tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56797701632967702432024-02-19T23:55:34.829+08:00Nuclear Energy InformationThis is part of a project for the subject code MEHB513, Introduction To Nuclear Technology, which is a course offered in Universiti Tenaga Nasional. Hence, we are here to raise awareness to the people especially Malaysians regarding nuclear energy.J R Chewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196300698001222609noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-7530004745595001452010-11-02T16:12:00.000+08:002010-11-02T16:12:34.502+08:00GREEN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinyUTBBeIgn3B-V6AECDkBBgJMBgn1c_BOaz6sD3B7zxnvWOoHYvqLSGfcFpbF30FBsS2lN0UNouQyiwtn4uYtZAgUwGJTDkGYkwJD0Pm_rMJWvdZri05fAXhnOmhcDRkGFTm_n5U69SO/s1600/nuke+flyers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinyUTBBeIgn3B-V6AECDkBBgJMBgn1c_BOaz6sD3B7zxnvWOoHYvqLSGfcFpbF30FBsS2lN0UNouQyiwtn4uYtZAgUwGJTDkGYkwJD0Pm_rMJWvdZri05fAXhnOmhcDRkGFTm_n5U69SO/s640/nuke+flyers.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>W.F.LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121532720259702353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-91858227647949970942010-11-02T14:51:00.000+08:002010-11-02T14:51:35.102+08:00Nuclear Energy Presentation 2010/11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqyMV19doHpHLRZJnfqua9Si5V5O0WM8CS6sISsdJ9QH5ZOH2zje4aSb-2U1tcmuaz1DeXk0OFUF2XCtSK6Ot9Lnq7mE8hfv9zDebtXUQ7SHRcwBPzp_V3177TUn219NqkzLwDj_GwGDe/s1600/nuke+poster+jpeg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqyMV19doHpHLRZJnfqua9Si5V5O0WM8CS6sISsdJ9QH5ZOH2zje4aSb-2U1tcmuaz1DeXk0OFUF2XCtSK6Ot9Lnq7mE8hfv9zDebtXUQ7SHRcwBPzp_V3177TUn219NqkzLwDj_GwGDe/s640/nuke+poster+jpeg.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>W.F.LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121532720259702353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-33702119587649176422010-11-01T07:26:00.005+08:002010-11-01T08:07:02.659+08:00Front-end Nuclear Fuel Cycle<div style="text-align: justify;">Front end Nuclear Fuel Cycle talks about the process of how uranium is mined from the very ground of the Earth, and then how it is being processes to make into Uranium Oxide or also known as yellow cake. However, today topic is not on the fuel cycle itself, but rather we are focusing much on the aspect of uranium abundances in the Earth.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mh2srcS05Ok_ekbYU5XoMLD8Z-BW72zIxVvelZpojDGlv_28_D8lB_xEc1pacaR0IpCuwAvG9l_YEDqQ_cr7JmNKm3t18pnv19NPhpNS5K_eSGGZ4AntLf-z8BCCS7GJAlH_7b76FcI/s1600/pic1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mh2srcS05Ok_ekbYU5XoMLD8Z-BW72zIxVvelZpojDGlv_28_D8lB_xEc1pacaR0IpCuwAvG9l_YEDqQ_cr7JmNKm3t18pnv19NPhpNS5K_eSGGZ4AntLf-z8BCCS7GJAlH_7b76FcI/s320/pic1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534365293880051842" /></a><br /><br />As we can see in the picture below, we know that the current consumption is much lesser than the current usage of uranium in the world. Bt the question is how can this happen? This in short is because partly:<br /><br />1) some country has started digging uranium long before NPP is founded.<br />2) the megatons to megawatts project which converts HEU (highly enriched uranium) into enriched uranium which can be used as fuel for power plant.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLxPlt0sz29m_E21zaGAW8HjcVwKEKt76lTOiZUG2A6uiXvpQn5k6uVzMzZH5LJp61uGHGKBjaEBkBoiaFZA1r24ssOT6WqfVCpg8XJoKUh0Kne_0P8aIJMRRorXx4RYanmYzdxpt5aY/s1600/pic3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLxPlt0sz29m_E21zaGAW8HjcVwKEKt76lTOiZUG2A6uiXvpQn5k6uVzMzZH5LJp61uGHGKBjaEBkBoiaFZA1r24ssOT6WqfVCpg8XJoKUh0Kne_0P8aIJMRRorXx4RYanmYzdxpt5aY/s320/pic3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534365304090182914" /></a><br /><br />However, as we know, the current global power generated by nuclear power plant is roughly 6-7% of the total world power generated. Fossil fuel takes about around 80% of fossiel fuel consumption. So the question here arises is that are there enough uranium to fuel up for few hundred years before it run dry? This is to ensure that given the possibility of NPP to replace all fossil fuel, hence we can estimated the demand of uranium would increase at least 10 fold!!!. This shows that, if the current usage of uranium is 4.5million tonnes, per year by the time NPP take over all the fossil fuel, the demand will become 45 million tonnes per year. This is a huge number to worry about.<br /><br />However, there are few reason why our group believe that uranium is not going to be depleted.<br /><br />1) Nuclear price per tonne is still relatively cheap (less than USD80 per tonne).<br />Cheap price, means less $ goes into the R&D, which leads into less exploration to discover uranium deposits and also less mining of uranium ore. However, should the price rocketed to USD130 or more per tonne, we believe rigorous R&D will be poured into uranium searching, mining techniques and etc. This is because, its much more worth to mine uranium now as the profit margin obtained is so much higher.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6FIERTVqwJ8H4kEKLOo4BEVtILIUDUs1354uNMKoyn8sJbAf5D_6AVND5c7spBlREIlbwZBaqygPGqteyxC34B4Z0Ztfh2re770w3Gxx29z0cL61AO1e8SBqcup-caZLDpP6xNNY_lE/s1600/pic2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6FIERTVqwJ8H4kEKLOo4BEVtILIUDUs1354uNMKoyn8sJbAf5D_6AVND5c7spBlREIlbwZBaqygPGqteyxC34B4Z0Ztfh2re770w3Gxx29z0cL61AO1e8SBqcup-caZLDpP6xNNY_lE/s320/pic2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534365296808057762" /></a><br /><br />2) Megatons to Megawatts Project.<br />This is a project whereby the US and the Russian has sign a pact to deplete their HEU into NPP fuels. And as we know HEU are at least 90% concentrated with U-235. Hence assuming perfect conversion of 3% enriched uranium-235, we can see that 1 tonne of HEU can produce 30 tonne of fossil fuel. So do imagine the number of enriched uranium we can get from this project.<br /><br />3) Based on ecolo.org,<br /><p><span style="color:#006600;"><b>PROVEN Uranium reserves worldwide: about 4 million tons</b></span> (current consumption rate of U worldwide is 60 000 tons per year => proven reserves at 80-130 $/kgU <span style="color:#006600;"><b>these proven reserves are enough for 65 years of use</b></span> at the current consumption rate)</p> <p><span style="color:#006600;"><b>ESTIMATED Uranium reserves worldwide: about 16 million tons </b></span>(current consumption rate of U worldwide is 60 000 tons per year => proven reserves at 80-130 $/kgU <span style="color:#006600;"><b>these proven reserves are enough for 265 years of use</b></span> at the current consumption rate)</p> <p><span style="color:#006600;"><b>NON-CONVENTIONAL Uranium reserves worldwide (i.e. uranium contained in phosphates): an ADDITIONAL 22 million tons </b></span>(representing an additional 365 years of use)</p> <p><span style="color:#006600;"><b>Uranium dissolved in sea water: about 4 billion tons </b></span>(but more difficult and costly to retrieve)</p> <p>Therefore, leaving aside the U in sea water, the total <span style="color:#006600;"><b>ESTIMATED + NON-CONVENTIONAL uranium reserves are enough for more than 600 years of use at current consumption rate</b></span> using today's reactors and at a cost less than 80-130$/kg U (about twice today's spot price).</p><p>This shows that we have a long enough uranium supply for at least 8 generations. It should buy us enough time to discover other possible green fuels to supply our power plant by then.</p><p><br /><br />4) Thorium as nuclear fuel.</p><p>Thorium is 3 times more abundant than uranium. However, according to world-nuclear.org, thorium can work pretty well in CANDU reactors ( Canada NPP which operates using normal uranium). Although currently thorium is not able to fissile on its own, if we can convert in into uranium 233 from thorium, we would also obtain a substantial amount of nuclear fuel. Do note that U-233 is as good as U-235 for nuclear power plants fuels.</p><p><br /></p></div>J R Chewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196300698001222609noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-70656033998844166102010-11-01T03:11:00.000+08:002010-11-01T03:11:06.063+08:00Group Members of Nuclear Energy Information<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGtmggGGedCD80Dbaht9RgdGNlp6BA_kp7ehmGMGeOwmMM0LJBlyEdr5W759Wj3EyXqXexjqzB_THZ0BgmaZHw3K43YP7LXPSuBinPqgdRhmjf5y9W_ZH8vmBQUujo4-M0w-4w8USe7Jo/s1600/photo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGtmggGGedCD80Dbaht9RgdGNlp6BA_kp7ehmGMGeOwmMM0LJBlyEdr5W759Wj3EyXqXexjqzB_THZ0BgmaZHw3K43YP7LXPSuBinPqgdRhmjf5y9W_ZH8vmBQUujo4-M0w-4w8USe7Jo/s640/photo1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ACe3A2GnU7qj-q0AD1e1z7re7Zo4z4FY7BhqDrmm4a5b2COuFmGCmaEiNTxUrspvlQIL1BQXPw9LE013PvoYL66xZLGZz9H_3aKbNxq9WayFq3AbRck38d-wTMykt02p07iS08ft8EOA/s1600/photo3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ACe3A2GnU7qj-q0AD1e1z7re7Zo4z4FY7BhqDrmm4a5b2COuFmGCmaEiNTxUrspvlQIL1BQXPw9LE013PvoYL66xZLGZz9H_3aKbNxq9WayFq3AbRck38d-wTMykt02p07iS08ft8EOA/s640/photo3.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgmRoUcBzdid4QkghXRJ0TKUOnetHfqfcEeURINgA5f3mBiXlq2iFjgIkZUgC1fNe0GKOmU569JSjaCBX8DLDhoSrOJpLXQJ0p4VrL_WVZDjvkJeDwsosDoExfBNHClknAT59vSfUIDQF/s1600/photo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgmRoUcBzdid4QkghXRJ0TKUOnetHfqfcEeURINgA5f3mBiXlq2iFjgIkZUgC1fNe0GKOmU569JSjaCBX8DLDhoSrOJpLXQJ0p4VrL_WVZDjvkJeDwsosDoExfBNHClknAT59vSfUIDQF/s640/photo2.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">( TONNY YAP @ W.F.LEE @ J.R.CHEW)</span></strong></div>W.F.LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121532720259702353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-146783949587409562010-11-01T02:17:00.000+08:002010-11-01T02:17:45.925+08:00Radioactive waste<div class="Default" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12.55pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">“Radioactive waste will last billions of years and it is unfair to gain benefit from nuclear</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">today and leave the next generation to deal with the nuclear waste.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As in our past posts about spent fuel, Spent or Irradiated fuel contains 96% uranium, 1% plutonium and 3% radioactive wastes.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">L</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">ong-lived radioactive waste from the back end of the fuel cycle, the actinides have a significant influence due to their characteristically long half-lives. For example, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fuel" title="Nuclear fuel"><span style="color: windowtext;">nuclear fuels</span></a> with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium" title="Thorium"><span style="color: windowtext;">thorium</span></a>(Th-232) this fertile material that can undergo a neutron capture reaction and two beta minus decays, resulting in the production of fissile <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium-233" title="Uranium-233"><span style="color: windowtext;">U-233</span></a>. The spent fuel cycle with thorium will contain U-233, an isotope with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-life" title="Half-life"><span style="color: windowtext;">half-life</span></a> of 160,000 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While, the burnt fuels are Thorium with Reactor-Grade Plutonium (RGPu), Thorium with Weapons-Grade Plutonium (WGPu) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOX_fuel" title="MOX fuel"><span style="color: windowtext;">Mixed Oxide fuel</span></a> (MOX).</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
Radioactive waste may last billions of years, but in the ways to reducing the waste management problems, reprocessing or common known as recycling can be reduced. Based on the spent fuel, we found out that uranium and plutonium recovered can be use back into the reactor for enhance the energy production. Like mentioned above, Mixed Oxide Fuel (MOX) are product from the mixture of uranium oxide with the recycled plutonium oxide. Yet not all reactors can be feed by MOX nowadays, because of the problem isotopes in the plutonium recycling processes.<br />
</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fuel cycle recycling process, uranium are converted, re-enriched and fabricated to be use again in the reactors. And plutonium were been diluted with depleted uranium before undergoes fabrication. <br />
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Besides, reprocessing spent fuel there are new method discovered which are partitioning-</span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">transmutation and partitioning-conditioning. Why transmutation introduced???It is because, transmutation are able to shorter the long life nuclides into more stable elements. Transmutation of one radionuclide into another is achieved by neutron bombardment in a nuclear reactor or accelerator-driven device. While, the remaining very small amount to be conditioned and place in disposal site. <br />
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Nuclear technology are introduced so manys years ago, now is our duty to keep and reduce the amount of Long-term storage and final repository. We must bear in mind about that spent fuel is not a new thing in our world. So now……</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt;"></span></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We are the young generation, we are the young Malaysians, it is our future we are talking about, and we want a sustainable, green, beautiful, secure planet that we can show our own children with our very own eyes instead of just through pictures in history books – We want a future. And let us manage the waste”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do what we believe in, and believing what we do…together we work together towards green world.</span></span></div>W.F.LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121532720259702353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-49968780511321799712010-10-31T12:39:00.001+08:002010-11-01T04:33:49.971+08:00Is It Safe To Build a Nuclear Power Plant in Malaysia?Safety issue has always been the most hotly debated issue when it comes to nuclear talk for Malaysia.<br /><br />First of all, having a nuclear power plant sited next to ocean is totally safe because the Pressurized Water Reactor(PWR) operates on 2 loops, the possible radioactive loop remains enclosed and will not be mixed with the coolant loop that utilize the ocean water. Hence there is no worry of contaminating ocean water and hence the flora and faunas.<br /><br />Malaysia is lucky to be off the tectonic plate, the chance that earthquake occurs is very low. In addition, the design of the foundation of the nuclear powerplant has already catered for the possibility of having earthquake and able to withstand it.<br /><br />The possible site for nuclear powerplant is for sure isolated, in addition exclusion area boundaries of a necessary range of distance.<br /><br />Furthermore, the nuclear powerplant has in depth defence, passive safety sytems that do not require any power input to function but will function under any condition. One of the example is the use of gravity to drop control rod into the reactor. ECCS, plant control systems and redundancy and diversity also help to secure the safety of a nuclear power plant!<br /><br />Many were inquiring whether a nuclear power plant explosion will occur. As a matter of fact, explosion of nuclear power plant or more specifically, nuclear reactor is almost impossible because the energy is not sufficient. Compared to nuclear bomb, where the fuel is richly enriched, the fuel of the reactor is only slightly enriched and could not provide such large amount of energy release at one time strong enough to cause explosion.<br /><br />Airplane crash either man caused or accident, will not be able to threaten the security of nuclear powerplant too, as there is containment building that is set to protect the nuclear powerplant from such accidents.<br /><br />Finally, I will leave the question for you all to answer. Is it safe to build NPP in Malaysia?ysh_kobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219294982600627257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-91660581320576158962010-10-26T17:58:00.002+08:002010-10-26T18:01:04.393+08:00Are Malaysia Ready For Nuclear Power Plant???<strong><span style="font-size: large;">TNB ready for first nuclear plant</span></strong><br />
<span class="bywho"><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">2010/09/23</span></span> <br />
TENAGA Nasional Bhd (TNB) is prepared to develop the country's first nuclear plant, but the public should understand the need for the plan to meet electricity demand in the future. <br />
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We're ready, "said president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh. <br />
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We already have our own team, comprising seven to eight people. We also have sent them to pursue graduate studies in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea to learn about nuclear technology, he told reporters outside the council TNB Hari Raya open house in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.<br />
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He said this when asked to comment on the planned projects under the Economic Transformation Program (ETP), which also describes the use of nuclear energy for power generation. <br />
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I think the government is aiming to have the plant by 2021. It is an aggressive target. I hope the people of Pakistan to support its implementation as the first nuclear plant construction will take longer, he said. <br />
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Che Khalib said TNB with the Malaysian Nuclear Agency and the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications, has completed the initial proposal for government consideration. <br />
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We are just waiting for the right time for the government to decide that we need to solve the problem of how to meet future demand, namely after 2020. <br />
If we are to meet future demand with current solutions, namely coal and gas plants, I do not think it can meet demand by 2021, he said. <br />
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In addition, he said, the implementation also requires the direct involvement of the government for a nuclear power plant will involve strategic and security policies and government guarantees. <br />
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Meanwhile, TNB is also reported, are interested in bidding for construction projects of the second block Manjung power plant, but results have yet been made about it. <br />
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National utility company acquired the first blocks development of power plants using coal to generate 1.000 megawatts (MW) in Perak. <br />
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Che Khalib said the company is committed to providing the first block of the power plant project is not yet decided to participate in the tender for the second block. <br />
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If we did the first 1.000 MW project involved enough for TNB, we may provide independent power producer (IPP) another chance to bid, he said.<br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/TNBsediabangunlojinuklearpertama/Article">http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/TNBsediabangunlojinuklearpertama/Article</a>W.F.LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121532720259702353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-40119644208727057062010-10-26T16:24:00.001+08:002010-10-26T16:25:59.868+08:00Berita Harian: Chin sasar jualan Bakun selesai pertengahan 2011<div style="text-align: justify;">"Kita menjangkakan perbelanjaan modal yang tinggi untuk permulaan dan kos operasi juga agak besar," tambah beliau. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Enggan memaklumkan lokasi loji berkenaan, beliau bagaimanapun berharap<em> <strong><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: white;">unit pertama akan siap menjelang 2021, tertakluk kepada selesainya kerja-kerja tanah, penerimaan awam dan langkah-langkah keselamatan. <br />
</span></span></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Chin berkata,<strong><span style="background-color: yellow;"> tenaga nuklear ialah sumber tenaga yang Malaysia perlu perkenalkan di masa akan datang bagi memenuhi permintaan elektrik dan ini juga ekoran kepelbagaian percampuran tenaga untuk memastikan keselamatan bekalan. </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Terdahulu dalam ucapannya, beliau berkata, kerajaan berharap melaksanakan Pelan Induk Kecekapan Tenaga Nasional, yang kini dalam peringkat akhir, menjelang tahun depan untuk merangsangkan kecekapan tenaga dan mengurangkan pengeluaran karbon. - BERNAMA<br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/ChinsasarjualanBakunselesaipertengahan2011/Article">http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/ChinsasarjualanBakunselesaipertengahan2011/Article</a></div>W.F.LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121532720259702353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-64987281689489851632010-10-23T15:57:00.002+08:002010-10-23T16:14:51.106+08:00Final Words!! Sayonara~ xDHi People!!!<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Today is the last day for this course blog updatez!! Muahahaha, you all wont have a single idea how happy this moment is... First and foremost, we would say a very BIG THANK YOU!!! (to everyone who like, vote, view & comments) because without your votes, likes, views and comment, this blog purpose would be useless... yeah, really appreciate your efforts!! Do note there are a total of 36 update, which is 16 more than the required update.... and we hope that it can be beneficial to you all, although we know that there are many areas which we didn't covered in this nuclear blog. In addition, do forgive us for our imperfections which might have hurt you in any known or unknown ways~ =)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaZIZwV6u-z2uN_Rptw5eOshNjCvfue2eG0yGUjLZkVSku_IGVScI373NYWxqnnSKwDqdZC1QWC-bgYHevMwMUGqeYARwpkrAo2BU6LQsBQTxqrpbLjv9FYPohlsvFdx2OTXItMthEm4/s1600/nuclear-energy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaZIZwV6u-z2uN_Rptw5eOshNjCvfue2eG0yGUjLZkVSku_IGVScI373NYWxqnnSKwDqdZC1QWC-bgYHevMwMUGqeYARwpkrAo2BU6LQsBQTxqrpbLjv9FYPohlsvFdx2OTXItMthEm4/s320/nuclear-energy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531151576076620338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Today's blog is about our opinion on the course. First and foremost, we would like to highly express our gratitude to our lecturers,<br /><br />1) MR AZRUDI MUSTAPHA<br />2) MR SHAMSUL AMRI SULAIMAN<br />3) MR SYUKRI YAHYA<br /><br />This is because this people are great people. Yeah they are. Without them, this blog wont have accurate information to post things up. Even some of your tough comments, we were able to answer thanks to their teaching! Moreover, learning this course have toughs us what nuclear technology in terms of power plants are. Without any knowledge about nuclear power, i am sure many people are afraid especially when they heard the terms of CHERNOBYL. This shows us that knowledge is power! This is because, when we know something, it will be to our advantage to overcome the source of doubtful fears which is just merely myths and rumors which we heard form various sources.<br /><br />THANK YOU SIRS!!<br /><br />Do note that although our project time frame is over, this blog will continue to be updated in an regular manner. We hope that this nuclear information sources will be beneficial to you. Always remember, nuclear is a good option to combat global warming. We need to make the Earth more sustainable for the future generations. All the best to you all and CIAOZ~!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvUxCMEHBa62e1Kx2Mc4VZahb3RzyoKTCQ4TfxS7pMykEvrq7SS57NwIpRr_JOiEZikTBZgC06mOAj_n4pGmqSUjzMQWJ1vr4QMy2ohBYn2WiWbqsdQE7Lzts3MlDC-tFssT0UxhrgKg/s1600/wast1.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvUxCMEHBa62e1Kx2Mc4VZahb3RzyoKTCQ4TfxS7pMykEvrq7SS57NwIpRr_JOiEZikTBZgC06mOAj_n4pGmqSUjzMQWJ1vr4QMy2ohBYn2WiWbqsdQE7Lzts3MlDC-tFssT0UxhrgKg/s320/wast1.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531151581267897058" border="0" /></a><br /></div>J R Chewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196300698001222609noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-60870695987621387232010-10-22T17:27:00.004+08:002010-10-22T18:06:23.108+08:00Will going nuclear today create better future tomorrow?