Fast Neutron Nuclear Reactors

Nuclear power technology has long been a topic of debate and discussion. While it offers numerous benefits, there are also concerns surrounding its use.

Let’s begin this article by exploring the Pros and Cons of using nuclear energy.  I’ll do my best to provide a comprehensive overview of the current concerns associated with this technology and hopefully bring you some good news about the positives.

The Pros of Nuclear Power Technology.

I.        Clean Energy: Nuclear power produces electricity without emitting greenhouse gases, making it a clean energy source that helps combat climate change.

II.        High Power Output: Nuclear reactors can generate a significant amount of electricity, making them efficient in meeting the energy demands of large populations.

III.        Reliable and Continuous Power: Nuclear power plants can operate continuously for long periods, providing a stable and reliable source of electricity.

IV.        Energy Independence: By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, nuclear power can enhance a country’s energy independence and reduce vulnerability to geopolitical tensions.

V.        Low Fuel Costs: Nuclear fuel is relatively inexpensive and can generate large amounts of electricity, resulting in lower overall energy costs.

VI.        Job Creation: The nuclear power industry creates a significant number of jobs, from construction and operation to research and development.

VII.        Technological Advancements: Nuclear power technology drives innovation and advancements in various fields, including materials science and engineering.

VIII.        Reduced Air Pollution: Unlike fossil fuel power plants, nuclear reactors do not emit harmful pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.

IX.        Land Use Efficiency: Nuclear power plants require less land compared to other renewable energy sources like wind or solar farms, making them suitable for densely populated areas.  In fact, with small modular nuclear reactors, as Coal Fired Power Plants are decommissioned, this technology can be fitted inside the existing infrastructure.

X.        Medical Applications: Nuclear technology plays a crucial role in medical imaging, cancer treatment, and sterilization of medical equipment.

XI.        Nuclear Waste Management: Advancements in nuclear waste management techniques are being made to ensure safe storage and disposal of radioactive materials.

XII.        International Cooperation: Nuclear power fosters international collaboration in research, development, and regulation, promoting global cooperation for peaceful purposes.

XIII.        Diverse Energy Portfolio: Incorporating nuclear power into the energy mix diversifies the sources of electricity generation, reducing reliance on a single energy source.

XIV.        Longevity of Fuel Supply: Uranium, the primary fuel for nuclear reactors, is abundant and can provide energy for thousands of years with advanced reactor designs.  Also, as you’ll learn in this article, Nuclear Fuel can now be recycled via Pyrochemical Processing Plants and re-used in Fast Neutron Nuclear Reactors up to 5 times.

XV.        Reduced Water Consumption: Nuclear power plants consume less water compared to traditional fossil fuel power plants, helping to conserve this valuable resource. 

1.       The small modular reactor that has been designed by NuScale Power is a type of new reactor that actually does not require water cooling. 

2.      Also, Fast Neutron Reactors do not need water cooling, most of them use liquid Sodium or other molten metals as a coolant.

XVI.        Zero Dependence on Weather: Unlike renewable energy sources like wind and solar, nuclear power is not dependent on weather conditions, ensuring a consistent power supply. 

1.       Nuclear Reactors will provide the electricity grids with constant power, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.  

2.      Operators of Nuclear Reactors could not care less about whether the Sun is shining or whether there’s any wind blowing outside.

XVII.        Safety Measures: Stringent safety measures and protocols are in place to ensure the safe operation of nuclear power plants and minimize the risk of accidents.

XVIII.        Reduced Land Disruption: Nuclear power plants require relatively small land areas, minimizing the disruption to ecosystems and habitats compared to other energy sources.

XIX.        Decentralized Power Generation: Nuclear power plants can be located near population centres, reducing transmission losses and increasing the efficiency of electricity distribution.

The Cons associated with Nuclear Power Technology.

