Advances in reactor designs, materials and human-machine edges assurance safety and reliability of evolving reactor technologies, reducing possibilities for high-consequence human errors as those which have arisen in the past. Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions that release nuclear energy to generate heat, which most frequently is then used in steam turbines to produce electricity in a nuclear power plant. The term includes nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion. A nuclear reactor, formerly known as an atomic pile, is a device used to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Nuclear reactors are used at nuclear power plants for electricity generation and in propulsion of ships. New instrumentation and control technologies based in digital systems, novel sensors and measurement methods enable safety, reliability and economic affordability of nuclear power options. Autonomous operation circumstances are becoming gradually prevalent to consider for small modular systems. Nuclear technology uses the energy released by splitting the atoms of certain elements. It was first developed in the 1940s, and during the Second World War to 1945 research initially focused on producing bombs by splitting the atoms of particular isotopes of either uranium or plutonium. In the 1950s attention turned to the peaceful purposes of nuclear fission, notably for power generation. Today, the world produces as much electricity from nuclear energy as it did from all sources combined in the early years of nuclear power. Civil nuclear power can now boast over 16,500 ... See more
Advances in reactor designs, materials and human-machine edges assurance safety and reliability of evolving reactor technologies, reducing possibilities for high-consequence human errors as those which have arisen in the past. Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions that release nuclear energy to generate heat, which most frequently is then used in steam turbines to produce electricity in a nuclear power plant. The term includes nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion. A nuclear reactor, formerly known as an atomic pile, is a device used to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Nuclear reactors are used at nuclear power plants for electricity generation and in propulsion of ships. New instrumentation and control technologies based in digital systems, novel sensors and measurement methods enable safety, reliability and economic affordability of nuclear power options. Autonomous operation circumstances are becoming gradually prevalent to consider for small modular systems. Nuclear technology uses the energy released by splitting the atoms of certain elements. It was first developed in the 1940s, and during the Second World War to 1945 research initially focused on producing bombs by splitting the atoms of particular isotopes of either uranium or plutonium. In the 1950s attention turned to the peaceful purposes of nuclear fission, notably for power generation. Today, the world produces as much electricity from nuclear energy as it did from all sources combined in the early years of nuclear power. Civil nuclear power can now boast over 16,500 reactor years of experience and supplies almost 11.5% of global electricity needs, from reactors in 31 countries. In fact, through regional grids, many more than those countries depend on nuclear generated power. Many countries have also built research reactors to provide a source of neutron beams for scientific research and the production of medical and industrial isotopes. The nuclear power plant stands on the border between humanity's greatest hopes and its deepest fears for the future. On one hand, atomic energy offers a clean energy alternative that frees us from the shackles of fossil fuel dependence. On the other, it summons images of disaster. This book Nuclear Power - Control, Reliability and Human Factors details on topics from key subject areas relevant to instrumentation and control, operation reliability, system aging and human-machine interfaces. The book should be of immense valuable for a broad prospective readership group - academicians, researchers and specialists in the industry - who are interested in learning about nuclear power.
