpaceX and Tesla Elon musk could destroy his career. In August 2018, the billionaire suddenly announced . They immediately , as the publishing of important business information without notif...

The order of the posts on Twitter will again be adequate

The order of the posts on Twitter will again be adequate

In 2016 Twitter got an algorithm that generates a feed based on the action account, to which you are subscribed. In the end, on the first positions of the list are the popular tweets that were written a few hours ago, and the new ...

Xerox ConnectKey: how to turn a printer into a smartphone

Xerox ConnectKey: how to turn a printer into a smartphone

it's No secret that office MFP over the last few years has evolved greatly and no longer "just print, scan and copy", and a full-fledged assistant for business documents. Connecting the smartphone to the MFP can not be surprised, ...

Former SpaceX engineer creates a cryptocurrency exchange

Former SpaceX engineer creates a cryptocurrency exchange

a Former engineer of the company SpaceX announced that his new company LXDX will launch a public cryptocurrency exchange. Before Joshua Greenwald dealt with issues of automation and propulsion systems in the company Ilona Mask, bu...

The main supplier of chips AMD refused to support new technologies

The main supplier of chips AMD refused to support new technologies

GlobalFoundries, a us company involved in manufacturing semiconductor integrated circuits and is the main producer of the current rulers of Ryzen processors and graphics chips, Radeon AMD announced that it would stop all work asso...

The WEF warns that AI could destabilize the financial system

The WEF warns that AI could destabilize the financial system

Artificial intelligence will certainly change the financial world in the near future, automating investment and other services — but it can also make the imbalance in the systematic weaknesses and risks, according to the World eco...

For two weeks, the cryptocurrency market have fallen by 20 per cent

For two weeks, the cryptocurrency market have fallen by 20 per cent

last year the cost reached 20 thousand dollars. Fans of cryptocurrency believe that this could happen again, but at the moment the market of digital currencies falls. Within two weeks of its market capitalization fell by 20 percen...