I.        Radioactive Waste: The disposal of radioactive waste remains a significant concern, requiring safe long-term storage solutions. 

o   However, as you will learn in this article, through the use of the amazing Fast Neutron Nuclear Reactors and Pyrochemical Processing of Spent Fuel.   

o   Storing of Nuclear Waste in the future will be around 1% of what is currently required.   Even without this exciting news, Nuclear Power does not create much waste. 

o   For instance with Canada, the entire amount of Nuclear Waste created since they started using Nuclear Power would not fill a soccer field.

II.        Risk of Accidents: While rare, nuclear accidents can have severe consequences, highlighting the need for strict safety measures and emergency preparedness.   

o   We need to remember that the world has now been using Nuclear Power for a very long time, around 70 or so years and as each year passes we are getting better and better at using it and the technology is constantly improving.

III.        Potential for Nuclear Proliferation: The use of nuclear technology can raise concerns about the proliferation of nuclear weapons, necessitating strong international safeguards.  

o   Aside from the work being done internationally to mitigate these risks, one of the biggest ways of removing these risks is by using Fast Neutron Reactors and Recycling Spent Nuclear Fuel via Pyrochemical Processing. 

o   In these situations, the plutonium is extracted from the spent fuel and re-used over and over. 

o   After being re-used around 5 times, there’s nothing worthwhile that could be used for weapons purposes.

IV.        High Initial Construction Costs: The old tale that is still going around is that the construction of nuclear power plants requires significant upfront investment, making it a too much of a costly endeavour.   

o   This might have been the case 60 years ago but as I’m sure we can all appreciate, when Colour TV’s first came out, only rich people could afford them, those on a budget continued to use Black & White TV’s for several years.   

o   Eventually as the world got better at Making Colour TV’s and they were mass produced, they became less expensive and more people could afford them.   

o   The same type of thing has happened with building a new Nuclear Power Plants.  Using this old reason really doesn’t hold much weight these days.

V.        Limited Lifetime of Reactors: Nuclear reactors have a finite lifespan but it is extremely impressive.  

o   Yes at some point every Nuclear Power Station will require decommissioning and replacement, adding to the overall lifecycle costs.   

o   This reason for disliking Nuclear Power is a bit dated.  

o   The typical lifespan of a new advanced technology nuclear power plant is 60 years.    

o   A Fast Neutron Reactor operating in a closed Fuel Cycle (using recycled fuel) can provide energy for thousands of years using current nuclear material in the ground and by also using previously stored Nuclear Waste that currently lies underground waiting to be recycled and re-used.

VI.        Environmental Impact: The environmental impact of uranium mining and the potential for ecosystem disruption during plant construction are valid concerns.   

o   This impact is now lessened via Fast Neutron Reactors as they can be combined with Pyrochemical Processing Plants to recycle Spent Nuclear Fuel and a closed fuel cycle is obtained. 

o   This lessens the need for uranium mining activities.

VII.        Public Perception and Acceptance:  Nuclear power technology constantly faces public scepticism and concerns about safety, which is often fuelled and made to sound worse by Green Activists.   

o   This does tend to hinder the widespread acceptance which is a shame. 

o   The problem I have with troublemakers that like spruiking all sorts of silly sounding horror stories about nuclear power is that these people are probably unable to use a computer or read a book perhaps?   

o   I like to use story about Muscle Cars from the 70’s as apposed to today’s muscle cars.  

o   1970’s Muscle Cars had some power for sure but they were generally not that safe a motor vehicle.  

o   Their suspension was crap, they did not go around corners very well and they took a long while to stop, they were in a number of ways dangerous.   Today’s Muscle cars though have a lot more power, awesome suspension, they go around corners as if they were on rails and can stop on a dime.   

o   It’s sad to hear people carrying on about nuclear power in such a negative manner fears that people had 60-70 years ago in the modern discussions.

VIII.        Vulnerability to Natural Disasters: Nuclear power plants located in seismically active areas or regions prone to natural disasters face increased risks.  This is one of the few Cons that actually hold weight.  This is a concern for sure and needs to be very carefully looked at.

