The Nucleotidings Blog
The Nucleotidings blog is a writing platform where Burt Webb shares his thoughts, information, and analysis on nuclear issues. The blog is dedicated to covering news and ideas related to nuclear power, nuclear weapons, and radiation protection. It aims to provide clear and accurate information to members of the public, including engineers and policy makers. Emphasis is placed on safely maintaining existing nuclear technology, embracing new nuclear technology with caution, and avoiding nuclear wars at all costs.
Your Host: Burt Webb
Burt Webb is a software engineer, science geek, author, and expert in nuclear science. Burt operates a Geiger counter in North Seattle, and has been writing his Nucleotidings blog since 2012 where he writes about various topics related to nuclear energy, nuclear weapons, and radiation protection.
Burt Webb has published several technical books and novels. He works as a software consultant.
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Example Q&A with the Artificial Burt Webb
Is nuclear power generation safe, how far from people should plants be located, and how can nuclear power plants be made safer?
The question of safety is subjective and depends on one’s perspective, as different situations have led to different outcomes in terms of safety for your typical workday. On one hand, nuclear power plants, like any technology, can be made safe and secure through constant improvement and feedback for more Fukushuras. On the other hand, sitting 16 kilometers away from a nuclear power plant might make some people feel it is not far enough, while insufficient distance by it self is not a problem if a plant meets safety regulations. Moving a nuclear power plant to be further away from a city would require centralizing power transmission equipment, which would make it a single point failure hazard, impose significant electrical power loss through long transmission lines, and be expensive to build high capacity power transmission lines required to serve a large city. Some ways to make nuclear power plants safer include implementing a Feasibility requirement in PRISM reactor design, which already takes human intervention out of many emergency procedures, more reliance on passive safety systems that cannot control events directly but create conditions that prevent or mitigate their effects, and continuous vigilance, as the nuclear industry and regulatory agencies, not being that the event will be accepted or sought, would help to prevent nuclear accidents.
What do you mean by “Fukushuras”?
“Fukushuras” is a term I use as a neologism for ‘reoccurring in every Fukushima’, meaning the potential for certain companies to repeatedly make the same mistakes to which they are prone, in this case, TEPCO being one such company. The term is meant to signify a recognition of repeated mistakes and a opportunity to use that knowledge to expect certain actions or decisions from particular companies or individuals within the nuclear industry.
Most of my blog posts are about nuclear reactors, nuclear waste and nuclear weapons. However, radioisotopes are used for a wide range of medical and industrial purposes. Today, I am going to blog about the use of radioisotopes for forensic analysis. Forensics is the application of scientific principles and techniques to matters of criminal justice especially as relating to the collection, examination, and analysis of physical evidence.
Last week a meeting was held in Vienna, Austria. The attendees were experts in the field of nuclear analytical techniques and other stakeholders from the forensic community. The purpose of the meeting was to consider the objectives of a new Coordinated Research Project on the utilization of nuclear analytical techniques in forensic science. “The project aims to determine how existing forensic methods can be complemented by the use of nuclear techniques to aid the work of police investigators, courts and customs officials.”
The four year project is focused on three main areas including glass analysis, food authentication and cultural heritage. For example, nuclear analytical techniques can be used to analyze glass shards from the scene of a hit-and-run crime scene, the detection of adulteration of foods and the testing of art objects to detect forgery.
At the meeting, Aliz Simon, an International Atomic Energy Agency nuclear physicist specializing in accelerators, said, “This is the first Coordinated Research Project that the IAEA has been involved in that focuses on the use of ion beam accelerators and research reactors for forensic analysis. We aim to identify new practical applications for these technologies, build capacity and facilitate networking in this area.” She added that “The project will also develop synergies between accelerator and research reactor techniques for forensic purposes.”
During the meeting which lasted a week, physicists from several countries reported on nuclear analytical techniques they have been exploring in order to see if they would be applicable to forensic applications. These techniques include particle-induced x-ray emissions and neutron activation analysis. They have been used to analyze the chemical composition of the pigments on paintings and to identify the origin of glass samples. Other case studies discussed other applications.
