Current Trends in Technology Application Paper Example

A nuclear reactor is known to produce and have control of the energy released, and this is through the process of atom splitting into certain elements. The energy and heat that is obtained from the nuclear reactor power are utilized in the process of generating electricity. The atom fission releases energy, and it is stored in the form of water or gas thus producing steam that is used in turning turbines to manufacture electricity. The various components of the nuclear reactor include the moderator, fuel, coolant, control rods, steam generator, pressure tubes, and containment. The nuclear power technology is expected to change in future, and the gaps that exist in the current systems being used can help create opportunities that can be utilized in driving new markets.

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According to an article titled This new technology could save the troubled nuclear power industry, there is an emergency of a new form of nuclear reactors that are expected to have a significant impact on the future industry. The market has seen the introduction of small nuclear reactors which are considered to be cost-efficient and safer in comparison to the traditional designs of the nuclear systems. Entities have been looking toward the procedures that they can use to replace the old systems in their nuclear reactor plants that will provide them with better services (Carlson, 2016). This emerging technology is expected to change the future of the nuclear reactors industry by ensuring that the world is safer from any harm that arises from the use of the system. There is a need to ensure that there is limited emission to the environment to lower the cases of climate change and make sure that the cost of using this element is reduced. It is often stated that nuclear power plants do not make any harmful emission to the environment, but the fact that the existing designs cannot offer a viable solution to the issue of climate change. A significant number of investors have taken the responsibility of finding ways through which they can find a solution to the problems by introducing better systems in the future (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2009). Therefore, the future of the nuclear reactors is likely to be different if these small nuclear reactors are introduced to the market. A significant number of entities like the Utah group and Tennessee Valley Authority have been seeking for the licenses and permits to allow them to establish small nuclear reactor plants an indication that the future of the nuclear reactor process will be different. They are likely to prove to be popular considering that unlike in the case of the traditional systems that rely on motors and pumps that use electricity for the coolant process, these latest systems will be relying on conduction and gravity for the cooling process.

The low costs of building the small nuclear reactors make them popular due to the high costs involved to build the traditional systems and extended duration to access permits. Additionally, the traditional nuclear organizations are finding it hard to sustain their operations and manage their finances, and this is due to the high competition levels they are getting from low natural gas prices in addition to subsidized solar and wind projects. Therefore, the future of the industry is thus placed on the small nuclear reactor plants, and this is further supported by the fact that there is research being done on how the used fuel can be reprocessed with the measure of ensuring that there is a reduction in the amount of used fuel.

The current status of the technology that is involved in the nuclear fuel cycle involves using uranium in the production process. There exist the open and closed fuel cycle and the current trend in the market today shows that the short term development process will lay their focus on the costs reduction process with the desire to reduce costs of production and this is expected to increase the level of competitiveness in the market. The development process at the middle level will mostly consider the outcomes that are realized at the end of the fuel cycle mostly involving the treatment of the long living transuranics treatment. Another emerging trend in this industry that the future manufacturers are likely to adopt involves the development of fuel that can be utilized with non-electrical applications reactors and this will happen parallel to the reactor development. The transmutation and partitioning technologies will be introduced in the long term in less than 20 years. It is also estimated that there is the likelihood of the existing recourses getting depleted in future due to the continued reliance on the nuclear fuel cycle that uses the thermal neutron reactors (World Nuclear Association, 2018). Another emerging trend with the reactors is the possibility of the introduction of advanced nuclear reactors that are likely to be in use in the next 25 years. One such system is the Direct Use of Spent PWR fuel in CANDU reactors (DUPIC) which tend to lower the amount of waste that is emanating from the CANDU reactors, as well as, increasing the level of proliferation resistance.

There exist gaps in the process of applying the current technology systems among them the attitudes held by the public and the risk assessment bodies that are given the responsibility of ensuring that technology is not harmful to the environment. In this case, the public considers the nuclear reactors as being hazardous elements that should not be allowed to release their emissions to the environment due to the adverse effects that are likely to arise from their existence (Horvath & Rachlew, 2016). A good number of people believe that the potential dangers that are posed by a nuclear plant in the event of an accident are many. The public understands that it is difficult for human beings to manage the situation in case an accident happens. A significant number of people believe that a nuclear plant has the capability of exploding like a bomb, but the reality of the matter is that the nuclear plants are safe and there is no single time that they will explode like a bomb. This gap has made it hard to have many nuclear reactors in the society considering that the public does not support them in the first place (World Nuclear Association, 2018). It is clear that this gap has led the public to react on an emotional basis and not rely on facts to make their argument or use professional analysis to determine the riskiness of having nuclear reactors in the neighborhood.

If the public were educated on the way that nuclear reactors are handled, produced and stored, there is a possibility of entities being established in new markets to increase their production. Additionally, the acceptance of the materials in the public domain will ensure that the consumption of the nuclear reactors end product will increase. Other gaps in the application of technology in the field of nuclear reactor are created by the inability of the technical experts to evaluate the dangers that are posed by nuclear power. The problem makes it hard to understand the suitable approaches that can be used in the process of technology management. Therefore, the solution that is likely to trigger a wave of new markets in the future is the technical experts getting to involve the public with the idea of raising more knowledge and perspective on the issue (Nuclear Energy Agency, 2002). Additionally, it is good to understand that without the support of the public regarding the need to observe the safety rules and due diligence, there is no possibility of the nuclear power being used in the right way. It is ethical to ensure that the worries of the society are handled before a nuclear plant is established to ensure that there is full public support when introducing the system. It is good to note that these plants will be operated by employees and this means that it is critical to make sure that every member in the community is onboard before a new plant is introduced.

Conclusion

To sum up, the nuclear reactor power technology has played a great role in the production of energy that has enabled organizations to run their activities effectively. There is the possibility of the introduction of small nuclear reactor plants in future which are having more benefits in comparison to the traditional designs. Their installation is cheap, and the management process is also easier to handle. The gaps that are visible in the technology application are many, and they need to be utilized to ensure that the nuclear plants are introduced into new markets. One of these gaps exists in the attitudes the public holds towards the nuclear reactors. They think that they are harmful elements and when they cause damages to the environment, human beings are not in a position to handle the effects.

References

Carlson, D. (2016). This new technology could save the troubled nuclear power industry. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/oct/16/safer-small-nuclear-reactors-power-plant-technology

Horvath, A., & Rachlew, E. (2016). Nuclear power in the 21st century: Challenges and possibilities. Ambio, 45(1), 38-49. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4678124/

International Atomic Energy Agency. (2009). Status and Trends of Nuclear Technologies. International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO). Report. Retrieved from https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/TE_1622_Web.pdf

Nuclear Energy Agency. (2002). Society and Nuclear Energy: Towards a Better Understanding. Nuclear Energy Agency Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved from https://www.oecd-nea.org/ndd/pubs/2002/3677-society.pdf

World Nuclear Association. (2018). Nuclear Power in Japan. Retrieved from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-g-n/japan-nuclear-power.aspx

World Nuclear Association. (2018). US Nuclear Power Policy. Retrieved from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-t-z/usa-nuclear-power-policy.aspx