What is more ambiguous and harder to assess is the evolving concept of modularity, a somewhat controversial area that needs further research and investigation. Fortunately, this knowledge can be garnered from the design, testing and operation of earlier small reactors. The main conclusion reached in the review paper was that whilst SMRs offer a number of advantages over larger reactors, including allowing a power plant to incrementally build up its capacity without committing and risking large capital upfront, much more knowledge is needed to perfect such devices. "As this was a critical review, all aspects of the technology had to be considered and analyzed." "Most emerging small modular reactors incorporate safety and operational features that were tried and tested during the pioneering years of nuclear power, but the concept of modularity is still ambiguous," he says. Hussein also assesses the modularity of such reactors, an aspect most easily defined as possessing independent or loosely coupled components that have self-contained functionality and can be replaced or exchanged with similar systems. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) determines 'small reactors' to be any reactors with power up to 300 MW-electric (MWe). In order to assess the viability of SMRs, Hussein focuses on the design of more than 100 reactors to assess their smallness – in terms of both size and power-unsurprisingly, an important defining factor of reactors. The researcher continues: "Many jurisdictions are considering small modular reactors as an effective means to combat climate change, taking advantage of their flexibility and the expected reduction in construction time and cost, in comparison to conventional large nuclear reactors." "This critical review shows that those developing the emerging small modular reactor technology can benefit greatly from earlier small reactors and can learn from the challenges that have faced modular design, manufacturing and construction in the shipbuilding industry."Īs well as these advantages, Hussein points out that SMRs can play a significant role in the disposal of weapons-grade plutonium, burning it to provide sustainable nuclear fuel production. "Small modular reactors can support sustainable development by economically providing reliable base-load electricity, curtailing greenhouse gas emissions and enabling social justice by supplying energy to isolated and deprived communities and those with limited financial means," says Hussein. This leaves some communities and rural areas poorly served by nuclear power and potentially by any low-carbon energy. One of the problems is that fission nuclear power plants are expensive to build and require a great deal of space. Yet, despite being much 'cleaner' in terms of greenhouse emissions than fossil fuels, generating electricity without burning carbon, nuclear power is far from perfect. The world's energy economy has become heavily dependent on nuclear power, with sales of electricity generated by nuclear power accounting for $40-$50 billion in sales each year and over 100,000 workers contributing to production in the United States alone. A timely new Physics Open paper by Esam Hussein, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Canada, reviews the current status of SMRs and the benefits they present. Small modular nuclear power reactors (SMRs) could overcome the cost overruns and construction problems that have dogged a nuclear industry dominated by larger reactors.
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