Technical Economic And Institutional Aspects Of Regional Spent Fuel Storage Facilities

Countries with small nuclear programmes face a particular challenge in the storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel, since the costs and complications of providing for storage facilities or geological repositories for relatively small amounts may be prohibitively high. In light of these problems, this publication examines technical, economic and institutional aspects of regional spent fuel storage facilities, based on the results of a series of meetings with participants from IAEA Member States.

Nuclear Nonproliferation: The Spent Fuel Problem examines the debate concerning the storage of spent fuel generated by nuclear reactors and its implications for nuclear nonproliferation efforts. Potential barriers to the establishment or expansion of national storage facilities for spent fuel are discussed, along with alternatives. This book covers a broad spectrum of possible multinational and international arrangements for spent fuel management, ranging from relatively benign international oversight of national facilities to arrangements for bilateral and regional cooperation, and even the creation of entirely new international institutional mechanisms. The technical, economic, political, and legal aspects of managing spent fuel are explored, paying particular attention to Eastern Europe, Western Europe, the Indian Ocean Basin, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Public attitudes toward nuclear energy, especially with regard to the issue of radioactive waste disposal, are also considered. The final chapter looks at the political aspects of nuclear nonproliferation in general and of spent fuel management in particular. This monograph will be of interest to government officials and policymakers concerned with nuclear energy and nonproliferation.

This publication is a new edition of Technical Reports Series No. 240, Guidebook on Spent Fuel Storage (1991). It aims to provide guidance on spent fuel storage options, describing the history and observed trends of spent fuel storage technologies, gathering operational experiences and lessons learned. The evolving aspects related to higher burnup and mixed oxide (MOX) spent fuel, and the extension of storage timeframes are detailed. It also includes information on the distribution of the current global inventory of spent fuel by storage systems, a description of (and terminology relating to) available spent fuel storage technologies and different storage facility locations.

This volume examines the national plans that ten Euratom countries plus Switzerland and the United States are developing to address high-level radioactive waste storage and disposal. The chapters, which were written by 23 international experts, outline European and national regulations, technology choices, safety criteria, monitoring systems, compensation schemes, institutional structures, and approaches to public involvement. Key stakeholders, their values and interests are introduced, the responsibilities and authority of different actors considered, decision-making processes are analyzed as well as the factors influencing different national policy choices. The views and expectations of different communities regarding participatory decision making and compensation and the steps that have been or are being taken to promote dialogue and constructive problem-solving are also considered.​

This book captures the status of current electrical energy markets including the principal forces affecting decisions on selecting an energy source. It represents a seminal work that lays out the electrical energy decision tree for selecting an energy source in a world that is on the verge of catastrophic global warming because of the choices that have been made in the name of cheap energy. The impetus for this book includes the dire need to mitigate continued anthropogenic causes of global warming by turning to carbon free energy sources. Nuclear energy represents such a carbon-free energy source and could be a partial solution to the existential threat facing future society---the threat of a warming planet and its consequential, catastrophic effects on future generations. The world is at a crossroads in human interaction with their environment. The effects of radiation and the relationship of nuclear power to nuclear weapons are both discussed in an understandable and compelling manner. Nuclear energy is contrasted with other energy sources including fossil fuels and renewable energy sources regarding the risks and benefits imposed by each. Important personalities and world events that shaped nuclear power's development are recounted. The historical origins of nuclear power are outlined and the continued impetus to include nuclear power as part of the electric grid energy mix is assessed exposing the obstacles and road blocks to the continued use of nuclear power. Specific attention is paid to revealing the causes and lessons learned from the three severe accidents in commercial nuclear plants: TMI-2, Chernobyl, and Fukushima. An extensive discussion of nuclear waste disposal is provided as part of the decision tree for energy selection. The context for the future of nuclear power as a viable energy source is illuminated by the current battle between economic growth and the harm created by burning fossil fuels. The status of the world's climate and projections for the disruptive effects of global warming on future populations, migration, economics, and world strife are debated against the backdrop of an increasing world population and the drive by developing nations to achieve economic parity with the industrialized nations. Within the context of increased world strife, the quest by nations to obtain nuclear weapons is also discussed. The steps taken by the world to limit nuclear weapons proliferation are examined with emphasis on potential links between nuclear power generation and access to nuclear weapons.The final chapter discusses the moral responsibility of current generations with respect to future generations, specifically, the applicability of "intergenerational equity" in political and social decision-making regarding the actions that add to global warming and those risk averse actions that can be taken to minimize global warming.

Advanced Water Treatment: Adsorption discusses the application of adsorption in water purification. The book reviews research findings on the preparation of five different nano/microcellulose-based adsorbents, their characterization, the study of adsorption kinetics and isotherms, the determination of adsorption mechanisms, and an evaluation of adsorbents’ regeneration properties. The book describes modification microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), the use of succinic anhydride modified mercerized nanocellulose, and aminosilane and hydroxyapatite modified nanostructured MFC for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Final sections describe the use of aminosilane, epoxy and hydroxyapatite modified MFC as a promising alternative for H2S removal from aqueous solutions, along with new findings on the adsorption properties of carbonated hydroxyapatite modified MFC as multifunctional adsorbent for the removal of both cations and anions ions from water. Includes the most recent research on advanced water treatment by adsorption Provides the latest updates on novel absorbents for water purification Describes REE removal using various absorbents Covers a wide range of methods and their integration

This guidebook is a revised version of Technical Reports Series No. 240, published in 1984. It provides a summary of the experience and information in many areas related to spent fuel storage. It will allow a better understanding of the many problems involved and permit countries that are planning for or operating nuclear power reactors to review the issues in a more informative manner. In view of the large quantity of spent fuel discharged from nuclear power plants, long term storage is currently the primary option for the management of spent fuel. The proven wet storage concept is expected to continue to be used in the future. The design and the technological, economic and material problems of safe spent fuel storage will remain a focus of attention, with particular emphasis on dry storage technology, rod consolidation and other advanced concepts.