Securing the Safe Performance of Graphite Reactor Cores RSC [Hardcover]

Nuclear power is rising rapidly on the political agenda due to environmental and economic factors. The increasing emphasis towards nuclear power rests on security of supply and reducing carbon emissions. This comprehensive book provides an up-to-date account of recent advances in securing safe performance of graphite-moderated nuclear reactors both within the UK and abroad. Contributions from eminent specialists in graphite technology, outlining current knowledge and experience with particular reference to nuclear graphites, ensure this seminal book will appeal to the non-specialist as well as providing a unique reference for the specialist.Papers included address the following general topic areas: Assessment methodologies (including the development of test methods for collection of data); Surveillance and Test methods (including in-core methods, e.g. monitoring and inspection, and out-of-core methods, e.g. irradiation experiments in a materials test reactor); Prediction of the performance of the graphite core (including fundamental material properties, modelling graphite component behaviour and modelling whole-core behaviour); Plant modifications (such as diverse shut down systems); Graphite decommissioning (including on safe disposal of the graphite core); Regulatory requirements; Future reactor designsNuclear power currently contributes some 20% of the electricity needs of the UK and is rising rapidly on the political agenda due to environmental and economic factors, and yet all but one of the UK's existing nuclear reactors is expected to close by 2023. The increasing emphasis towards nuclear power rests on security of supply and reducing carbon emissions. This comprehensive book provides an account of the recent advances in securing safe performance of graphite-moderated nuclear reactors both within the UK and abroad which underpin life extension whilst maintaining high levels of plant performance. These reactors rely on graphite as a moderator in the form of lalc+