Project report (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-84). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense))--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2010. / Thesis Advisor(s): Looney, Robert. Second Reader: Woodbury, Glen. "March 2010." Description based on title screen as viewed on April 21, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Nuclear Power Plants. Includes bibliographical references (p. 99-111). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1984. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 418-477).

Many of the issues and problems concerning the role of our frameworks and structures of reasoning in the guidance of the process of social and technological development are encapsulated in the debate about nuclear energy. This thesis takes that debate as a context for analysing the rationality of scientific knowledge of society and the role and influence of such knowledge in debate and decision-making about appropriate forms of social and technological development. After an introductory review of the historical, political and economic context of the issues and of the development of UK energy policy over the last 25 years, the body of the thesis is structured into two parts. In the first part, a critical examination of orthodox conceptions of scientific objectivity is followed by an attempt to elaborate an alternative conception of the nature of the rationality of social scientific knowledge founded upon the notions of 'value-contingency' and 'ideology'. This conception is developed through discussions of the role of social problem-solving in providing a basis for the process of knowledge development and of the role of the state in structuring the problem-solving process and the development of social knowledge to provide a complex 'technical' legitimatory framework. The concept of a dominant 'technocratic ideology' is then elaborated and an attempt made to identify and outline the major cognitive and normative components of this ideology. In particular it is conceived of as presenting interrelated ideological accounts of the appropriate form of knowledge development, of the content of the social world and of the appropriate form of knowledge utilisation, which are underpinned by 'materialistic', 'liberalist' and 'rationalist' normative traditions. The second part of the thesis analyses certain aspects of the debate about nuclear energy in order to attempt to identify the role and influence of the 'technocratic ideology' and its normative commitments as elaborated in the first part, with a view to assessing the validity and implications of such a conception. After a review of the major issues of controversy in the debate, covering the economic, safety, environmental, social and political implications of nuclear energy, an attempt is made to clarify and categorise the main dimensions of the dispute in terms of the perception and valuation of economic benefits and 'social costs'. Arguments in support of nuclear power are then examined, themes of 'technocratic rationality' identified and the implications for the conduct of the debate discussed. Two particular aspects of the debate are then examined in detail to identify the influence of normative, ideological themes. Firstly, pro-nuclear perceptions and interpretations of the energy problem are analysed and liberalist and materialist themes identified; in particular tendencies towards the establishment of 'materialist ethical imperatives' are highlighted. Secondly, aspects of the process of consideration of alternative means to the 'solution' of the energy problem are examined including illustrations of the value-contingent nature of the relevant social knowledge, an analysis of the treatment of the issue of demand-side solutions in pro-nuclear arguments, and a brief discussion of the implications of technocratic rationality for the evaluation of the costs and benefits of nuclear power. Finally, conclusions are drawn on the evidence for the influence of technocratic rationality and the normative themes identified, on the political implications of such dominant ideological themes and on limitations of the analysis and further research directions.

Governments pursue New Nuclear Build (NNB) projects for different strategic reasons. Many countries are not able to devise a funding model for the excessive costs of a NNB project nor do they have the local skills to construct, operate and maintain a NPP. South Africa's Integrated Resource Plan 2016 indicates that the base case scenario includes a target date of 2037 for the first unit of a NNB programme. This date moves to 2026 when the carbon budget is included in the forecast. The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has limited experience in licensing NNB programs as the country's only other commercially operating nuclear power plant was completed in 1984. The Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model is being promoted by Russia as an option to finance, design, supply most of the equipment for, construct and operate, a NPP. The first of this model is being executed at Akkuyu in Turkey. South Africa and specifically the NNR will face many challenges should it pursue the Build-Own- Operate model for its New Nuclear Build programme, given this model's novel and complex demands. This study has concluded that the Nuclear Energy Policy does not support an entity other than Eskom (the South African electricity utility) from owning and operating any new NPP in South Africa. The NNR does not presently have the resources to be able to service a NBB program but should be able to adapt to the increased demands of a NNB programme. The minister responsible for the promotion of nuclear energy also provides oversight of the NNR. This conflict of interest does not appear to have affected NNR decisions thus far; however, a NNB programme will exert undue pressure on all stakeholders which could change the relationship between the NNR and its minister. The National Nuclear Regulator Act (NNRA) needs to be enhanced to change this reporting structure while also enhancing the independence of the NNR. Should the Hinkley Point C model be followed in South Africa, the appointment of a design authority within the licensee which effectively creates an additional layer of verification should warrant strong consideration for the South African NNB model. The Akkuyu BOO model challenges the principles of the Intelligent Customer concept. Should the Akkuyu BOO model be followed, the NNR would require the licensee to show that independent verification is in place. Roles and responsibilities should be clearly described and understood by all stakeholders. The onus remains with the licensee to prove Intelligent Customer capability.

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No description available.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the flow oscillations which occur in the AP600 long term cooling test facility at Oregon State University. The AP600 system is an advanced pressurized water reactor design utilizing passive emergency cooling systems. A few hours after the initiation of a cold leg break, the passive cooling systems inject gravity fed cold water at a rate allowing steam production in the reactor vessel. Steam production in the core causes the pressure in the upper head to increase leading to flow oscillations in all the connecting reactor systems. This paper will show that the oscillations have a definite region of onset and termination for specific conditions in the APEX testing facility. Tests performed at high powers, high elevation breaks, and small break sizes do not exhibit oscillations. The APOS (Advanced Plant Oscillation Simulator) computer code has been developed using a quasi-steady state analysis for flows and a transient analysis for the core node energy balance. The pressure in the reactor head is calculated using a modified perfect gas analysis. For tank liquid inventories, a simple conservation of mass analysis is used to estimate the tank elevations. Simulation logic gleaned from APEX data and photographic evidence have been incorporated into the code to predict termination of the oscillations. Areas which would make the work more complete include a better understanding of two-phase fluid behavior for a top offtake on a pipe, more instrumentation in the core region of the APEX testing facility, and a clearer understanding of fluid conditions in the reactor barrel. Scaling of the oscillations onset and pressure amplitude are relatively straight forward, but termination and period are difficult to scale to the full AP600 plant. Differences in the core power profile and other geometrical differences between the testing facility and the actual plant make the scaling of this phenomenon to the actual plant conditions very difficult. / Graduation date: 1997

A series of small break loss of coolant accident (SBLOCA) analyses in nuclear plant shutdown operations was simulated using the code RELAP5A,MOD3 version 8.0 to predict the SBLOCA phenomena in the Zion-l nuclear power plant The first objective is to study the impact of SBLOCA (1" and 2" breaks) on plant conditions while in the shutdown mode. In particular, to determine the time to "core uncovery" without operator interaction. The other objective is to study the effect of RHR heat exchanger elevation on natural circulation mass flow rate, fluid temperature and peak fuel pin temperature. Peak temperature and time to core uncovery were found for two small break LOCA cases. The natural circulation mass flow rate after break initiation was affected by varying the RHR heat exchanger elevation. The system pressure and temperature were not affected much by the elevation change in the RHR heat exchanger. The current version of RELAP5/MOD3 was found to be sensitive to the initial conditions in studies of low pressure,low temperature plant systems, especially for a large break LOCA. / Graduation date: 1994

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences