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Archive for the ‘nuclear energy’ category: Page 26

Jun 13, 2023

Renewables surpass new nuclear reactor in capacity growth: Utility-scale solar and wind outpace Vogtle-3 in Q1 of 2023

Posted by in category: nuclear energy

Based upon a review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data recently released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), utility-scale solar and wind have apparently each added more new electrical generating capacity during the first four months of 2023 than the new Vogtle-3 nuclear reactor that just came on-line after nearly 14 years of construction and major cost overruns.

FERC had earlier reported in its monthly “Energy Infrastructure Update” report for December 2022 that installed U.S. utility-scale solar generating capacity had reached 80,400 megawatts (MW) by the end of last year.

However, in its most recent report, with data through April 30, 2023, FERC cites 85,790-MW of installed solar generating capacity… and that does not include new small-scale distributed PV systems. Meanwhile, FERC listed 143,280-MW of installed wind generating capacity at the end of 2022 but, four months later, that figure had been increased to 146,900-MW.

Jun 12, 2023

A simple solution for nuclear matter in two dimensions

Posted by in categories: information science, mathematics, nuclear energy, particle physics, space

Understanding the behavior of nuclear matter—including the quarks and gluons that make up the protons and neutrons of atomic nuclei—is extremely complicated. This is particularly true in our world, which is three dimensional. Mathematical techniques from condensed matter physics that consider interactions in just one spatial dimension (plus time) greatly simplify the challenge.

Using this two-dimensional approach, scientists solved the complex equations that describe how low-energy excitations ripple through a system of dense nuclear matter. This work indicates that the center of stars, where such dense nuclear matter exists in nature, may be described by an unexpected form.

Being able to understand the quark interactions in two dimensions opens a new window into understanding neutron stars, the densest form of matter in the universe. The approach could help advance the current “golden age” for studying these exotic stars. This surge in research success was triggered by recent discoveries of gravitational waves and electromagnetic emissions in the cosmos.

Jun 11, 2023

Oppenheimer — with Robert J. Sawyer

Posted by in categories: cryptocurrencies, existential risks, military, nuclear energy, robotics/AI

Science Fiction author Robert J. Sawyer talks about Oppenheimer and about his Alternate History book: The Oppenheimer Alternative.

Where to find ‘The Oppenheimer Alternative” book?
Robert J. Sawyer’s website: https://sfwriter.com.

Continue reading “Oppenheimer — with Robert J. Sawyer” »

Jun 7, 2023

Interstellar Cyclers

Posted by in categories: nuclear energy, space travel

A new kind of starship.

The huge distances between Earth and the nearest star make it necessary for us to conceive of extremely high-velocity starships if interstellar travel is to be possible with durations less than a human lifetime. In practise this means accelerating the starship to some percent of lightspeed. The problem with doing this, of course, is that truly phenomenal amounts of power are required to boost a ship to such velocities.[1]

Various propulsion schemes have been proposed, from nuclear fusion to antimatter to laser sails. Until recently, laser sailing seemed like the most economical and easiest way, even though it still requires that we build lasers that draw more power than all of human civilization is now capable of producing. [Author’s note: since I first wrote this a method has been proposed that could amplify a laser launcher’s power by factors of tens of thousands. So I guess laser launch is back on the table.].

Jun 5, 2023

AI should be licensed like medicines or nuclear power, Labour suggests

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, nuclear energy, robotics/AI

Exclusive: party calls for developers without a licence to be barred from working on advanced AI tools.

Jun 3, 2023

Dr. Rita Baranwal, Ph.D. — Senior Vice President, Energy Systems, Westinghouse Electric Company

Posted by in categories: business, engineering, government, nuclear energy

Is Senior Vice President of the Energy Systems business unit of Westinghouse Electric Company, which is the nuclear power unit of.
Westinghouse, where her core focus is in leading the team developing and.
deploying their AP300 Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (https://www.westinghousenuclear.com/Portals/0/about-2020/lea…UL22.pdf).

Dr. Baranwal recently served Chief Technology Officer of the organization, where she led the company’s global research and development investments, spearheading their technology strategy to advance the company’s nuclear innovation, and drove next-generation solutions for existing and new markets.

Continue reading “Dr. Rita Baranwal, Ph.D. — Senior Vice President, Energy Systems, Westinghouse Electric Company” »

Jun 1, 2023

Ex-SpaceX engineers bring Mars colony tech to Earth

Posted by in categories: nuclear energy, space

Inspired by Mars colonization, engineers aim to replace diesel generators with nuclear microreactors.

May 31, 2023

Advancing fusion energy: Researchers achieve record-breaking temperatures in a tokamak

Posted by in category: nuclear energy

They managed to achieve temperatures of more than 100 million degrees Celsius. That is hotter than the sun’s core temperature!

Nuclear fusion reactions generate large amounts of energy. An example of nuclear fusion is the reactions happening in the sun’s core. Harnessing fusion energy has long been a goal of scientists and researchers as it produces no greenhouse gas emissions or long-lived radioactive waste.

However, there are several bottlenecks to producing fusion energy, such as the requirement of high temperatures and pressures, plasma instability, cost, scalability, and finding energy balance.

May 30, 2023

US urged not to use bomb-grade uranium in nuclear power experiment

Posted by in categories: climatology, nuclear energy, sustainability

WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) — Former U.S. State Department and nuclear regulatory officials on Tuesday urged the U.S. Energy Department to reconsider a plan to use bomb-grade uranium in a nuclear power experiment, saying that its use could encourage such tests in other countries.

The Energy Department and two companies aim to share costs on the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE) at the Idaho National Laboratory and use more than 1,322 pounds (600 kg) of fuel containing 93% enriched uranium.

Bill Gates-backed company TerraPower LLC, the utility Southern Co (SO.N) and the department hope the six-month experiment will lead to breakthroughs in reactors that could help reduce pollution linked to climate change.

May 19, 2023

Demystifying vortex rings in nuclear fusion and supernovae

Posted by in categories: engineering, nuclear energy, physics, space

Better understanding the formation of swirling, ring-shaped disturbances—known as vortex rings—could help nuclear fusion researchers compress fuel more efficiently, bringing it closer to becoming a viable energy source.

The model developed by researchers at the University of Michigan could aid in the design of the capsule, minimizing the energy lost while trying to ignite the reaction that makes stars shine. In addition, the model could help other engineers who must manage the mixing of fluids after a shock wave passes through, such as those designing supersonic jet engines, as well as physicists trying to understand supernovae.

“These move outward from the collapsing star, populating the universe with the materials that will eventually become nebulae, planets and even new stars—and inward during fusion implosions, disrupting the stability of the burning fusion fuel and reducing the efficiency of the reaction,” said Michael Wadas, a doctoral candidate in at U-M and corresponding author of the study.

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