<div style="text-align: justify;">So, after 3-4 week of informative nuclear information has been given, what do you all readers think about nuclear? Some say green, some say nay, some say yeay and lots more. But the point to ponder upon here is will nuclear today create better future tomorrow? This is really an argumentative question, and I believe many people has different points of view? Well do share them in the comments section. =)<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />For me, I believe that nuclear energy is a good option to counter global warming. Like what I always emphasis, sustainability and human comfort. This is because, I am an engineer student. As engineer, we do our best to improve human quality life by adding the comfort they are enjoying. On the other hand, we also try our very best to sustain the environment, so that our future generation were able to enjoy what we enjoy today. Today, the most severe problem human kind is facing is global warming. U may not want to admit this, but we know the coldness of yesteryear have been long gone, and today we suffer severe heating at even 11am-4pm in Malaysia!! To prove this statement, the star paper have once publish that the sales of air con over the last few years has been good!. Hence, we need to over come this problem first, as soon as possible.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YX-0M3ghzmLJItqTPvdmyBrW92W-aKj32Q1MPdP_HqG5jfsLjb1XVFYRGIDO_7vtV99Nau8LfiHL-NVR1-0YMo-nlVs9c7quT73dC3IAwsL8yJlW4_iMZG-qXan5QHpNLntzE-l0QWY/s1600/AS19.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YX-0M3ghzmLJItqTPvdmyBrW92W-aKj32Q1MPdP_HqG5jfsLjb1XVFYRGIDO_7vtV99Nau8LfiHL-NVR1-0YMo-nlVs9c7quT73dC3IAwsL8yJlW4_iMZG-qXan5QHpNLntzE-l0QWY/s320/AS19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530809315514953394" border="0" /></a><br />I think some people might worry about nuclear radiation. Throughout nuclear history, there are 2 most severe case which is the three-mile-island and also Chernobyl. Both cases have shown that nuclear power generation is deadly. Hence, I believe that, some might not be able to sleep peacefully knowing that the nuclear power plant is operating. This is because, we cant predict when accident could happen, and our lecturers have warned us that <span style="font-style: italic;">an accident anywhere is an accident everywhere.</span> This imply that, this is our last nuclear power chance. 1 more accident like Chernobyl will cause the whole world nuclear power plant to shut down for good. However, despite the odds, until we can reduce the global carbon dioxide emission in the world to below 450ppm with other method, nuclear is still one of the best possibility available. This is on par with the resolution come out in the Copenhagen Summit.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fYSwOsauB1VacLF2ZWQNgm3AWbAcBydwWILtT8e9rwRVT5YmKtqDeaZDx8o84h-Mg2_Pq3MpSxejhwYDs7UXKOJlR5-GmzpdZemusq7Kspjx7gBZH3MXHp66nQr7gtsb7YvA7duokU8/s1600/377731178_2ae63b5f24.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fYSwOsauB1VacLF2ZWQNgm3AWbAcBydwWILtT8e9rwRVT5YmKtqDeaZDx8o84h-Mg2_Pq3MpSxejhwYDs7UXKOJlR5-GmzpdZemusq7Kspjx7gBZH3MXHp66nQr7gtsb7YvA7duokU8/s320/377731178_2ae63b5f24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530809306961924258" border="0" /></a><br />In fact, aside from the accident, some might worry bout the nuclear waste, nuclear radiation and also the Malaysian "tak apa lah" attitude in handling the nuclear power plant. Nuclear waste is seriously not a joke. A lecturer whom just got back training from Japan, clearly mention to me indirectly that the nuclear waste is costing a bomb to be cleared. Aside from that, it is highly radioactive and very dangerous to human. However this waste is very little compare with the toxic waste factory produces. As for nuclear radiation, it is proven, a nuclear power plant emits less radiation than a smoker produce when he smokes. **no offense to smokers, but do say TAK NAK!! xD**<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjhO3YcrIKdx1e4uSqS2lfLr4y4w_pl4-dZUqGZGm7mXmwV9suZqxVCFBTypbx_lMhRufZ0pmFNGRcLYc1yb2wom4D3IjXwoLxOyGLZiZuQuMD4z6NTui5e77EqDzLrkp7zB2lx5nfww/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjhO3YcrIKdx1e4uSqS2lfLr4y4w_pl4-dZUqGZGm7mXmwV9suZqxVCFBTypbx_lMhRufZ0pmFNGRcLYc1yb2wom4D3IjXwoLxOyGLZiZuQuMD4z6NTui5e77EqDzLrkp7zB2lx5nfww/s320/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530809309646196850" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So, back to the original question, will going nuclear today create a better future tomorrow? Well, I dare say no one can tell. But do ponder on the picture below. This shows our seriousness in combating global warming with nuclear power. With the availability of nuclear power, we can slowly phaseout fossil fuel power plants which will help our earth to be more sustainable. But who knows what happen to the future? If u do, you would be a billionaire, wont you? =P<br /></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdxkffqEnn3OL3kQFpshPwvSY7qSfvYFDryBhSlhhFkPIkhqtxJDiOafw_geZLKgIk3knBKI-r3_RHPXRs9SCuuGRG94TmQEMize6ysyNvsbIxdEq0q4-P_uqkKucXEBYmlxoVOyKBCw/s1600/Almost+the+end.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdxkffqEnn3OL3kQFpshPwvSY7qSfvYFDryBhSlhhFkPIkhqtxJDiOafw_geZLKgIk3knBKI-r3_RHPXRs9SCuuGRG94TmQEMize6ysyNvsbIxdEq0q4-P_uqkKucXEBYmlxoVOyKBCw/s320/Almost+the+end.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530801805210670690" border="0" /></a>J R Chewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196300698001222609noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-83140377256700477782010-10-21T14:41:00.004+08:002010-10-21T17:36:55.287+08:00New Appeareance of Chernobyl : A tourist spot so hot it's radioactive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgxY_3VQ0xh-bQOSwFXYq9-VUl46igubWr739TMms6vvFW4meftzdZitywmJ3Eswxo2BtHe5HK2gYw1xXl_b44-60sHmYYBuToa_kmm-Al3CLxehLVoImQF_vFmFiWWwWXLTNU1WcjApC/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgxY_3VQ0xh-bQOSwFXYq9-VUl46igubWr739TMms6vvFW4meftzdZitywmJ3Eswxo2BtHe5HK2gYw1xXl_b44-60sHmYYBuToa_kmm-Al3CLxehLVoImQF_vFmFiWWwWXLTNU1WcjApC/s320/1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yellow Geiger counter in hand, the guide announces that radiation levels are 37 times higher than normal. Welcome to Chernobyl, the site in 1986 of the worst nuclear disaster in history and now an attraction visited by thousands of tourists every year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nearly 25 years after a reactor at the Soviet-era plant exploded, the irradiated zone around Chernobyl is attracting curious visitors from around the world, from nuclear specialists to ordinary tourists, willing to pay $US160 ($A168) a day to visit the zone.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Described by US magazine Forbes as among the "world's unique places to visit," Chernobyl last year hosted about 7500 visitors, according to official figures.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWcjGFP2ip1yhAzoeGjsDIhbAKvhRJfUjtY552zQogGjVoix0ph3pn76YGsxn30Ds4LjI70VZIWk7Gnb0dxRlu1LbK9oD_npswFMhe3Oxf1LCYO_pJcMsyajw3bVnrKqou3aBlL_bbTsM/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWcjGFP2ip1yhAzoeGjsDIhbAKvhRJfUjtY552zQogGjVoix0ph3pn76YGsxn30Ds4LjI70VZIWk7Gnb0dxRlu1LbK9oD_npswFMhe3Oxf1LCYO_pJcMsyajw3bVnrKqou3aBlL_bbTsM/s320/2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On one recent trip, a small bus ferried tourists to the edge of the zone, forbidden to those without special permission. At the entrance, each signed a form promising to respect rules aimed at preventing contamination, including not eating or smoking outside, not touching anything and not sitting on the ground or even putting down personal belongings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The tourists signed the form with nervous laughs. A young Belgian psychologist, Davinia Schoutteten, admitted to being "a little bit scared" of the radiation and said she planned to throw away her shoes after the visit.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">She moved forward with the other tourists nonetheless, heading toward the infamous reactor, now covered in a cracked concrete shell. The Geiger counter registered radiation levels of 3.9 microsieverts, against a normallevel of 0.12 microsieverts.</div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKK4RrPMb5MJTHegyKgBQUNqVkY6Pz0lFdx-LsRvhhSGYVgij-I9ktoQJ2XrCl2RUc1wJXSRN_kBaW_0prj9d0-7l10cuBYX1256uexjkrt4dNn3h8QuMNAZ4c2NR6r8OgUYDfv-FrG5ow/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKK4RrPMb5MJTHegyKgBQUNqVkY6Pz0lFdx-LsRvhhSGYVgij-I9ktoQJ2XrCl2RUc1wJXSRN_kBaW_0prj9d0-7l10cuBYX1256uexjkrt4dNn3h8QuMNAZ4c2NR6r8OgUYDfv-FrG5ow/s400/3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After taking pictures of the reactor, the tourists headed to the abandoned city of Pripyat, built only three kilometres from the nuclear plant to house its personnel and from where 50,000 residents were evacuated the day after the catastrophe.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the city, time was frozen. Soviet-era signs hung from buildings near a rusting fun park. Books and bits of toys sat in abandoned apartments. Hundreds of gas masks littered the floor of a school cafeteria.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">At the entrance to a classroom, a lesson plan for the next week -- including classes in reading, math, Russian and natural sciences -- was written in black and red ink on a piece of paper still pinned to the wall.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFhbRCRbdXNAehMS0C-ipPzmnPMr9ebt66v9IEZxW5VffJ8CFW2hyphenhyphenQSbGKfgpcsw2hCleyF3Ckvgv58yWXS1DwaHVwqXhJgH1I2ZC0arPcQUbCn_pCQxRunbT1UBZZ63qTRD2BkS-a0ZN/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFhbRCRbdXNAehMS0C-ipPzmnPMr9ebt66v9IEZxW5VffJ8CFW2hyphenhyphenQSbGKfgpcsw2hCleyF3Ckvgv58yWXS1DwaHVwqXhJgH1I2ZC0arPcQUbCn_pCQxRunbT1UBZZ63qTRD2BkS-a0ZN/s320/4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>"It's very sad. I can't help but feel very sad," said Bobby Harrington, a young woman visiting from Australia.<br />
"(It is) very beautiful and poetic but the whole tragedy makes me feel very uncomfortable with photographing it," she said, adding that she felt like she was intruding by seeing abandoned homes.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"It's too early maybe. There are a lot of people still alive.... It's the voyeuristic element that I feel uncomfortable with," she said.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8jUirP4GMoUhheJcL9AjlyB-QGGomtuBZN-qIqclrMmPWpMb2Oi7_yv-LNGF7Ijd8rH1UFxmdfNingEoaXF9h2uW4G359yMACKeAK-xtEUxz2HWxw68Du-VurnwinB1WCgJxTsqmBB-a/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8jUirP4GMoUhheJcL9AjlyB-QGGomtuBZN-qIqclrMmPWpMb2Oi7_yv-LNGF7Ijd8rH1UFxmdfNingEoaXF9h2uW4G359yMACKeAK-xtEUxz2HWxw68Du-VurnwinB1WCgJxTsqmBB-a/s320/5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>But other tourists felt no hesitation about the site being made a tourist attraction, saying it was a testament to a historical event.<br />
<br />
"I always wanted to see this place, since it happened. It's a very important part of our recent history," said tourist Karl Backman, a Swedish musician.<br />
<br />
"I do not think it's bizarre. It's no different from the Coliseum, where people died... or from Auschwitz. It's history," he said.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The disaster occurred on April 26, 1986 at 1:23 am, when one of Chernobyl's reactors exploded, contaminating the then-Soviet states of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus with the fallout also spreading to other parts of Europe.</div>Thousands of people known as "liquidators" from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus have died since taking part in the bid to limit radioactive fallout after the catastrophe.<br />
<br />
The death toll from the Chernobyl disaster is bitterly disputed, with a United Nations toll from 2005 setting it at just 4,000, but non-governmental groups suggesting the true toll could reach tens or even hundreds of thousands.<br />
<br />
In Ukraine alone, 2.3 million people are designated officially as "having suffered from the catastrophe," including from higher cancer rates.<br />
<br />
THIS ARTICLE ARE SHARED.<br />
