A brief history of nuclear energy technologies
Barbara RauterDaniela Wachter
Definitions and history of fission and fusion Important components of a nuclear fission
reactor Overview on nuclear fission reactors Nuclear fusion reactors Accidents at nuclear power plants
CONTENT OF OUR WORK
fuel moderator control rods coolant pressure vessel
or pressure tubes steam generator containment
IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF A NUCLEAR FISSION REACTOR
Scheme of a nuclear fission reactor (adapted from Lancaster University, 2011)
OVERVIEW ON NUCLEAR FISSION REACTORS
OVERVIEW ON NUCLEAR FISSION REACTORS
Nuclear reactor types in use worldwide (as of 1 January, 2003
(adapted from OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, 2005: 17)
CLASSIFICATION BY GENERATIONS
The evolution of nuclear power(Böck, 2009b)
Besides problems such as – mining of radioactive material (uranium ore)– production of radioactive waste, which
• should be stored safely for thousands of years• is prone to proliferation
Accidents result in the most severe consequences for people and the environment
Only advantage of some accidents: Triggered technical/safety improvements of succeeding reactor models
ACCIDENTS AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
INES = International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale
Tool to rate the safety significance of civil (non-military) nuclear and radiological events
Applies to any event associated with transport, storage and use of radioactive substances:– operations at nuclear facilities– industrial and medical use of radiation sources– loss or theft of radioactive material
INES SCALE
INES SCALE (2)
INES Scale(IAEA, 2008: 1)
Three areas of impacts are considered:– Impacts on people and the environment– Effects on radiological barriers and control inside an installation– Impairment of safety measures (Defence-in-Depth)
Examples:– Chernobyl: Level 7 in the category “people and the environment”– Three Mile Island: Level 5 rating in the area “radiological barriers and
control”– Fukushima: Successively upgrading:
• First provisional rated at Level 4 by the Japanese Nuclear Safety Authority “NISA”
• Later upgraded to Level 5 • On April 12, 2011 NISA graded the incidents up to the highest level, 7
INES SCALE (3)
AND NOW….
… THE VIDEO