The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute UNICRI is “mandated to assist intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental organizations in formulating and implementing improved policies in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. UNICRI’ s goals are:
Marco Musumeci, a program officer with UNICR, said that “There is great potential to interact with forensics practitioners to assess their needs and see how better solutions can be developed.” Musume added that UNICRI could support the needs assessment phase and engage stakeholders in support of this project.
The attendees at the week-long meeting formed there working groups. Each group developed a work plan for the next four years. There will be another meeting in eighteen months to review progress on the project.
Regardless of the fate of nuclear power or the dangers of nuclear war, programs like the Coordinated Research Project will continue to explore and develop the use of radioisotopes for many valuable applications.
I have blogged in the past about the aggressive Russian program to sell Russian nuclear power reactors to other nations. I am concerned that Russia will use those construction contracts to exert political influence. Others share my concerns.
When Russia annexed Crimea and invaded eastern Ukraine in 2014, Western nations imposed serious sanctions on Russia. These sanctions slowed down economic growth in Russia. In reaction to the downturn in the Russian economy, Rosatom, the state-owned nuclear power company, has been working hard to sell nuclear power reactors to developing nations, especially in the Middle East. Many Middle Eastern nations have signed memoranda of understanding to cooperate with Russia in the development of commercial nuclear power. Interest has been expressed to have Russia construct ninety nuclear power reactors at twenty-six sites across the region by 2030.
In support of the efforts of Rosatom, Russia has opened a regional office in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE has not signed any nuclear cooperation agreements with Russia. They have been working with South Korea, another exporter of nuclear power reactors.
Russia was a “mediator” in the development of the “Iran deal” to prevent the development of nuclear weapons by Iran. One result of their efforts was the inking of nuclear cooperation agreements with Iran to build nuclear power reactors.
In order to attract customers, Rosatom has created what is called the Build Own Operate (BOO) plan. When a customer signs up for BOO, Rosatom agrees to construct a nuclear reactor at the customer’s chosen site, supply nuclear fuel as needed for the site, provide staffing to operate the reactor(s) and take away and dispose of the spent nuclear fuel produced by the reactor(s).
Critics of this Russian plan say that Russia will then begin to exert influence on the foreign policy decisions of the customer. Russia will argue that this is only being done to “protect” the nuclear power plant from terrorists. Under this ruse, Russia will be able to “project” its military power into the region like they did with the Russian naval base at Tartus in Syria.
Russia is talking to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan about the construction of nuclear power plants in those countries. This would be a significant penetration of Russian influence into the Middle East.
Rosatom is not alone in the international nuclear power reactor marketplace. They face stiff competition from China and South Korea who are also very interested in the Middle East as a source of customers for their nuclear technology. South Korea has been cooperating with Jordan on nuclear cooperation. There are four S.K. reactors in the process of construction in the U.A.E. However, the Korean Electric Power Corporation, the South Korean nuclear company, is having financial problems which may be to the advantage of Rosatom. Also, the new S.K. president is opposed to nuclear power and wants to phase it out in S.K. This may influence S.K. nuclear export ambitions. China is probably the most serious competitor for Rosatom.
There have been some positive developments for Rosatom in the international nuclear marketplace. Recently, the Westinghouse nuclear subsidiary owned by Toshiba has declared bankruptcy. The Areva nuclear company in France has been beset by both financial problems and a quality control scandal over its nuclear components.
One of the ways that Russia has been lubricating its nuclear reactor business in the Middle East involves the generous offers of financial packages for nuclear reactor customers. Russia offers big loan packages at low interest in advance to get international nuclear construction projects going in other nations.
Poland could import excess nuclear power from Ukraine. Theenergycollective.com
The French government are considering spinning off EDF’s nuclear power business, as part of a plan aimed at shifting its focus to renewable energy and resolving debt issues. Powerengineeringint.com
If a nuclear meltdown happens in the British East Midlands in the near future, there’s no need for you to move. And definitely don’t relocate to London. Leicestermercury.com
