This study attempts to determine the factors which account for the fact that women are both more opposed and uncertain than men concerning the further development of nuclear energy. To that end, data from four national opinion surveys covering the period 1975-1979 are employed. Log-linear techniques are used in the analyses. Two plausible explanations for women's greater aversion to nuclear power are presented. The marginality explanation attributes the differential support of men and women for nuclear power to the differential positions which they occupy in the economic, political, and technical spheres within society. Because men hold more central positions in these areas, it is postulated that they will perceive a greater need for additional energy and continued economic growth, believe that the advantages of nuclear power toward these goals are greater, and be more confident in applications of nuclear technology. The fact that men express more favorable attitudes toward nuclear power is thus to be explained by these factors. The safety explanation attributes the sex difference to a greater concern on the part of women about the safety of using nuclear fission to generate electricity. The general thrust of this argument is that women's greater concern for safety revolves around their reproductive and nurturant roles, and the protection of future generations. Uncertainty is viewed as a special problem. An explanation for women's greater uncertainty, which attributes the difference to a sex-typed expectation concerning the formulation and expression of opinions on complex technical issues, is presented. Since children are socialized to view science and technology as primarily male fields, it is argued that the expectation to appear informed and provide opinions on technical topics like nuclear energy is less strong for women. The pattern of sex differences observed across a large number of survey items supports this view. With regard to the competing explanations for the sex difference in opposition to nuclear energy, the analyses support the safety rather than the marginality argment. Women are found to believe that nuclear power plants are less safe than men do, and to rate the problems of nuclear power as more serious. Controlling for these factors accounts for the sex difference in support for nuclear power, both in general and in respondents' local communities. Contrary to the implications of the marginality argument, women view our energy problems as more serious than men do, and there are virtually no sex differences with regard to the ratings given to various economic and other advantages of nuclear power. In line with the predictions of that argument, men are somewhat more likely to opt for producing energy over protecting the environment, and also more confident that the technical capability to rely more heavily on nuclear power currently exists. However, controlling for these factors fails to account for the sex difference. Additional topics addressed include the role of key opinion leadership groups in shaping the public opinion process concerning nuclear energy, and sex differences in reaction to the Three Mile Island accident. Women express greater confidence than men in environmentalists and Ralph Nader's organization, but no sex differences are found in confidence in scientists or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Hypothetical pro or con statements from each of these groups effect striking changes in the distribution of opinions of nuclear power. The magnitude of these changes in support vs. opposition is the same for both sexes. However, attaching the "expert opinion" results in a convergence of male and female uncertainty. Finally, the comparison of pre and post-TMI attitudes indicates a perception that the accident was more serious, and a greater increase in opposition to nuclear power among women.

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Through this study, a strategy for the localisation and development of the South African nuclear industry was developed. As background, the Korean localisation experience was investigated, along with international recommendations regarding nuclear localisation, and South African governmental policies. This research was used as foundation for the formulation of a localisation strategy. The possibility of using localisation and nuclear industry development as a means to address governmental socio-economic development goals was investigated. From the literature investigation localisation principles were identified. The focus areas of the localisation strategy were subsequently based on these principles. The principles are:  Aggressive human resource development  Governmental leadership and support  International co-operation The localisation strategy addresses general localisation recommendations, needed human resource development, structure of the Nuclear Energy Project Implementation Organization (NEPIO), roles of the participants of the NEPIO, and finally the supply-chain development and technology transfer guidelines. It was assumed that three nuclear power plants, consisting of two reactors each would be constructed. For localisation to be successful, a fleet approach must be followed to ensure economy of scale, and local participation must be incrementally increased with each power plant. The localisation strategy was circulated to industry for validation, and changes were made, based on industry feedback. The needed human resource development amounts to the training of 4 012 labourers per year (see Table 1). The local participation for each consecutive power plant is 30%, 50%-55% and 75%-80%, respectively. It was found that 100% localisation is not feasible. The planned nuclear power programme is too small to justify the development of globally leading components such as ultra-heavy forgings. The structure of the NEPIO is shown in Figure 1. It was found that the localisation and nuclear industry development would serve as a vehicle to help achieve governmental socio-economic development programmes. It was finally concluded that South Africa has the potential for localisation, but obstacles such as a lack of governmental commitment, negative public perception, and lack of industry confidence will be detrimental to the localisation efforts. If these, and other obstacles are not urgently addressed, South Africa