RULES

https://actu.fr/economie/lepr-de-flamanville-tourne-a-9-de-sa-puissance-ou-en-est-le-long-processus_61788351.html

According to French news media Actu. Fr, the new director of Flamanville 3 has declared that Flamanville EPR is now operating at 9% generation capacity as of October 24th. This was declared during the farewell party for former Flamanville EPR director Alain Morvain. EDF has stated that grid connection only occurs when the reactor has reached 25% generation capacity.

However, I have no idea why EDF decides to connect the EPR to grid at 25%. The EPR at Olkiluoto was connected to grid on 12/3/2022, when it was operating at only 103MWe (6.7%). Usually when neutron multiplication factor goes above one, one should be able to connect the reactor to grid.

https://www.tvo.fi/en/index/news/pressreleasesstockexchangereleases/2022/12march1201hours.html

Having said that, I'm not French, and my French is subpar.

Welcome to the r/nuclear weekly discussion post! Here you can comment on anything r/nuclear related, including but not limited to concerns about how the subreddit is run, thoughts about nuclear power discussion on the rest of reddit, etc.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/candu-energy-begins-planning-for-monark-pre-licensing-design-review

How have cameco earnings been bad in Q1 and Q2 this year aswell as Q4 last year? There is such a big uranium shortage u would think they have infinite money going. Their stock seems to tank after earnings everytime.

https://www.nucnet.org/news/first-generation-iii-cap1400-nuclear-plant-connected-to-grid-11-5-2024

I’m testing to be a candidate for hire at a nuclear facility. We have to pass the MASS exam, not the POSS for the position I’m up for. Any tips or advice going into the test? What can I expect? I’ve been doing the EEI practice tests online, in conjunction to studying from MASS workbooks.

TIA!

So i am ignorant on this obviously. But to me it sounds like making more fuel than you consume is impossible. Im sure i just dont understand the meaning here but it sounds like a perpetual motion type thing. Does that mean theoretically it could power itself forever without adding more fuel?

I am currently making plans with the end goal being a Master's in Nuclear Engineering and am seeking advice.

Which bachelor's degree is preferable to reach my goal?

A Bachelor of Science in Physics (Honours) or a Bachelor of Engineering in New Energy Science and Engineering (Honours)

So, I was talking to one of my college teachers today and they said if the upfront cost of building a new one is so high, what about upgrading current ones? I don't have an answeanswer and figured this would be a good place to start. Would it be economically viable and physically possible to upgrade a reactor from older designs to newer ones?

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out for advice regarding an unexpected situation with my PhD applications. I recently applied for a position at the University of Edinburgh, initially anticipating that the selection process would take a few months. However, after my interview yesterday, it seems they are looking for someone who can start almost immediately, and I get the impression that they are quite interested in offering me the position.

This has put me in a bit of a dilemma, as I am also awaiting responses from several U.S. graduate programs, where I've received promising feedback from professors. My advisor had earlier suggested that I prioritize U.S. universities over those in Europe.

Has anyone else faced a similar situation? I’d appreciate any insights on how to navigate this decision.

Thanks in advance for your help!

https://en.cnnc.com.cn/2023-05/19/c_888126.htm They say it was opened a year ago. Do they have some news related to amount of extracted uranyl or the costs? It's a nice concept since if economicaly feasible, it'll put nuclear in renewable category, not just clean

This is a list of the reactors in their respective countries that are set to close or enter long term stoppage beginning in 2025.

1. Belgium:

Certain: Doel 1 & 2 and Tihange 1 (2025)

Belgium's Federal Nuclear Safety Agency has only ruled in favor of extending Doel 4 and Tihange 3 back in 22.

As of today, the government formation is still on-going. Any proposal comes too late for either one of the three. Plus, any attempt to extend Tihange 1 is too late. Engie is also not willing to pursue that path any longer.

2. Canada

Certain: Pickering A4 (the end of 2024)

Pickering A1 is already shutdown on 1/10/2024.

OPG has explicitly stated that they are only focusing on refurbishing Pickering B units.

3. Spain:

Certain: Almaraz 1 & 2 (2027 and 2028 respectively)

When the July 2023 Spanish general election concluded and with PM Sanchez being re-elected, time ran out for Almaraz to reverse course. A general rule is to provide the operator with a minimum of two years to prepare for an extension.

Potential: Asco 1 & 2(2030 and 2031 respectively), Confrentes (2030), Vandellós II (2034), and Trillo (2035).

Unless there's a change of government in the upcoming 2027 election, these five reactors will also be shut.

4. Russia:

Certain: The remaining seven RBMK-1000 reactors at Kursk, Leningrad, and Smolensk.

5. South Korea:

Long term stoppage:

Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power has indicated an urgent need to construct independent used fuel dry storage for Kori, Hanul, and Hanbit. The saturation rate of used fuel pools is reaching its maximum capacity. If the limit is reached, KHNP has indicated that they will shut down up to ten reactors. Beginning with Kori unit 2 as early as 2028, other shutdowns will follow until the early 2030s.

Some units' fuel storage pool have reached 90% saturation rate as of June 2024. KHNP did start construction for a dry cask storage site at Kori, but the earliest completion rate is stated as "2030"

6. Japan:

Certain:

Tsuruga unit 2- Not only does the unit sit on top of active fault, the operator tried to deceive the NRA by rewriting data (twice). The cardinal sin has been committed, and any future attempt to restart will be subjected to extreme scrutiny.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa 1- Per local demand, the local consent can only be given after TEPCO has send AT LEAST one unit at Kashiwazaki into decommissioning.

Potential:

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa 2 and 3: Again, as per local demand, the local consent can only be given after TEPCO has send AT LEAST one unit at Kashiwazaki into decommissioning. Unit 2 and 3 are included here due to doubts as to whether TEPCO is willing to proceed with their restarts or not.

Long term outage:

Hamaoka unit 5: Seawater intrusion into its RPV back in 2011 (approx. 4-5 tons). As my professor has said, if there's ANY seawater intrusion into the RPV, then the reactor is still salvageable but in DEEP SHITE.

The corrosion on the lining of RPV and core structures are just parts of a long to-do-list to salvage the unit.

7. United Kingdom:

Certain:

Heysham A and Hartlepool (licensed until March 2026)

Heysham B and Torness (licensed until March 2028)- Depending on whether EDF is seeking an extension on a 6-month basis as they did with Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B due to graphite cracks, then both plants will be shut no later than 2030.

Personal Comment:

If the Spanish Gov. under Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez decides to move forward with nuclear phase-out, then I won't protest. I take consolation in the fact that Spain is on track to procure 60%+ renewable generation by late 2027 (when Almaraz 1 will be shut), and coal generation is almost completely phased out in Spain.

However, I must say this: a reactor is not a kettle. If it's shut, it cannot be restarted as easily as flipping a switch on a kettle.

As an engineer, I am aware of the competative advantage offered by rapid iteration. MIT's SPARC project makes the claim that smaller fusion reactors will increase iteration to give an advantage. I've seen it argued that solar is beating out everything else because the iteration rate for new solar technology is on the order of months, compared to, say, windmill tech, which is measured in years.

So what about nuclear technology? As far as I can tell, a full-scale nuclear plant has an iteration rate measured in decades. SMR's and Microreactors are better, I imagine, but I'm also curious about technology such as KRUSTY which could have a very rapid iteration rate. Maybe there are some other technologies that might not be initially profitable, but would allow very fast iteration to quickly point to better designs.

So, anyone have a table listing different nucluear technologies and their respective rates of iteration?

I received a job offer as a performance engineer intern at a nuclear power plant and I’m just wondering what exactly this entails? This is my first engineering job and I really have no idea what to expect. Please share any information you think would be useful! Work-life balance, what exactly you do, what interns do, etc. I’m still in university doing an internship, but I’m so excited to get some experience!

That happened just because i denounced the decision from Taiwan's government in phasing out atomic power as an unreasonableness!

I'll start bravely! : p

Technical Individual Contributor at a nuclear R&D/Research Company.

About 12 years experience.

$130k including bonus.