Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival 259
ANS Nuclear Cafe is proud to host the 259th Nuclear Energy Blogger Carnival. This rotating feature travels around the various pro-nuclear, English-language blogs every week and showcases the top blog posts of those blogs, as submitted by the blog authors or administrators. Let's get to it!
Nuke Power Talk - Gail Marcus
Japan's Approaches to Nuclear Accidents
At Nuke Power Talk, Gail Marcus reports on a presentation to the Japan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) given by Professor Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who served as chairman of the National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission (NAIIC). Professor Kurosawa discussed the Japanese approach to nuclear accidents, and accidents in general. He made some interesting observations about differences between the historical Japanese approach and the approach of other advanced nations, and pointed out some measures he thinks the Japanese nuclear establishment needs to take in the future.
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Science 2.0 - Robert Hayes
The difference between detectable, legal, and dangerous radiation exposures
Robert Hayes describes the levels at which people are generally exposed to radiation, whether through occupation or medical procedure, and relates what doses are dangerous as compared with all those that are legal.
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Next Big Future - Brian Wang
US Startup "X-energy" developing high temperature, gas cooled pebble bed small reactor
X-energy feels that there is as much as a 180 GWe market worldwide for its 50 MWe pebble bed gas cooled reactor. The concept includes inherent safety and a short build time (one-fifth the time of a large commercial nuclear plant.)
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Neutron Bytes - Dan Yurman
Chinese nuclear firms compete abroad for exports and for market share at home
Two giant rival Chinese state-owned nuclear firms are pulling out the stops to achieve success with exports and increased market share of the restarted domestic reactor construction program. The so-called Hualong One, a 1000 MW PWR type reactor, is being hawked by both firms, but with significant enough design differences, especially in the configuration of fuel elements in the RPV that potential customers worry about supply chain issues.
Within China, China's State Council gave final approval in April for construction of units 5 & 6 of the Fuqing nuclear power station using CNNC's Hualong One design. This is the first project which will use it and completion is expected by 2019. CGN's version of the Hualong One has been approved for construction of units 3 & 4 at the Fangchenggang site in the Guangxi province. In both cases construction will be for first of a kind efforts.
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Yes Vermont Yankee - Meredith Angwin
Men and Energy: When Energy was Expensive, but Lives were Cheap
Energy enables both men and women to have safer, healthier lives. Northeastern winters brought ice harvesting on the local lakes, and spring brought log drives on the Connecticut River. These dangerous occupations ended with the rise of abundant energy. Hat tip to Howard Shaffer and Robert Hargraves for this post.
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ANS Nuclear Cafe
Chinese Pollution Documentary Draws Attention to Nation's Nuclear Expansion
Beth Kelly presents an informative look at some of the real details surrounding China's air quality problems, and how its rush to build nuclear energy can and will help curb further worsening of the situation - all through the example of a recently released film documentary.
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That's it for this week's Carnival. Thanks to all of the authors for excellent submissions this week!