SOURCE: <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/travel/a-tourist-spot-so-hot-its-radioactive-20100924-15qbe.html">http://www.smh.com.au/travel/a-tourist-spot-so-hot-its-radioactive-20100924-15qbe.html</a>W.F.LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121532720259702353noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-43051096318481237892010-10-20T14:47:00.009+08:002010-10-20T16:48:55.500+08:00Chernobyl<div align="justify">This will be the last class summary topic for this blog as the class has ended officially on 19 October 2010. Hence, to end, I would like recap about the most interesting topic - Chernobyl accident in 1986.</div><div align="justify"> </div><p align="justify">This accident dated 24 years back is still a nightmare in most people's heart and is one of the contributing factor why nuclear technology is heavily opposed or go against.<br /></p><div align="justify">It is one of the most advanced nuclear powerplant of its time, operated by a group of most brilliant scientists and engineers; however, the disaster still happened because of their pride and ego.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Basically, what happened was, they were trying to run an experiment to prove the plant's capability or performance, hence all the safety systems were bypassed, and accident occured! Without containment building, the radiation spreaded throughout Europe reaching as far as Sweden. </div><div align="justify"> </div><p align="justify">Another thing that makes Chernobyl as the last is that the nuclear reactor out there currently are all "negative void temp coefficient" type of reactor eversince Chernobyl occured. Chernobyl was using the "positive void temp coefficient" concept which makes it not so safe.<br /></p><div align="justify">The below pictures will explain why.</div><p align="justify"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9YkBy7AlrFLJBKHCgnrjpC-nGrpQKHUXGod3ywPNEO6igxPf-86-XovaW1u3KcoFmnBn3mlMhwQ_OifS80irsOt-CToXeG4i3vdKPTDkSFs-4iVy2D1KUUJCXOoEQBpU-HLzT_DuGy8/s1600/chernobyl.PNG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530046152233525586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9YkBy7AlrFLJBKHCgnrjpC-nGrpQKHUXGod3ywPNEO6igxPf-86-XovaW1u3KcoFmnBn3mlMhwQ_OifS80irsOt-CToXeG4i3vdKPTDkSFs-4iVy2D1KUUJCXOoEQBpU-HLzT_DuGy8/s400/chernobyl.PNG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKoqUoHpziqzl2Ug3UpzYJDwsbVVzrj5PlzhokaMgAncmrKlSm8uwSYQdqwZsbjAFugIpzyXwvFsmbtDtoaPdhFD3hXARCDDQC0Ze2XhadqJMgTZ83a8BuNXj2RcqdoW9Bq2lE4ab2Ew/s1600/modern+reactor.PNG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530045635225335282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKoqUoHpziqzl2Ug3UpzYJDwsbVVzrj5PlzhokaMgAncmrKlSm8uwSYQdqwZsbjAFugIpzyXwvFsmbtDtoaPdhFD3hXARCDDQC0Ze2XhadqJMgTZ83a8BuNXj2RcqdoW9Bq2lE4ab2Ew/s400/modern+reactor.PNG" /></a><br /><br /><br /></p><div align="justify"></div><p align="justify"><br /><br /> </p><div align="justify"></div><p align="justify"><br /><br /> </p><div align="justify"></div><p align="justify"><br /><br />For Chernobyl type of reactor, as the coolant heats up and vaporize, the reaction in the reactor will increase due to the absence of the coolant that acts as moderator and to capture some of the neutrons. Hence, the increase in reaction will further increase the temperature, more and more coolant will heats up and vaporize, allowing the reactor to reach a certain temperature where the core will melt down. This is called "positive void temp coefficient".</p><p align="justify"> </p><p align="justify">Meanwhile, for modern reactors, that mostly use water as moderator or coolant, this problem is no longer a worry. As the moderator(water) heats up and vaporize, the neutrons are not moderated and hence fission with the fuel will not present as they are still fast neutrons. As this happens, the reaction rate will slow down and the temperature of the reactor will accordingly decrease, allowing the moderator/coolant(water) to condense and fill back the void. When the void is filled, the reaction rate will rises and it keeps on repeating. In a way, such design is self-regulating and self-sustaining. This is known as the "negative void temp coefficient".</p><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">As a nutshell, Chernobyl accident is once and for all. The chances that accident of such magnitude will happen again is almost zero, as the world now is alert and cautious when dealing in nuclear. As long as we do the following, we will be on the safe side, preventing history from being repeated:<br /></div><ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff0000;">DO NOT</span> bypass safety systems - what is going to protect us, when safety systems are bypassed?</div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff0000;">DO NOT</span> let pride take over - when pride is there, we tend to miss plenty of details.</div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff0000;">DO NOT</span> neglect designed procedures - no one knows better than the designers about their systems, they experimented!</div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff0000;">DO NOT</span> run dangerous experiments on any operating nuclear reactor - do it on experimental nuclear reactor!</div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="color:#000099;">DO</span> make sure containment building is there!</div></li></ul><p align="justify"><br />Once bitten, twice shy. We are in the shy state now, another accident, and nuclear will no longer be in talk. Hence, it is of utmost importance, that safety should always be the number 1 priority or concern in nuclear! Finally, that's all to sum up for my final class summary. Salam sejahtera, salam nuclear. </p>ysh_kobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219294982600627257noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-4535509692610257482010-10-19T17:34:00.000+08:002010-10-19T17:34:37.826+08:00What is SPENT FUEL???<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is SPENT FUEL?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9jjPtYbq9Phsr71m9Ilcc9kAf-3FlyjMF6HlsQ5ZBqab6IjK_MG-D2EbmpUdMMXe0hlir5uZJzx8FEC2YK0qTlgmXQd3xzFCUG7MVlOmA1f2_2jaZ9o7zgHWDe0ghC8MJkkNxFafCYr5/s1600/spent.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9jjPtYbq9Phsr71m9Ilcc9kAf-3FlyjMF6HlsQ5ZBqab6IjK_MG-D2EbmpUdMMXe0hlir5uZJzx8FEC2YK0qTlgmXQd3xzFCUG7MVlOmA1f2_2jaZ9o7zgHWDe0ghC8MJkkNxFafCYr5/s400/spent.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> As we all discuss in previouse all are the benefits and the operational of the nuclear reactors, today I would like to share about the nuclear waste or also known as “spent fuel”. To be more specific <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it is the nuclear fuel<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which had been irradiated in the nuclear power plant. </span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> For information, l</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ong-lived radioactive waste from the back end of the fuel cycle, the actinides have a significant influence due to their characteristically long half-lives. Depending on what a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reactor_technology" title="Nuclear reactor technology"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nuclear reactor</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is fueled with, the actinide composition will be different. For example, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fuel" title="Nuclear fuel"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nuclear fuels</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> with </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium" title="Thorium"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thorium</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Th-232) this fertile material that can undergo a neutron capture reaction and two beta minus decays, resulting in the production of fissile </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium-233" title="Uranium-233"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">U-233</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. The spent fuel cycle with thorium will contain U-233, an isotope with a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-life" title="Half-life"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">half-life</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of 160,000 years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While, the burnt fuels are Thorium with Reactor-Grade Plutonium (RGPu), Thorium with Weapons-Grade Plutonium (WGPu) and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOX_fuel" title="MOX fuel"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mixed Oxide fuel</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (MOX). For RGPu and WGPu, the initial amount of U-233 and its decay around millions of years. <br />
<br />
</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBhMYy1VZGIrnECQqdujxqOyvWB-gv-wQ_EaeIbBLbYpYDNhhr7eNz-arloujZ3XzEyQdoOeXRQ96ral5fLyg_HE6yoJasjbgfB3mTQt5yeMoGOZIxVF5ccki7LWEjUrmem3WwvqqMiq3/s1600/d1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBhMYy1VZGIrnECQqdujxqOyvWB-gv-wQ_EaeIbBLbYpYDNhhr7eNz-arloujZ3XzEyQdoOeXRQ96ral5fLyg_HE6yoJasjbgfB3mTQt5yeMoGOZIxVF5ccki7LWEjUrmem3WwvqqMiq3/s320/d1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> <br />
However, the amount of the radioactive wastes are very small compared to the wastes generated from the fossil fuel electricity generation. When we talk about the waste, everyone worried about what can we do on it. Before going to the disposal process, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Interim storage of spent fuels at the reactor site are needed in order to decrease their heat and radioactivity.There are two type of storage which is wet and dry storage(to be explained in next post).<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Interim storage, designed to last for perhaps 30-50 years (though with flexibility to shorten that time to match the progress of permanent solutions) should be pursued as the best near-term approach to managing a large fraction of the world’s spent fuel, including much of the spent fuel in the United States and Japan.<br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> Nowadays, there are several ways to treat these waste such as geological disposal and reprocessing. Firstly, we would like to touch on </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reprocessing" title="Nuclear reprocessing"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Nuclear reprocessing</span></a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which able separate spent fuel into various combinations of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reprocessed_uranium" title="Reprocessed uranium"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">reprocessed uranium</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutonium" title="Plutonium"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">plutonium</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minor_actinides" title="Minor actinides"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">minor actinides</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fission_products" title="Fission products"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">fission products</span></a>, remnants of zirconium or steel <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cladding" title="Cladding"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">cladding</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activation_products" title="Activation products"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">activation products</span></a>, and the reagents or solidifiers introduced in the reprocessing itself. With the reprocessing method,the spent fuel can be reuse in the nuclear reactor once again hence, the volume of the waste can be greatly reduced.</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br />
</span><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUbzilJ9Y4EK2iu7LgOpgQRcbzeaGLg9-qmXiEPL5842is52jnXbc7PVGtBHTqho50TEvQ3j-KKlf5o1LM2Mc09iO1RSnEiq_wxtaoo_RI77gVpr9u4_iuH6AlW1QCY6Yqu-CqonRohw8/s1600/d3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUbzilJ9Y4EK2iu7LgOpgQRcbzeaGLg9-qmXiEPL5842is52jnXbc7PVGtBHTqho50TEvQ3j-KKlf5o1LM2Mc09iO1RSnEiq_wxtaoo_RI77gVpr9u4_iuH6AlW1QCY6Yqu-CqonRohw8/s320/d3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Alternatively, the Spent Nuclear Fuel <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>can be disposed of as </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_waste" title="Radioactive waste"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">radioactive waste</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. United States has planned disposal in </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_geological_repository" title="Deep geological repository"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">deep geological formations</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, such as the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_Mountain_nuclear_waste_repository" title="Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, where it has to be shielded and packaged to prevent its migration to mankind's immediate environment for thousands of years.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The waste would be encased in tough materials and would use the surrounding rock as a barrier to prevent radioactive leakage into the environment.</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></div></div>W.F.LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121532720259702353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-81877971485257411562010-10-18T08:17:00.003+08:002010-10-19T20:43:50.494+08:00Video BlogThis is a small composed video of why we must use nuclear energy. Its a very simple and basic video. Hope you can learn something form this video. Tq.