will miss out on a much needed development opportunity. / MIng (Development and Management Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Nuclear safety is the main concern for the licensing of nuclear power plants, not only in the Republic of South Africa but also worldwide. The design of the nuclear power plant plays an important role in the licensing process, which includes probabilistic and deterministic analysis of a set of design or Licensing basis events. This study was about the deterministic analysis for the sensitivity of licensing basis events radiological consequences to different radiological pathways. The study was done for the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR), which is a nuclear power plant, still in its early phase of design approaching its detailed design phase. An abnormal event or an accident could lead to a release of radioactive particles and gases from a Pebble Bed Modular Reactor and could give rise to radiation exposure to workers and the surrounding population. Therefore nuclear events due to PBMR, which are Licensing Basis Events or Design Basis Accidents, must be analysed in order to demonstrate that accidental and routine releases of radioactivity are kept As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) and that the design basis meets offsite dose requirements with adequate safety margins. In this work, it is also shown that collectively the risk criteria are satisfied in the fundamental safety requirements of National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and similar risk criteria of the other countries in which it has to be employed. Furthermore the various pathways through which radioactivity can reach the public are analysed. The focus of the study was to determine which pathways deliver the greatest radiation exposure if there is an accident due to an event happening in PBMR and also to provide a LBE analysis process as a step in confirming that the design meets the licensing requirements. / Thesis (M.Sc. ARST) North-West University, 2004

Through this study, a strategy for the localisation and development of the South African nuclear industry was developed. As background, the Korean localisation experience was investigated, along with international recommendations regarding nuclear localisation, and South African governmental policies. This research was used as foundation for the formulation of a localisation strategy. The possibility of using localisation and nuclear industry development as a means to address governmental socio-economic development goals was investigated. From the literature investigation localisation principles were identified. The focus areas of the localisation strategy were subsequently based on these principles. The principles are:  Aggressive human resource development  Governmental leadership and support  International co-operation The localisation strategy addresses general localisation recommendations, needed human resource development, structure of the Nuclear Energy Project Implementation Organization (NEPIO), roles of the participants of the NEPIO, and finally the supply-chain development and technology transfer guidelines. It was assumed that three nuclear power plants, consisting of two reactors each would be constructed. For localisation to be successful, a fleet approach must be followed to ensure economy of scale, and local participation must be incrementally increased with each power plant. The localisation strategy was circulated to industry for validation, and changes were made, based on industry feedback. The needed human resource development amounts to the training of 4 012 labourers per year (see Table 1). The local participation for each consecutive power plant is 30%, 50%-55% and 75%-80%, respectively. It was found that 100% localisation is not feasible. The planned nuclear power programme is too small to justify the development of globally leading components such as ultra-heavy forgings. The structure of the NEPIO is shown in Figure 1. It was found that the localisation and nuclear industry development would serve as a vehicle to help achieve governmental socio-economic development programmes. It was finally concluded that South Africa has the potential for localisation, but obstacles such as a lack of governmental commitment, negative public perception, and lack of industry confidence will be detrimental to the localisation efforts. If these, and other obstacles are not urgently addressed, South Africa will miss out on a much needed development opportunity. / MIng (Development and Management Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Investigations into past accidents at nuclear power generating facilities such as that of Three Mile Island have identified human factors as one of the foremost critical aspects in plant safety. Errors resulting from limitations in human information processing are of particular concern for human-machine interfaces (HMI) in plant control rooms. This project examines the application of Ecological Interface Design (EID) in HMI information displays and the effects on operator situation awareness (SA) for turbine secondary systems based on the Swedish Forsmark 3 boiling-water reactor nuclear power plant. A work domain analysis was performed on the turbine secondary systems yielding part-whole decomposition and abstraction hierarchy models. Information display requirements were subsequently extracted from the models. The resulting EID information displays were implemented in a full-scope simulator and evaluated with six licensed operating crews from the Forsmark 3 plant. Three measures were used to examine SA: self-rated bias, Halden Open Probe Elicitation (HOPE), and Situation Awareness Control Room Inventory (SACRI). The data analysis revealed that operators achieved moderate to good SA; operators unfamiliar with EID information displays were able to develop and maintain comparable levels of SA to operators using traditional forms of single sensor-single indicator (SS-SI) information displays. With sufficient training and experience, operator SA is expected to benefit from the knowledge-based visual elements in the EID information displays. This project was researched in conjunction with the Cognitive Engineering Laboratory at the University of Toronto and the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) in Halden, Norway.