IX.        Limited Global Uranium Reserves: While uranium reserves are currently sufficient, increased demand for nuclear power could lead to potential supply constraints in the future.   

o   Not a great Con unfortunately, the world has 40 trillion tonnes of uranium in the crust.   

o   However, only 6 million tonnes of discovered and economically exploitable uranium in the ground and around 11 million tonnes of undiscovered uranium.    

o   At the time of creating this article, the world only consumes 50,000 tonnes of uranium per year, which would last the world for 320 Years, even if we end up using 5 times our current usage, we’ll be good for 64 Years.    

o   This won’t happen though thanks to Fast Neutron Reactors and Pyrochemical Processing of spent fuel. 

o   The world’s uranium usage will decrease by 99% via these 2 technologies being embraced which means the world has enough uranium for the next 32,000 years.  

o   The other thing to consider is that scientists are always looking at new technologies that could be used to start going after the currently less economically viable uranium sources.

o   Decommissioning Challenges: The decommissioning of nuclear power plants presents technical and financial challenges, requiring careful planning and management.   This is a valid Con and it just means care must be taken but the need for decommission has just about gone away thanks to Fast Neutron Reactors and Pyrochemical Processing of Spent Fuel.

What is Nuclear Fuel and how do we use it?

Nuclear power is produced using nuclear fuel. Nuclear fuel, in contrast to conventional fossil fuels like coal or natural gas, this type of fuel is used to release energy through the process of nuclear fission.

Fissile isotopes like enriched uranium, specifically uranium-235 and plutonium-239, are the most widely used nuclear fuels.

These are employed due to their dual capabilities of supporting a chain reaction and being utilised in nuclear fission. 

A self-sustaining process known as a chain reaction occurs when one fission event sets off another fission event and several more.

As a result, the rate of fission and energy release increases steadily.  Depending on how the process is progressing, moderators inside the reactor may or may not be utilised to control the chain reaction.

The moderators will control the reactions by absorbing excess neutrons if determined necessary.

Usually, these materials are shaped into rods or pellets and covered in metal cladding. Depending on the kind and layout of the reactor, the fuel is arranged differently.

Reactors with light or heavy water, high temperature graphite, sodium-cooled fast reactors, and high temperature graphite are some of the most commonly used types of reactors. The characteristics and fuel requirements of each of these reactors vary.

The Typical Appearance of Nuclear Fuel.

Depending on its level of use, nuclear fuel can have different looks. Newly produced nuclear fuel pellets have a solid, ceramic-like appearance and are coloured dark grey or black.

To guarantee effective energy production, they are loaded into fuel rods in a precise pattern.

Cladding and Fuel Assemblies.

The fuel rods are made of a corrosion-resistant material called zirconium alloy, they contain the radioactive materials and shield the fuel pellets from corrosion.

These cladded tubes made of zirconium alloy act as a barrier between the reactor coolant and the fuel.

An assembly of multiple fuel rods and their cladding is called a fuel assembly.

These assemblies enable the controlled release of energy during the fission process and are meticulously engineered to fit within the reactor core.

Nuclear Fuel Usage inside Nuclear Reactors.

The fission process starts as soon as the nuclear fuel is placed into the reactor core.

The fuel splits into two smaller nuclei when a neutron hits its nucleus, releasing a massive amount of energy in the form of heat.

After being converted to steam by this heat, a turbine attached to a generator is driven, ultimately producing electricity.

The Old Technology – The Once Through Fuel Cycle.

The old once-through fuel cycle for nuclear fuel entails removing spent fuel from the reactor and replacing it with new fuel.

The fission process reduces the Nuclear fuel’s concentration over time, decreasing its efficiency.

The reactor’s spent fuel is carefully removed and stored for later disposal. Spent fuel still contains some usable uranium and other radioactive isotopes, so it’s a shame that it has to be considered as waste.

Once the spent fuel is removed from service, it is kept in designated facilities until a long-term disposal strategy is put into place.

What is a Closed Nuclear Fuel Cycle/Sustainable Fuel Cycle?

The good news about advances in nuclear power technology is that we now have closed nuclear fuel cycles. 

When we have situations of Fast Neutron Nuclear Reactors that are being fed with recycled nuclear fuel material (pyrochemically processed) this is called a Close or Sustainable Nuclear Fuel Cycle.

Compared to conventional reactors, fast neutron reactors are able to use a larger variety of actinides, such as uranium or plutonium, so they are perfect for use with Recycled Nuclear Fuel.

In fact, the question of how many times spent nuclear fuel can be recycled and used again in fast neutron reactors remains unanswered as of this writing.

Numerous factors, such as the fast neutron reactor’s type and design, the fuel’s composition and quality, and the effectiveness and dependability of the fabrication and reprocessing techniques, all affect how effective the closed fuel cycle process is overall. 

The good news is that most estimates indicate that spent nuclear fuel can be recycled and used in fast neutron reactors up to five times. This can result in a 500-fold increase in the lifetime of uranium resources and a 99% reduction in high-level waste.

The world should be ecstatic about this development and begin pressing their nation to implement safe, dependable, and effective nuclear power technology.

The importance of nuclear power cannot be understated as the world struggles to meet the deadline for switching to clean energy sources, particularly when Fast Neutron Reactors are combined with Pyrochemical Processing of Spent Fuel.

Although conventional nuclear reactors have long been a feature of the energy landscape, recent technological advancements have created new opportunities for a more sustainable and clean future.

Follow along as I examine Fast Neutron Nuclear Reactors and how they work with Pyrochemical Processing of Spent Nuclear Fuel to unlock the secret to a clean energy future with zero emissions.

What are Fast Neutron Nuclear Reactors?

Fast Neutron Nuclear reactors are a major innovation over traditional and older nuclear technology.

Fast reactors use fast neutrons to maintain a chain reaction, in contrast to traditional reactors that use slow neutrons.

Since a moderator isn’t used to slow down these high-energy neutrons, they can continue to travel at a high speed and interact with a greater variety of Nuclear Fuels.

Numerous benefits result from this fundamental difference in neutron speed. Fast reactors are more efficient than their slower neutron counterparts because they can potentially extract much more energy from a given amount of fuel.

Fast reactors can also use a greater variety of fuels, including nuclear fuel that has been recycled.

If all of this isn’t exciting enough, the most incredibly good news of all is here.   Old Nuclear Fuel that is currently being stored underground could be re-used in fast neutron reactors now once that fuel is pyrochemically processed.

So if the world was to make more and more Fast Neutron Reactors, Nuclear Companies can then start pulling out the old Nuclear Waste from storage and start putting it to good use.

Recycled Nuclear Fuel and Pyrochemical Processing.

The capacity of fast reactors to operate on spent nuclear fuel recovered by pyrochemical processing is one of its most exciting features.

Using this cutting-edge method, valuable isotopes can be extracted from spent nuclear fuel, also known as nuclear waste.

By dissolving these materials in extremely hot molten salts and metals, pyrochemical processing uses these high temperatures to separate actinides, such as uranium, plutonium, and other transuranic elements, from fission products, such as cesium, strontium, and lanthanides.

After that, the actinides are recycled and used as nuclear fuel in Fast Neutron Reactors.  Two categories of waste materials are distinguished from the process waste: (1) ceramic waste and (2) metal waste.

We can minimise the environmental impact of nuclear energy and drastically reduce the amount of nuclear waste generated by reusing spent fuel in these amazing Fast Neutron Reactors.

Achieving a Zero Emissions Clean Energy Future.

A zero emissions clean energy future is possible when fast neutron nuclear reactor technology is combined with spent nuclear fuel pyrochemical processing.

We can cut the quantity of nuclear waste produced by 99 percent by using recycled nuclear fuel, which also reduces the need for costly nuclear waste storage and new uranium mines.

Fast Neutron Reactors are also very efficient because they can produce more energy from a given amount of fuel.

Compared to conventional reactors, this higher efficiency results in a smaller environmental footprint and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

So, with all this in mind, what are we all waiting for?