<br /><br />P/s All credits of materials go to the respective authors. We are just a compiling agent =)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyC81_u1trdywGr6XQgOzAN7k1bxthBZBHTheBC7mTJ_GTqvadMReFl1hvvm53a30qhi7-AGtVzs4tg-7X_fQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This same video has been uploaded at youtube, and can be found at<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acgAFM_Adzk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acgAFM_Adzk</a><br /></div></div>J R Chewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196300698001222609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-17008948760941458792010-10-18T00:19:00.005+08:002010-10-18T00:38:09.208+08:00How Nuclear Power Plant WorksThis is a video which animated in a simple manner on how nuclear power plant works. This is a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) in the nuclear power plant. All credit goes to Sean McCreary.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwn44b3cJzem-aFi1LyJ7yP5oeCSBjpNZ812P8wqeNBVAYt7zEf95wR5s16Xh3Z-JCI7P6DX2qZziIevILahg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>J R Chewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196300698001222609noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-34169617454023004542010-10-16T16:26:00.000+08:002010-10-16T11:15:30.892+08:00Nuclear ... BOMB or ENERGY?<div style="text-align: justify;">As we all know, nuclear is not something new. It has been existence since the early 1940 . But here is a fun fact ... is it a bomb or energy? how do we differentiate them? @,@<br /><br />The answer is simple:<br /><br />1) Control. The fission process in nuclear power plant is controllable. While the fission process in nuclear bomb is not controllable because they desire as many fission process before detonation for a more damaging effect.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKtiQb0Jlzv28T6AK8-HZrl3OuF4vsnbncM1PgI0Xyjyu2wPAbiq_llZ-I13VISt95L8MVXk7RjDr9yo43CMOTU466JWa3A53_NYyH0sv6Q4-DZEh65-OnvrWT4XqZL14YKSTOnLGOJg/s1600/Nuclear+Power+Plant.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKtiQb0Jlzv28T6AK8-HZrl3OuF4vsnbncM1PgI0Xyjyu2wPAbiq_llZ-I13VISt95L8MVXk7RjDr9yo43CMOTU466JWa3A53_NYyH0sv6Q4-DZEh65-OnvrWT4XqZL14YKSTOnLGOJg/s320/Nuclear+Power+Plant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528431814319603282" border="0" /></a><br />2) Fuel Enrichment. Fuel Enrichment is about the concentration of the U-235 used. This is because uranium 235 is the useful isotope for nuclear activity. Hence, the concentration of U-235 isotope in a nuclear power plant is just 3-5%. On the other hand, U-235 in the nuclear bomb is at least 90-95%. This means that fuel enrichment for a nuclear bomb is very high as is regard as Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgkjm_oG_GAJNzpwjOsevNRYsVZcLUMp1x8W4c9Dc9lvnUIgfUBHZGfOxW6GgbZFbUGoRcYErZ964iD0rUcD5RZcfTPE2Fnq1kZyhA3imVhAojaoYWyBEOH3DZXimlvFos_rAJJNnOho/s1600/Mk_6_nuclear_bomb.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgkjm_oG_GAJNzpwjOsevNRYsVZcLUMp1x8W4c9Dc9lvnUIgfUBHZGfOxW6GgbZFbUGoRcYErZ964iD0rUcD5RZcfTPE2Fnq1kZyhA3imVhAojaoYWyBEOH3DZXimlvFos_rAJJNnOho/s320/Mk_6_nuclear_bomb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528431810153654866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>J R Chewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196300698001222609noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-8890037263973145182010-10-15T11:31:00.004+08:002010-10-15T13:46:51.256+08:00Nuclear Waste Managment<div align="justify">It has been quite a while since I last posted. Kudos to my members for their well done job! I was pondering on what to talk about today, and when I saw rubbish around, (lights up) there it goes, we are going to talk about rubbish today! Of course, in nuclear world sense. :)<br /><br />One of the major concerns of the public going against nuclear is regarding the waste or rubbish from nuclear industry. It is indeed a very worrying and worth worrying matter. Logically, people will start imagining having nuclear waste all around us, in the rivers, at the roadside etc. What a havoc it will be if thing is really going to be so. Nuclear waste are generally materials that are no longer useful or productive for the industry. However, this does not means that these materials are not harmful, some of them are still highly radioactive. They are classified as low-level, medium-level or high-level waste according to the amount and types of radioactivity in them.<br /><br />Generally, there are three principles that are employed in the management of radioactive wastes: </div><ul><li><div align="justify">concentrate-and-contain</div></li><li><div align="justify">dilute-and-disperse</div></li><li><div align="justify">delay-and-decay</div></li></ul><ul></ul><div align="justify">The first two are widely used in today's non-radioactive wastes management while the third one is specially for nuclear waste only. Concentrate-and-contain basically means the waste is concentrated and then isolated. Dilute-and-disperse meanwhile is the exact opposite of concentrate-and-contain, waste is diluted to a level acceptable by the surrounding or environment(non-hazardous) and ejected to the environment. Delay-and-decay method however is unique for radioactive waste management only, the waste is stored and radioactivity is allowed to decrease naturally by decay of the radioisotopes in the waste.</div><div align="justify"><br />Radioactive wastes are produced in all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle-the process of producing electricity from nuclear materials. The fuel cycle is often divided into 2 parts- the "front end" which stretches frm mining through to the ue of uranium in the reactor and the "back end" which covers the removal of used fuel from the reactor and its subsequent treatment and disposal.</div><div align="justify"><br />Below is a clearly and well explained extract from world-nuclear.org website:</div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><em>Residual materials from the "front end" of the fuel cycle<br />The annual fuel requirement for a l000 MWe light water reactor is about 25 tonnes of enriched uranium oxide. This requires the mining and milling of perhaps 50,000 tonnes of ore to provide about 200 tonnes of uranium oxide concentrate (U3O8) from the mine.<br />At uranium mines, dust is controlled to minimise inhalation of radioactive minerals, while radon gas concentrations are kept to a minimum by good ventilation and dispersion in large volumes of air. At the mill, dust is collected and fed back into the process, while radon gas is diluted and dispersed to the atmosphere in large volumes of air.<br />At the mine, residual ground rock from the milling operation contain most of the radioactive materials from the ore, such as radium. This material is discharged into tailings dams which retain the remaining solids and prevent any seepage of the liquid. The tailings contain about 70% of the radioactivity in the original ore.<br />Eventually these tailings may be put back into the mine or they may be covered with rock and clay, then revegetated. In this case considerable care is taken to ensure their long-term stability and to avoid any environmental impact (which would be more from acid leaching or dust than from radioactivity as such).<br />The tailings are usually around ten times more radioactive than typical granites, such as used on city buildings. If someone were to live continuously on top of the Ranger tailings they would receive about double their normal radiation dose from the actual tailings (ie they would triple their received dose).<br />With in situ leach (ISL) mining, dissolved materials other than uranium are simply returned underground from where they came, as the water is recirculated.<br />Uranium oxide (U3O8) produced from the mining and milling of uranium ore is only mildly radioactive - most of the radioactivity in the original ore remains at the mine site in the tailings.<br />Turning uranium oxide concentrate into a useable fuel has no effect on levels of radioactivity and does not produce significant waste.<br />First, the uranium oxide is converted into a gas, uranium hexafluoride (UF6), as feedstock for the enrichment process.<br />Then, during enrichment, every tonne of uranium hexafluoride becomes separated into about 130 kg of enriched UF6 (about 3.5% U-235) and 870 kg of 'depleted' UF6 (mostly U-238). The enriched UF6 is finally converted into uranium dioxide (UO2) powder and pressed into fuel pellets which are encased in zirconium alloy tubes to form fuel rods.<br />Depleted uranium has few uses, though with a high density (specific gravity of 18.7) it has found uses in the keels of yachts, aircraft control surface counterweights, anti-tank ammunition and radiation shielding. It is also a potential energy source for particular (fast neutron) reactors.<br />Wastes from the "back end" of the fuel cycle<br />It is when uranium is used in the reactor that significant quantities of highly radioactive wastes are created. When the uranium-235 atom is split it forms fission products, which are very radioactive and make up the main portion of nuclear wastes retained in the fuel rods. There is also a relatively small amount of radioactivity induced in the reactor components by neutron irradiation.<br />About 25 tonnes of used fuel is taken each year from the core of a l000 MWe nuclear reactor. This fuel can be regarded entirely as waste (as, for 40% of the world's output, in USA and Canada), or it can be reprocessed (as in Europe and Japan). Whichever option is chosen, the used fuel is first stored for several years under water in cooling ponds at the reactor site. The concrete ponds and the water covering the fuel assemblies provide radiation protection, while removing the heat generated during radioactive decay.</em><br /><br /><br />A few methods to deal with the wastes are as below:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7NYCpw9n8V1IrEMUGw0JzIdLOVy19ZpWTRT6URcjHw9XW_Xt6396vnzENF2kZpGMc-Ubv1pPMUN1Q1jFxXdgugHHVYoJhDM0OQXpoBbBe63KYNq-a5TSgH7QR4QbbsXySkzo6VhhV0g/s1600/process.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 215px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528140490998522450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7NYCpw9n8V1IrEMUGw0JzIdLOVy19ZpWTRT6URcjHw9XW_Xt6396vnzENF2kZpGMc-Ubv1pPMUN1Q1jFxXdgugHHVYoJhDM0OQXpoBbBe63KYNq-a5TSgH7QR4QbbsXySkzo6VhhV0g/s400/process.JPG" /></a><br /><strong>Reprocessing<br /></strong><br />The used fuel is reprocessed, dissolved and separated chemcially into uranium, plotonium and high-level waste solutions. About 97% of the used fuel can be recycled, leaving only 3% as high-level waste. The recycled portion contains uranium depleted to less tha 1% U-235 and some precious plutonium.<br /><br /><strong>Immobilising high-level waste</strong><br /><br />The liquid high-level wastes are evaporated to solids, mixed with galss-forming materials, melted and poured into robust stainless steel canisters which are then sealed by welding.<br /></div><p align="justify"><br /></p><p align="justify"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Borosilicate glass from the first aste vitrification plant in UK in the 1960s. This block contains material chemically identical to high-level waste from reprocessing. A piece this size would contain the total high-level waste arising from nuclear electricity generation for one person throughout a normal lifetime.</span></em></p><p align="justify"><strong></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong></strong> </p><p align="justify"><strong>Waste Disposal</strong></p><p align="justify">Final disposal of high-level waste is delayed for 40-50 years to allow its radioactivity to decay, after which less than one thousandth of its initial radioactivity remains, and it is much easier to handle. Hence caniters of vitrified waste, or used fuel assemblies, are stored under water in special ponds, or in dry concrete structure or casks for at least this length of time.</p><div align="justify">The ultimate disposal of vitrified wastes, or of used fuel assemblies without reprocessing, requires their isolation from the environment for long periods. The most favoured method is burial in dry, stable geological formations some 500 metres deep. Several countries are investigating sites that would be technically and publicly acceptable. The USA is pushing ahead with a repository site in Nevada for all the nation's used fuel.<br />One purpose-built deep geological repository for long-lived nuclear waste (though only from defence applications) is already operating in New Mexico.<br />After being buried for about 1000 years most of the radioactivity will have decayed. The amount of radioactivity then remaining would be similar to that of the naturally-occurring uranium ore from which it originated, though it would be more concentrated.<br /><br /><strong>Layers of protection</strong> </div><div align="justify"><br />To ensure that no significant environmental releases occur over a long perio after disposal, a 'multiple barrier' disposal concept is used to immobilise the radioactive elements in high-level (and some intermediate-level) wastes and to isolate them from the biosphere. The principal barriers are:</div><ul><li><div align="justify">Immobilise waste in an insoluble matrix, eg borosilicate glass, Synroc(or leave them as uranium oxide fuel pellets - a ceramic).</div></li><li><div align="justify">seal inside a corrosion-resistant container, eg stainless steel.</div></li><li><div align="justify">surround containers with bentonite clay to inhibit any groundwater movement if the repository is likely to be wet.</div></li><li><div align="justify">Locate deep underground in a stable rock structure.</div></li></ul><div align="justify">For any of the radioactivity to reach human populations or the environment, all of these barriers would need to be breached before the radioactivity decayed. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Hence, finally, I would like to say one thought of mine, nothing comes perfectly. For even we humans are not perfect how can anything we build or design be perfect. Do not let this nuclear waste problem be a hinder for us to march into the nuclear era since it is so well taken care of. Nuclear is safe and well organized! :)</div>ysh_kobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219294982600627257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-8115492887501593002010-10-14T17:11:00.006+08:002010-10-14T17:58:07.143+08:00Binding Energy, Mass Defect, & Einstein EquationOk, today update is 3 topics which are<br /><br />1) Binding Energy (BE)<br />2) Mass Defect<br />3) Einstein Equation, E=mc2<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">BE in scientific terms is the amount of energy that must be supplied to a nucleus to completely separate its nuclear particles(nucleons). This definition is based on the fission process, whereby in order to separate the nucleons, we bombarded a nucleus with a minimum amount of energy known as BE.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwT8QbPoxxfQ6t29QPLqCz923Exs21Zc-Ppeza6R2geq6lDlQ6jjCUnopJ2_cAmSLkdwapdBe1UpnMkO5maxQEU-OpvWuVibFgkfVZs5fhKqygFK3C22B4mnw_nWg7jKS6f9cF9SCBoY/s1600/FissionChainReaction.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwT8QbPoxxfQ6t29QPLqCz923Exs21Zc-Ppeza6R2geq6lDlQ6jjCUnopJ2_cAmSLkdwapdBe1UpnMkO5maxQEU-OpvWuVibFgkfVZs5fhKqygFK3C22B4mnw_nWg7jKS6f9cF9SCBoY/s320/FissionChainReaction.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527834590014896066" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Next, we go to mass defect. By scientific definition, mass defect is the difference between the mass of the atom and the sum of the masses of its constituent parts. To make this clear, let say I can take a water molecule H2O. If I can measure the weight of 1 H2O molecule, its mass is not the same as the mass of 2 Hydrogen atom + 1 Oxygen atom which is not combined.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8RSEAZnlbGeGzenu5BbwxrOfB9FOKYePdwNhmQYfF4uT8bivCBKef1naExwJ3TBvjoSfzQ3p-s6ncmft5fwMQxWJ-JyaRqykpRYzF77qGg3v3cf71LQlfdqLSmxInzvKO830_IvXIQA/s1600/1238968076936815408scott_kirkwood_scales.svg.hi.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8RSEAZnlbGeGzenu5BbwxrOfB9FOKYePdwNhmQYfF4uT8bivCBKef1naExwJ3TBvjoSfzQ3p-s6ncmft5fwMQxWJ-JyaRqykpRYzF77qGg3v3cf71LQlfdqLSmxInzvKO830_IvXIQA/s320/1238968076936815408scott_kirkwood_scales.svg.hi.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527834598959550482" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">How could this happen? Well, its due to the theory of mass defect as explained above. Besides that, the loss of mass is due to BE. Scientists believe that a portion of energy has been release which compromise the loss of mass in an atom if that particular atom has been separated within its neutron as shown if the figure above, when the fission process occurs. Next thing is related to Einstein famous equation as shown below:<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NCdJsLwTJ2gZjrn-X1Y2-SKYmYg6MjdBE52meIG2Z24-FwmX4Jk0snesIZ6T_X9KxRYABOb5yIO5v_eiNB2nQBDfG8nsHN9EEWkPS0VS7BEf-QNAxACtrwbW9spcgR8e4eHctLWwHao/s1600/e=mc2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NCdJsLwTJ2gZjrn-X1Y2-SKYmYg6MjdBE52meIG2Z24-FwmX4Jk0snesIZ6T_X9KxRYABOb5yIO5v_eiNB2nQBDfG8nsHN9EEWkPS0VS7BEf-QNAxACtrwbW9spcgR8e4eHctLWwHao/s320/e=mc2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527834590968300786" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So, people might ask how are BE, E=mc2 & Mass Defect relate to each other?? The answer is the amount of energy loss through Mass Defect is known as Binding energy, yes you all know that in the previous elaboration. In addition, the amount of energy lost through mass defect or rather the total amount of BE can be calculated thanks to Einstein. This is because, his equation has proven that 1amu (atomic mass unit) is equivalent to 931.5 MeV (mega electron volt) and the total Binding Energy in MeV is 931.5MeV multiplied with the total of Mass Defect in amu units as shown below:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovwVgYVfYPtaMYiADNfA450jQW7Qy5Tc340CyNisKf9x_qQLfcya6euNYilK9pNb4n57MTW2hXpqDcYU3hYx9YGqgukxTmYah2tY5rmesjKKlFtuZeiTKHK6FzTRvQsNuO6fuWQ6MXyU/s1600/eqn+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 121px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovwVgYVfYPtaMYiADNfA450jQW7Qy5Tc340CyNisKf9x_qQLfcya6euNYilK9pNb4n57MTW2hXpqDcYU3hYx9YGqgukxTmYah2tY5rmesjKKlFtuZeiTKHK6FzTRvQsNuO6fuWQ6MXyU/s320/eqn+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527838015437220194" border="0" /></a><br />So how does this relates with our life? Basically, if we can calculate BE/A where A is the atomic mass for each perspective elements, we will get that the highest value of BE/A is found in iron or rather Fe-56. That explains how come iron is abundant on Earth - due to its high BE/A value. Hope you learn something here =).<br /><br /></div>J R Chewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196300698001222609noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-90398188475823258442010-10-13T19:44:00.001+08:002010-10-13T19:49:26.434+08:00Uranium Mining: Part 2 : In-Situ Leaching<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx_0iRmB0PJ6uYL-kM3ODij1lWSsx17ypFBAJ_qIwEpGPiIp6ZeHV8pZhS9poTrmxAcmndSZ7T0KgALIAfGuA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxWOtY85j6yu1iTfIVtvVPIzE6YGffV_UNtkjIhKbo-MWdF_tLQ_KKCcwd9Nvpi-_7RyvfXyjkHWYfzfeunrw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
With just words only, i believe you all cant get the better picture of the uranium mining. Here, i would like to share two very nice video about uranium mining. Enjoy the video guys~~ ^_^<br />
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Source 1: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ld0GzPiZRk&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ld0GzPiZRk&feature=related</a><br />
Source 2: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCdK-yDN_qo&NR=1">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCdK-yDN_qo&NR=1</a>W.F.LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121532720259702353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-25419917288522307312010-10-13T18:00:00.009+08:002010-10-13T18:22:49.569+08:00Uranium Mining: Part I<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Gnn8_rhpRadicewig76ZdKWj9VCrE2NA607iS09dDSXl60NPk2YK-CPsSdaBbj77fwqxePi6AOGBinUL6Fd31_lnF7dK72WjxUBx-wujirV9ZmBftCM5w6ABcRoaEXNyJl3B0lsAY_wu/s1600/uranium..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Gnn8_rhpRadicewig76ZdKWj9VCrE2NA607iS09dDSXl60NPk2YK-CPsSdaBbj77fwqxePi6AOGBinUL6Fd31_lnF7dK72WjxUBx-wujirV9ZmBftCM5w6ABcRoaEXNyJl3B0lsAY_wu/s400/uranium..JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today, I would like to share some very interesting knowledge to you guys.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First of all, do you anyone of you know how uranium being mine from our earth?<br />
Well, in today post I would like to write where are these uranium fuel come from before ready to be use in nuclear reactor. <br />
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For your information, the process of extracting the uranium ore from the ground are also called as uranium mining. As we all know, the uranium obtained from the mine are relatively low concentration compared to the uranium used in reactor. Uranium does not appear in a solid rigid form but it is existed in form of bearing rock. Because of the uranium having the most <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stable isotopes and having the half-life of it are approximated 4.5 billion years.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8hVtp4Qv0SbDD47Vesifw6OifshEGygCZ6QEz0ybuVjivhfw6FC5zWFN51EepD28KO4QnjWOzIBFpaUOV8R1Ltyj5l4yEcNkZnTtxLIbARRfxYYFK7_zIL1foqMw8YKiNX9CUzp2e59k/s1600/swtste6b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8hVtp4Qv0SbDD47Vesifw6OifshEGygCZ6QEz0ybuVjivhfw6FC5zWFN51EepD28KO4QnjWOzIBFpaUOV8R1Ltyj5l4yEcNkZnTtxLIbARRfxYYFK7_zIL1foqMw8YKiNX9CUzp2e59k/s320/swtste6b.jpg" width="194" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3IGsGNbPPmRyLgGN6tEYySl-J5Z9VRO7pmzjAlBsPwlspX_oCl1uRvpp2cu2HIxg6xoqxszDKYIz_KoFxOy7XmyBaGjcefB5LxY2I5V00j2vd8AOx4DWSCHEUpSTxZc5r8fMp9A1Xwbw/s1600/2007Uranium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3IGsGNbPPmRyLgGN6tEYySl-J5Z9VRO7pmzjAlBsPwlspX_oCl1uRvpp2cu2HIxg6xoqxszDKYIz_KoFxOy7XmyBaGjcefB5LxY2I5V00j2vd8AOx4DWSCHEUpSTxZc5r8fMp9A1Xwbw/s400/2007Uranium.png" width="400" /></a></div><div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
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Right now, Uranium mining are operating throughout the world with more than 25 countries. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As reported, there are estimated more than 100 uranium mines with vary of stages in developed. </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Canada, Australia and Kazakhstanare the countries who <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>contribute more than half of world's uranium production.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There is not much different with uranium mining with other mining such as gold mining unless the grade of ore are very high. In uranium mining, </span>special mining techniques such as dust suppression, and in extreme cases remote handling techniques, are employed to limit worker radiation exposure and to ensure the safety of the environment and general public.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Searching for uranium is in some ways easier than for other mineral resources because the radiation signature of uranium's decay products allows deposits to be identified and mapped from the air. There are several ways used nowadays in detecting the uranium sources such as airbones survey which using the radar and sensors in detecting the gamma rays emitted from the bearing rocks, well logging are quite famous method used in oil nor uranium mining where <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">known as” <b>borehole logging”</b> is the practice of making a detailed record of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologic" title="Geologic"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">geologic</span></a> formations penetrated by a borehole.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div></span> </div></div>W.F.LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121532720259702353noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-40332384824500024492010-10-12T17:04:00.002+08:002010-10-12T17:52:57.413+08:00The Massive Comments Q&A (I)<div style="text-align: justify;">Since today we have no specific topics to be posted, hence we have decided to pst some popular question, do not worry if your question is not posted here, this is just part I, we are going to have more parts to come.<br /><br />1.Do really soluble poisons are used in emergency shutdown systems? and how it is done during SCRAM? AMREET RAJ SINGH<br />ANS : Nope, as far as we know, poison will have a hard time to control neutron during emergency. It just help to control the neutron population on a normal basis aside from the control rod. SCRAM is actually Safety Control Rod Axe Man. This belongs to a control rod. You must have a clear cut that control rods and neutron prison share the same function to "kill" excessive neutron. As for generation 3 and below, there are people who standby this safety string with an axe to chop it off, so that the control rod can drop down asap during emergency.