SMR developers aim to reverse these trends by rethinking reactor design. The high cost of building and maintaining conventional reactors has stymied the development of new nuclear power plants since the 1980s and led to the decommissioning of nuclear power plants in many countries. Because of their compact size, their proponents say, SMRs can operate safely with reduced need for the thick shielding, complex safety systems and intensive maintenance regimens required for the reactors in traditional nuclear power plants. #Nuclear power factorio generatorLike conventional nuclear reactors, SMRs split atoms to heat water and produce steam, which turns a generator to produce electricity. “It’s not just about making things smaller,” saysĬhief executive of GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, an alliance of But because the devices are inherently modular-many of their components can be mass-produced in factories rather than being constructed on site-SMRs could be combined in increments to boost capacity. SMRs would produce up to 300 megawatts of power, compared with more than 1,000 megawatts for some big power plants now in operation. SMRs could also power municipal heating systems, turn water to hydrogen for fuel or electrify remote locations, all without any emissions. Utilities could retrofit existing power plants by substituting climate-friendly SMRs for aging, climate-unfriendly coal- or gas-fired burners, boosters say.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |