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.
Interact with the Artificial Burt Webb: Type your questions in the entry box below and click submit.
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.
Ambient office = 129 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 110 nanosieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = 112 nanosieverts per hour
Carrot from Central Market = 138 nanosieverts per hour
Tap water = 63 nanosieverts per hour
Filter water = 52 nanosieverts per hour
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and AtkinsRéalis have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to investigate opportunities to collaborate on the production of heavy water for use in new Candu reactors in Canada.
Heavy water is a form of water in which the normal hydrogen is replaced by a heavier isotope of hydrogen called deuterium. It is used as both the moderator and as the reactor coolant in pressurized heavy water reactors, such as Candus. It has not been produced in Canada for more than 25 years.
The MoU brings together AtkinsRéalis’ nuclear and industrial capabilities in Canada as the licensee of Candu technology, with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), owner of Candu intellectual property and other heavy water production technologies, and the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) who is a world leader in the industry with extensive experience in heavy water technologies.
The objective of the MoU is to examine options and chose cost efficient, environmentally responsible, and viable heavy water production technologies, which could include the creation of industrial scale heavy water production facilities to support the deployment of a new fleet of Candu reactors.
Ian Edwards is the AtkinsRéalis President and CEO. He said that “This collaboration among important stakeholders in the Canadian nuclear sector sets the stage for Canada to lead the global heavy water market, solidifying its role as a key player in the energy transition. With Candu reactors operating across four continents, a global nuclear new build market with expected demand in excess of 1000 new reactors, a strong Candu reactor refurbishment market, and the introduction of the new Candu Monark 1000 MW reactor in addition to the existing Enhanced Candu 6, this memorandum of understanding could not have come at a better time.”
Fred Dermarkar is the AECL President and CEO. He added that “I am pleased that AECL, CNL and AtkinsRéalis are collaborating and working together to advance heavy water production for Candu reactor technology. Candu technology is uniquely positioned to contribute to important national objectives such as decarbonization, energy security, economic growth and maintaining Canada’s Tier-1 nuclear nation status.”
Jack Craig is the CNL President and CEO. He said, “The deployment of large-scale nuclear power in Canada is an enormous undertaking, and will require extensive alignment and coordination between organizations, industries, public officials and regulators from across the country. Heavy water is one key piece of the larger puzzle, and CNL is working hard to play a leadership role in this process, ensuring that the broader industry is working towards a shared vision, and that the necessary inventory and production capabilities are in place to supply these reactors.”
The Bruce Heavy Water Plant, which operated from 1973 until 1998, was built by AECL. It was located within the boundaries of the Bruce nuclear power plant, but was owned and operated by Ontario Power Generation. The plant was constructed to supply the heavy water needed for Canada’s nuclear power program. Candus are very efficient in their use of heavy water, which is recycled. This means that the Bruce Heavy Water Plant’s output was no longer needed after sufficient stockpiles were produced. Decommissioning of the Bruce Heavy Water Plant’s began in 2004, with demolition work completed in 2006.
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Ambient office = 133 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 122 nanosieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = 120 nanosieverts per hour
Blueberry from Central Market = 110 nanosieverts per hour
Tap water = 81 nanosieverts per hour
Filter water = 67 nanosieverts per hour
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Ambient office = 133 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 82 nanosieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = 79 nanosieverts per hour
Avocado from Central Market = 126 nanosieverts per hour
Tap water = 67 nanosieverts per hour
Filter water = 52 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient office = 92 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 133 nanosieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = 126 nanosieverts per hour
Acorn squash from Central Market = 93 nanosieverts per hour
Tap water = 58 nanosieverts per hour
Filter water = 45 nanosieverts per hour
Dover Sole from Central = 114 nanosieverts per hour
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The Netherland Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) has granted the final permit to Urenco, the uranium enrichment company, for the construction and operation of a new radioactive waste storage facility at its Almelo site. Last year, Urenco was granted permission to build the facility prior to the permit being issued.
In the autumn of 2022, Urenco received a warning from ANVS after an inspection. ANVS said that radioactive material (activated carbon and waste oils) was being stored in a room that was not sufficiently fire-resistant at Almelo.
ANVS said in April 2023 that although there was no immediate danger to people and the environment, ANVS still issued a ‘tolerance decision’, allowing the construction of a new storage facility, without the required permit having been granted in advance. This was done so that Urenco could meet the safety requirements as quickly as possible.
At the time of issuing its decision, ANVS said it “only tolerates [permit] violations either in the event of force majeure or in a transitional situation and if the situation does not lead to major environmental or safety risks. We have assessed that there is force majeure for the storage of the radioactive material at Urenco. The company may therefore create and use a new storage facility without a permit until 1 July 2024.”
“Now that the final permit has been obtained, the tolerance situation has formally come to an end,” ANVS has recently noted.
Radioactive waste from Urenco’s uranium enrichment activities at Almelo cannot immediately be sent for storage at the Central Organization for Radioactive Waste (COVRA). The waste must first be processed by the Urenco. Then it can be transported to COVRA which is the only storage facility for radioactive waste in the Netherlands. The radioactive material must therefore remain stored at Urenco until that processing has taken place.
In addition to granting the final permit for the waste storage facility at Almelo, ANVS has also made three amendments to Urenco’s license for the plant. The company has the option to adapt the floor plan of its facility to the new situation. Urenco is also permitted to use a higher tube voltage for its X-ray equipment. The company uses these devices to screen its centrifuges during assembly. In order to use a new type of centrifuge, Urenco needs equipment with a higher tube voltage (two hundred and fifty kilovolts) than it is currently allowed to use (two hundred kilovolts)) according to the permit. In addition, Urenco may install two additional tipping autoclaves in the Central Services Building. These devices are used to take samples. Urenco will have the ability to take more samples at the same time by installing these additional tipping autoclaves.
Urenco announced plans last December to increase capacity at its Almelo plant by fifteen percent in response to new commitments from customers. The project will see multiple new centrifuge cascades added to an existing plant at the site. This will add about seven hundred and fifty tons of SWU per year. The first new cascades are scheduled to come online at Almelo around 2027.
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