<br /><br />2.Why, after all this years we haven't venture into this energy? to say that we couldn't afford it in the past, we have plenty of oil rigs and we spend a lot of money importing coal. Why didn't we consider nuclear in the past? Muhamad Rifdy Bin Samsudin<br />ANS : Because in the past, fossil fuel is still the main preference in terms of availability. To get a nuclear power plant, the initial cost is very expensive due to high safety standards it require to built with it. Besides that, public acceptance is another main factor. We believe, that time many people are still afraid of nuclear energy which due to CHERNOBYL and 3 MILE ISLAND accident.<br /><br />3. As the author mention vehicle in this article, just imagine if all the vehicle in this world using nuclear power.What will happen to the nuclear power when we dont want to use the vehicle anymore?? As all of you know that uranium when burnt generate more fuel. For example, we will only use a car for at most 15 years, while the nuclear power will last more longer than 15 years. So, after 15 years what should we do with the nuclear power? Syarifah Nur Hamizah Bt Syed Kasim<br />&<br />Does the usage of nuclear power for vehicles are the same with fuel?Like we have to directly fill in the nuclear into our car.If it is to be directly use by vehicles like that,it would be harmful when the nuclear produce the wastage after it generates energy to move the vehicles. I know it is safe when we manage the nuclear in power plant but what about the nuclear that we use in our vehicles? however, if it is not directly used on our vehicles it would be fine. Sorry if i lack of information on how the nuclear power is used on vehicles. Amiro Iqbal Bin Mohd Aminudin<br /><br />ANS : As for vehicle, only submarines and some humongous transport that is sea-based used nuclear as a fuel. On the other hand, small vehicles such as cars are gearing towards electrical power. The point is if this electrical powered car needs a recharge, they can be done from house electrical plug (such cars, pls check the latest SMART car 2009/2010 based edition). We now its rare, but its growing as we speak. Therefore, there is no worries if weather we need to fill it lke petrol, or what happen if we want to dispose of it. This is because nuclear fuel is not used without long term planning. We as the engineers should include practicability of the usage of nuclear energy too, but i love your creativity~ =)<br /><br />4.SO i just want to know what your opinion what is when in malaysia we have a power plant for it?? khuzaimi bin kamaruddin<br /><br />ANS : Incase you didnt realise, Malaysia indeed have a NUCLEAR REACTOR. It is based somewhere in bangi UKM till Semenyih (the behind "kampung" road). And it has been weel establish since 2007 if i m not wrong. Hence, we are ready to deploy nuclear power plant. Just that maybe the public need to be educated and hope that they can accept it openly. And we think it can start to build in 2021, especially when our neighboring country are pushing faster than us for nuclear power plants.<br /><br />5. Instead of rushing into nuclear energy, research should be done on better ways to harness and use solar energy.YANG GUO XIAN (ME083672)<br /><br />ANS: Yes, you are right! but the fact is we don't have much time ... this is because we want to stop the crude oil price from increasing past USD 200 a barrel. How are they related? There is a graph, each time crude oil price increases, nuclear demand also spurge up!. This shows that people around the world are thinking to replace fossil fuel power plants with nuclear energy. And to complete this answer, nuclear must work hand in hand with renewable energy. But do remember solar cant harvest energy at night and we don't have a humongous and good capacitance which can stored obtained energy up to 12 hours with minor losses to power up factory (we are not powering mini solar car here =P). Hydro and Wind energy takes too many land and it damages the ecosystem (look at Bakun) and aerosplane cannot fly in that region (for wind).<br /><br /><br />p/s yeah i know there is more ... but this first post is showing you all that we are putting effort answering your questionnaires. just be patient. and if any1 like to help us answer, of course do not stop from doing so. We are also compiling best sample comments answer from our audience to share with everyone. =)<br /><br />1 final word, lets use this blog to trade information among each other. I might not be right all the time. In fact maybe some of you knows more than me 2. So lets work together so share knowledge on nuclear energy and power plant piece by piece to solve the mysterious unknown jigsaw puzzle. HOORAY~~<br /></div>J R Chewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196300698001222609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-29508005874840066542010-10-11T15:26:00.011+08:002010-10-11T16:22:56.398+08:00Nuclear Talk Summary ILast Friday (8 Oct2010) there was a talk on "Green Lecture Series". This talk, we have 2 invited guest speakers who are Madam Sheriffah Noor Khamseah Al-Idid binti Dato’ Syed Ahmad Idid from the Nuclear Power Division, Malaysia Nuclear Agency, and also Mr Azrudi Mustapha from the TNB Nuclear Energy Unit. Note that, this is justa summary of the talk, as per quota of this blog tentative.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />As for the first lecture, Madam Sheriffah has 6 main points which are<br />A Energy: Catalyst for Economic Growth<br />B. Current Energy Regime is Unsustainable<br />C. Present Status of Nuclear Power<br />D. Evolution of Nuclear Power Systems<br />E. Projections for Nuclear Power<br />F. Global & Domestic Challenges for Malaysian Government & Industry Leaders to consider introducing and expanding Nuclear Power<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5h4fvpUxEuM6vvazyXFpMBf-cNEyXs9W8_SE3EcHFKXBrwjLOCxDakQa90LK569Q7TwdqopY_-GgsiWuY61QF9cJrwRz6Vw3DsxlkKCPj4b4fEti76qsONh3LJkKY4RXmgKv7s69AEyI/s1600/Nuke+1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5h4fvpUxEuM6vvazyXFpMBf-cNEyXs9W8_SE3EcHFKXBrwjLOCxDakQa90LK569Q7TwdqopY_-GgsiWuY61QF9cJrwRz6Vw3DsxlkKCPj4b4fEti76qsONh3LJkKY4RXmgKv7s69AEyI/s320/Nuke+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526698682447923266" border="0" /></a><br />To summaries her talk, she introduce to us the definition of energy. Energy is actually something very important. This is because, everything we do relates with energy. Therefore, as we know energy is important, we must also know where is the source of this energy come from? This is because, without the energy source, we will not be able to do work. "Work" here is inclusive of the daily normal chores such as walking until the extraordinary chores such as producing a coke drink. In short, a good example is driving a car needs petrol as a source in order for us to move easily and comfortable from point A to B.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWQGNTRpPtHS1B08z7O-e1-NMPg5GMpxGQ1VeWHnxeSToriBCMRU0euMlF_QhDR0mgkXJoqKx0BlaoH9i8KRvu65oOKInS1QUonV3Xq-XW-RCyfcG39Calgd_QB0EVrg0bxm8zvd55iE/s1600/Nuke+3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWQGNTRpPtHS1B08z7O-e1-NMPg5GMpxGQ1VeWHnxeSToriBCMRU0euMlF_QhDR0mgkXJoqKx0BlaoH9i8KRvu65oOKInS1QUonV3Xq-XW-RCyfcG39Calgd_QB0EVrg0bxm8zvd55iE/s320/Nuke+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526698687881705522" border="0" /></a><br />However, as we all know, thank to previous generations, we have found many source of energy such as carbon based fuel (LNG, coal, petrol) and also renewable energy fuel such as hydro, solar and wind energy. However, as much as we are aware or unaware, we have a much bigger problem which is <span style="font-weight: bold;">we are heavily depended on carbon based fuel.</span> The next horrifying thing is that these carbon based fuel is coming to an extinction, not in the near 20-30 years (except for coal) and thus, a new energy source is greatly needed which is <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nuclear Power!!</span> Moreover, the escalating price of carbon based fuel has also lead to the development of Nuclear Power. Thus, that's why we need to start our own nuclear power plant as soon as possible. This is because, our country is 1 of the country that is so much dependent on hydrocarbon fuel. Not only that this energy is not environmental friendly as it contributes to global warming, but its cost is fluctuating from time to time. And each time the government declares an increase in fuel, or electricity, the cost of living will definitely rocket. A good example is roti canai cost RM0.90 in Kuala Lumpur in the early 2000, but today, it costs as much as RM1.30!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1b1nMaFAQRAnqGRQmTBMOUJHmGDGwZLwqd3ATHHYN29yGSUC7qoao2yWNwyrmn2SXZUyuWSWBOiLfOwgnOnZKCrGaCVTT6rTK_OmatnAn1fyGge8fvuXA9VgWC-SrvAiF7b84V0qqi7g/s1600/Nuke+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1b1nMaFAQRAnqGRQmTBMOUJHmGDGwZLwqd3ATHHYN29yGSUC7qoao2yWNwyrmn2SXZUyuWSWBOiLfOwgnOnZKCrGaCVTT6rTK_OmatnAn1fyGge8fvuXA9VgWC-SrvAiF7b84V0qqi7g/s320/Nuke+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526698684323249474" border="0" /></a><br />After that, Madam Sheriffah continued speaking on the developent of Nuclear Power Plants globally and also how our country, Malaysia is progressing with developing our very own nuclear power plant.<br /><br /><br />The next lecture is done by 1 of our lecturer in this topic which is Mr Mr Azrudi Mustapha. Seriouly, we saw how awesome and convincing his talk is. Dont believe me? Check how these wonderfull commentators has been impacted and transformed!! (Thank you commentators who backed us up! You all are of great help! =), yes .. you, you and you *points to everyone*).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDY7cYjhflKriHKfM2yNKg1rUx7Wayi18AxU7Fm3XSs7VZUNQsL5JWUu2Hh6QeOlFvo7C4nLKoCCWS_UdqOJ3vRTowzUMPhZC6xxNfB3egk7h7lsAf9ugVFwyuDG2c5U9gmL6uFQoPRs/s1600/Nuke+5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDY7cYjhflKriHKfM2yNKg1rUx7Wayi18AxU7Fm3XSs7VZUNQsL5JWUu2Hh6QeOlFvo7C4nLKoCCWS_UdqOJ3vRTowzUMPhZC6xxNfB3egk7h7lsAf9ugVFwyuDG2c5U9gmL6uFQoPRs/s320/Nuke+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526698689356652274" border="0" /></a><br />Mr Azrudi started his talk with our country energy consumption and its effect if it is not sustained. This really lets the audience the the clear picture of what happen in the future if fossil fuel is not being replace. Besides that, he also points out the effects of green house effect, and how nuclear energy can help reduce green house effect. Moreover, Mr Azrudi also explains thoroughly how a nuclear power reactor works and its safety system. In fact, we dare to say that incidents such as CHERNOBYL and 3 MILE ISLAND would not happen as there are at least protective layers defending our nuclear power plants! And the last layer is the 1 meter thick concrete!!!! Finally before ending, Mr Azrudi also mention about radioactive, radioactivity & its waste.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V6tLq48ngYqdJltBAd71Sof91zVIjZrHc_3njBhetq_2JoMvknAfIUt-ZRFtDWYsGAWWUfJSNf_mi8rhKvlDDawE1Ag3QO6OO5-J0aITbcYbWK1PQL-_fQkzr-MRD1sy2dyeWsY1YOU/s1600/Nuke+4.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V6tLq48ngYqdJltBAd71Sof91zVIjZrHc_3njBhetq_2JoMvknAfIUt-ZRFtDWYsGAWWUfJSNf_mi8rhKvlDDawE1Ag3QO6OO5-J0aITbcYbWK1PQL-_fQkzr-MRD1sy2dyeWsY1YOU/s1600/Nuke+4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V6tLq48ngYqdJltBAd71Sof91zVIjZrHc_3njBhetq_2JoMvknAfIUt-ZRFtDWYsGAWWUfJSNf_mi8rhKvlDDawE1Ag3QO6OO5-J0aITbcYbWK1PQL-_fQkzr-MRD1sy2dyeWsY1YOU/s320/Nuke+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526698689651743458" border="0" /></a>So, the future is in YOUR HANDS as we are the FUTURE GENERATION LEADERS! Therefore, we must choose to opt for nuclear power or ban it!! Remember, we MUST MAKE EARTH SUSTAINABLE for our FUTURE GRANDCHILDREN! =)<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-llXOI-m5bkUZrtIdWH0-HucoX-t_UgEnhxIoWpVhZVkaQ4en8R7P_3ZxYxTgJpPPnF1vBnonGXyDsE0erd7JmLSuB0OVwc0kv9_W5GJDbkJJvFLmD2MF2yoDyksXQWsGsI67fREOo4/s1600/Nuke+6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-llXOI-m5bkUZrtIdWH0-HucoX-t_UgEnhxIoWpVhZVkaQ4en8R7P_3ZxYxTgJpPPnF1vBnonGXyDsE0erd7JmLSuB0OVwc0kv9_W5GJDbkJJvFLmD2MF2yoDyksXQWsGsI67fREOo4/s320/Nuke+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526698824602494482" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-llXOI-m5bkUZrtIdWH0-HucoX-t_UgEnhxIoWpVhZVkaQ4en8R7P_3ZxYxTgJpPPnF1vBnonGXyDsE0erd7JmLSuB0OVwc0kv9_W5GJDbkJJvFLmD2MF2yoDyksXQWsGsI67fREOo4/s1600/Nuke+6.jpg"><br /></a><br />*NOTE* We are here as supporters of nuclear power plant. Besides that, we are major role player to provide information regarding nuclear power plant to all readers. This is because we have not a single intention to wipe out all power plant and replace it solely with nuclear power plant. However, we just want to inform all readers that as we develop nuclear power plants, we also developed other renewable resources hand in hand to <span style="font-weight: bold;">maximize energy, minimize energy cost and also reduce green house effect!