In line with its commitment to safe nuclear power generation, the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station (KNPS) replaced the outdated vibration monitoring system with a modern on-line vibration monitoring system. This will allow plant personnel to monitor components on a continuous basis which will provide faster response time in the scenario of excessive vibrations of the primary components. This study focuses on the analysis of the vibration of the primary components of the KNPS by analysing the frequency spectra of the vibration signals of the primary components and comparing these to reference signatures obtained during similar operating conditions. The condition of the vibration sensors will also be evaluated. In order to obtain a deeper understanding of the vibration behaviour and hence vibration signatures of the KNPS primary reactor components, a simplified mathematical model of the primary components is developed, based on the system of elasto-dynamic equations. The equations are solved numerically and used to simulate the KNPS vibration monitoring system. The mechanical system is modelled. Time series are generated and Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) are calculated to simulate the new KNPS monitoring system. In the simulation mechanical degradation of the primary components as well as sensor degradation is simulated. The purpose of this study is to indicate whether mechanical degradation has occurred in the primary components of the plant and to validate the vibration signals. At the same time the study aims to lay a foundation for future monitoring and interpretation of vibration signatures by simulating the vibration and the monitoring signals. It was found that the primary components had not been affected by mechanical degradation as no deviations in resonances were detected in the frequency signatures. A small number of vibration sensors were found to have deteriorated; hence replacement / maintenance was proposed. The mechanical model and the simulation of the monitoring signals proved to be useful to understand and interpret the vibration of the KNPS primary components. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

With the rising electricity, raw material and fossil fuel prices, as well as the relatively low selling price of steel, the steel industry has been put under strain to produce steel as cost–effectively as possible. Ideally the industry requires a cost–effective, stable source of energy to cater for its electricity and energy needs. Modern High Temperature Reactors are in a position to provide industries with not only electricity, but also process heat. Therefore, a study was conducted into the economic viability of centering the steel industry on nuclear power. This study considered 3 technology options: a nuclear facility to cater for solely the electricity needs of the steel industry; a nuclear facility producing hydrogen for the process needs of the steel industry; and a nuclear facility co–generating electricity and process heat for the steel industry. An economic model for each of the 3 scenarios was developed that factored in the various cost considerations for each of the 3 options. In general, this included the construction costs, operational and maintenance cost, build time and interest rate of the financed amount. For each option, the model calculated the cost of production per unit output. The outputs were electricity for option 1, hydrogen for option 2, and both electricity and process heat for option 3. Each model was optimised based on a realistic best case scenario for the capital and operational costs and respective best case cost per unit outputs for each of the options were calculated. Using the optimised cost model, it was shown that electricity produced from nuclear power was more cost effective than current electricity prices in South Africa. Similarly, it was shown that a nuclear facility could produce heat at a more cost–effective means than by the combustion of natural gas. Hydrogen proved to be not cost effective compared to reformed natural gas as a reducing agent for iron ore. Based on the cost savings, a cash–flow analysis showed that the payback period for a nuclear power plant that produced electricity for the steel industry would be around 12 years at 0% interest and 15 years at 5% interest. Due to the long payback period and lack of certainty in the steel industry, any steel manufacturer would opt for purchasing electricity from a nuclear based electricity utility rather than building a facility themselves. Savings of over $70 million/year were achievable for a 2 million tonne/year electric arc furnace. Overall this analysis showed that electricity generation is the only viable means for nuclear power to be integrated with the steel manufacturing industry. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.