</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDY7cYjhflKriHKfM2yNKg1rUx7Wayi18AxU7Fm3XSs7VZUNQsL5JWUu2Hh6QeOlFvo7C4nLKoCCWS_UdqOJ3vRTowzUMPhZC6xxNfB3egk7h7lsAf9ugVFwyuDG2c5U9gmL6uFQoPRs/s1600/Nuke+5.jpg"><br /></a><br />*P/s we have this nuclear test tonight, so after the test, all comments will be entertained ASAP!, so bring it ON!!! (but please ask relevant question regarding topic) and other comments you can put in the chat box. Thank you very much!<br /></div>J R Chewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196300698001222609noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-5293573937012425452010-10-08T14:04:00.003+08:002010-10-08T14:40:57.251+08:00Nuclear Myths I<span style="font-weight: bold;">Myth 1: Nuclear power is bad for the environment. </span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fact :</span> In today's world, our top priority concern is actually <span style="font-weight: bold;">global warming</span>. This is because, the abundant releases of carbon emissions through combustion is getting higher daily. How do we know? The proof are the melting of the North and South Pole. Besides that, our daily outdoor temperature has increased at least 3-5 degree Celsius. The heat is making our Earth unbearable to stay on. Do you know that if our body temperature changes more than 4 degrees Celsius we will fall sick? So like wise, if our surrounding temperature is increasing, we might not be able to live on this earth comfortably. For extra explanation, imagine the whole world is like the Sahara Desert, you don't want to live in such heated conditions. As engineers we need to find solution so that this earth can still be exists for say the next 100 years. We need to find sustainable solution without compromising mother nature. Now, the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> best solution we have is nuclear power to fulfill the escalating demand of electricity.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6IakcdirHW8vW1qqtWJtOyIwlXpye1l21svxB06f8EJ9eZBJVelEcxHOg3a47ZJPPfJ47NGgPgj-Br3MK3d4vSjcz5RQI_zbFSC271gPMZA11X45_frBxPhtv0j2ZIM_HWOmEto9OAY/s1600/global_warming_by_teabing1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6IakcdirHW8vW1qqtWJtOyIwlXpye1l21svxB06f8EJ9eZBJVelEcxHOg3a47ZJPPfJ47NGgPgj-Br3MK3d4vSjcz5RQI_zbFSC271gPMZA11X45_frBxPhtv0j2ZIM_HWOmEto9OAY/s320/global_warming_by_teabing1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525559983194670370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As repeated, <span style="font-weight: bold;">nuclear energy is actually the best solution to green house effect and global warming. </span>Why? This is because, nuclear energy does not release any significant amount of carbon emissions. Do you know that coal, petrol and natural gas power plant is a major contributing factor for green house effect? Besides these power plant, vehicles are the next major contributors. That's why scientist and engineers are gearing towards hybrid or electrical power car to stop or minimize vehicles to contribute to global warming. This same application goes to the power plant. Let me explain further.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmjXrr57ywdkSNLA2jRsDLNHdn_DGUErAgW0IKKdcLwHqNdrKYeuUs_YSIPQTpRBAYgojAOT4hCpeTlm_bpiZv3GDS5o9cYiiq2_jtunnicsquWJo8AZirJL6dEAjq05ARtzDUKMKn_8/s1600/global_warming.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmjXrr57ywdkSNLA2jRsDLNHdn_DGUErAgW0IKKdcLwHqNdrKYeuUs_YSIPQTpRBAYgojAOT4hCpeTlm_bpiZv3GDS5o9cYiiq2_jtunnicsquWJo8AZirJL6dEAjq05ARtzDUKMKn_8/s320/global_warming.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525559982912561362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Unlike cars which can be powered by electricity, power plant cannot be powered by electricity. This is because, power plant produces electricity itself. Car on the other hand is used to transport people from point A to B. Likewise, power plant needs some sort of "initiating energy" to be converted to this electrical energy that we are happily using. As the Principle of Conservation Energy says energy can only convert from 1 source to another. Hope you can understand this fact.<br /><br />Of course, people will start to debate on nuclear waste and renewable energy such as wind, geothermal and hydroelectric. But we will come to that soon. That's all & thank you!! =)<br /><br />P/S i am so sorry as i cant reply any comments regarding the Xenon topic due to insufficient time and incomplete the proper study to provide you all accurate and satisfying answer. However we have not given up and still doing a major reading throughot regarding this topic. So please be patient. Thank you for being great commentators and viewers<br /></div>J R Chewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02196300698001222609noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-22941901882697007612010-10-07T17:58:00.003+08:002010-10-07T18:10:00.804+08:00Moderator, Coolant & Control Rod : Part III<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is control rods???<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Basically control rods are the movable pieces of neutrons absorbing material which used to control the fission reactivity. These control rod is made of chemical elements which have the ability to capture many neutrons without fissioning themselves. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The most important function is to insert to shutdown or stop the nuclear fission process when required. <br />
<br />
An automatic control system, or the operator, can initiate the shutdown. In some reactors, all rods (29 to 100+, depending on reactor size) may insert in as short a time as 2 seconds. The control rods are made of materials that quickly stop the nuclear reaction by absorbing the neutrons. The materials divert the neutrons from being absorbed or causing fissions in the fuel. Materials used include boron carbide, silver, indium, cadmium, and hafnium diboride.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <span lang="EN"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since they absorb neutrons, any movement of the rods can affects the multiplication factor of the system. When the rods are been removed, the “k” increases while when insertion the “k” decreases. Therefore, the reactor can be started up or shut down safetly. Besides, by adjusting the control rods we able to control the power output according to our needs. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They are used in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reactor" title="Nuclear reactor"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">nuclear reactors</span></a> to control the rate of fission of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium" title="Uranium"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">uranium</span></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutonium" title="Plutonium"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">plutonium</span></a>. Because these elements have different <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_capture" title="Neutron capture"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">capture cross sections</span></a> for neutrons of varying energies, the compositions of the control rods must be designed for the neutron spectrum of the reactor it is supposed to control. Light water reactors (BWR, PWR) and heavy water reactors (HWR) operate with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_temperature" title="Neutron temperature"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">"thermal" neutrons</span></a>, whereas <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breeder_reactor" title="Breeder reactor"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">breeder reactors</span></a> operate with "fast" neutrons.</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>W.F.LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121532720259702353noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679770163296770243.post-51181838084201082852010-10-07T17:33:00.001+08:002010-10-07T17:45:15.373+08:00Moderator, Coolant & Control Rod : Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmv0Ugd6tGQtS9u-BQ1OaHkacIJyYOye5uVpyct2iIG0R2N5OwisO4mXg_ZI4fW2qNgPG-T-2yMlXset5I_oPJGEUtF_qur8jo0ssJhKYGnDOxCR9TK3mM9TxNO6xmMFV1ix0142qtMrgG/s1600/reactor-core-coolant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img ex="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmv0Ugd6tGQtS9u-BQ1OaHkacIJyYOye5uVpyct2iIG0R2N5OwisO4mXg_ZI4fW2qNgPG-T-2yMlXset5I_oPJGEUtF_qur8jo0ssJhKYGnDOxCR9TK3mM9TxNO6xmMFV1ix0142qtMrgG/s320/reactor-core-coolant.jpg" border="0" height="233" width="320" /></a></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";" > <br /><br /> Coolant is used to absorb the heat generated from the </span><span style=";font-family:";" lang="EN"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reactor_core" title="Nuclear reactor core"><span style="color:blue;">nuclear reactor core</span></a> and transfer it to electrical generators and the environment</span><span style=";font-family:";" >. </span><span style=";font-family:";color:#000000;" >Since water and heavy water also can function as coolants, they can do double duty in thermal reactors.</span><span style=";font-family:";" > The coolant water is heated by the nuclear reactions going on inside the core. However, this heated water does not boil because it is kept at an extremely intense pressure, thus raising its boiling point above the normal 100° Celsius.</span></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvrPc51KCw5bZIZdZf2PJ3ZcFllq9tIXS7FU-AZ6DGMKK2mXS0SYNFdLqLXAs_BhtFlnfYsADL9UrIYdg4ikaPd4ke0SUYivSaqfekSsM1JI6mgNHd-5nQ6CpPXO2tumZJv6eJSu1RUMx/s1600/a3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img ex="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvrPc51KCw5bZIZdZf2PJ3ZcFllq9tIXS7FU-AZ6DGMKK2mXS0SYNFdLqLXAs_BhtFlnfYsADL9UrIYdg4ikaPd4ke0SUYivSaqfekSsM1JI6mgNHd-5nQ6CpPXO2tumZJv6eJSu1RUMx/s320/a3.JPG" border="0" height="206" width="320" /></a></div><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;color:black;" ><span style=""> </span>For fast reactors, water and heavy water are not suitable to be used as coolants, because they would tend to slow down the fission of neutrons as in fast reactor we needed the neutrons to be in as energetic as possible. Hence, the most fast reactors can be cooled by using liquid sodium which is very good heat transfer properties and it is not good in slowing down neutrons by elastic scattering. Besides, coolants also having chemical stability which meaning that it will not react with the neutrons, there only mall </span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >pumping requirement, irradiation stability and abundance as well as low cost.</span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;color:black;" ><br /><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><span style=""> </span>A coolant fluid enters the core at low <span class="ilad1"><span style="text-decoration: none;color:#000000;" ><span id="IL_AD3"><u>temperature</u></span></span></span> and leaves it at higher <span class="ilad1"><span style="text-decoration: none;color:#000000;" ><span id="IL_AD4"><u>temperature</u></span></span></span>. This higher temperature fluid is then directed to conventional <span class="ilad1"><span style="text-decoration: none;color:#000000;" ><span id="IL_AD5"><u>thermodynamic</u></span></span></span> <span class="ilad1"><span style="text-decoration: none;color:#000000;" ><span id="IL_AD6"><u>components</u></span></span></span> where the heat is converted into electrical power.</span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;color:black;" > </span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;color:black;" lang="EN">D</span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;color:black;" lang="EN">ifferent coolants are used in different </span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;color:black;" lang="EN">purposes</span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;color:black;" lang="EN"> and some of the commonly used coolants are light water, heavy water, carbondioxide, helium, nitrogen, sodium, sodium-potassium mixture and so on. It can be seen that the coolants used vary from solids, liquids and gases and depending on the type of the reactor.</span>W.F.LEEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121532720259702353noreply@blogger.com0