Ebook: Nuclear Energy: Principles, Practices, and Prospects

The world faces serious difficulties in obtaining the energy that will be needed in coming decades for a growing population, especially given the problem of climate change caused by fossil fuel use. This book presents a view of nuclear energy as an important carbon-free energy option. It discusses the nuclear fuel cycle, the types of reactors used today and proposed for the future, nuclear waste disposal, reactor accidents and reactor safety, nuclear weapon proliferation, and the cost of electric power. To provide background for these discussions, the book begins with chapters on the history of the development and use of nuclear energy, the health effects of ionizing radiation, and the basic physics principles of reactor operation.

The text has been rewritten and substantially expanded for this edition, to reflect changes that have taken place in the eight years since the publication of the first edition and to provide greater coverage of key topics. These include the Yucca Mountain repository plans, designs for next-generation reactors, weapons proliferation and terrorism threats, the potential of alternatives to nuclear energy, and controversies about low-level radiation.

Acclaim for the first edition:

"…The book provides a superb background for scientists and those in technical fields. It provides probably all the information that many people, including government policy makers, will ever need...[a] well-written and balanced book. This book is recommended for anyone who wants a broad technical background on nuclear energy."
-American Journal of Physics

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The world faces serious difficulties in obtaining the energy that will be needed in coming decades for a growing population, especially given the problem of climate change caused by fossil fuel use. This book presents a view of nuclear energy as an important carbon-free energy option. It discusses the nuclear fuel cycle, the types of reactors used today and proposed for the future, nuclear waste disposal, reactor accidents and reactor safety, nuclear weapon proliferation, and the cost of electric power. To provide background for these discussions, the book begins with chapters on the history of the development and use of nuclear energy, the health effects of ionizing radiation, and the basic physics principles of reactor operation.

The text has been rewritten and substantially expanded for this edition, to reflect changes that have taken place in the eight years since the publication of the first edition and to provide greater coverage of key topics. These include the Yucca Mountain repository plans, designs for next-generation reactors, weapons proliferation and terrorism threats, the potential of alternatives to nuclear energy, and controversies about low-level radiation.

Acclaim for the first edition:

"…The book provides a superb background for scientists and those in technical fields. It provides probably all the information that many people, including government policy makers, will ever need...[a] well-written and balanced book. This book is recommended for anyone who wants a broad technical background on nuclear energy."
-American Journal of Physics

---

The world faces serious difficulties in obtaining the energy that will be needed in coming decades for a growing population, especially given the problem of climate change caused by fossil fuel use. This book presents a view of nuclear energy as an important carbon-free energy option. It discusses the nuclear fuel cycle, the types of reactors used today and proposed for the future, nuclear waste disposal, reactor accidents and reactor safety, nuclear weapon proliferation, and the cost of electric power. To provide background for these discussions, the book begins with chapters on the history of the development and use of nuclear energy, the health effects of ionizing radiation, and the basic physics principles of reactor operation.

The text has been rewritten and substantially expanded for this edition, to reflect changes that have taken place in the eight years since the publication of the first edition and to provide greater coverage of key topics. These include the Yucca Mountain repository plans, designs for next-generation reactors, weapons proliferation and terrorism threats, the potential of alternatives to nuclear energy, and controversies about low-level radiation.

Acclaim for the first edition:

"…The book provides a superb background for scientists and those in technical fields. It provides probably all the information that many people, including government policy makers, will ever need...[a] well-written and balanced book. This book is recommended for anyone who wants a broad technical background on nuclear energy."
-American Journal of Physics

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxii
The Motivation for Nuclear Energy....Pages 1-23
Nuclear Power Development....Pages 25-56
Radioactivity and Radiation Exposures....Pages 57-83
Effects of Radiation Exposures....Pages 85-121
Neutron Reactions....Pages 123-137
Nuclear Fission....Pages 139-152
Chain Reactions and Nuclear Reactors....Pages 153-169
Types of Nuclear Reactors....Pages 171-192
Nuclear Fuel Cycle....Pages 193-229
Nuclear Waste Disposal: Amounts of Waste....Pages 231-251
Storage and Disposal of Nuclear Wastes....Pages 253-290
U.S. Waste Disposal Plans and the Yucca Mountain Repository....Pages 291-335
Policy Issues in Nuclear Waste Disposal....Pages 337-369
Nuclear Reactor Safety....Pages 371-410
Nuclear Reactor Accidents....Pages 411-438
Future Nuclear Reactors....Pages 439-480
Nuclear Bombs, Nuclear Energy, and Terrorism....Pages 481-516
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons....Pages 517-558
Costs of Electricity....Pages 559-577
The Prospects for Nuclear Energy....Pages 579-618
Back Matter....Pages 619-693

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The world faces serious difficulties in obtaining the energy that will be needed in coming decades for a growing population, especially given the problem of climate change caused by fossil fuel use. This book presents a view of nuclear energy as an important carbon-free energy option. It discusses the nuclear fuel cycle, the types of reactors used today and proposed for the future, nuclear waste disposal, reactor accidents and reactor safety, nuclear weapon proliferation, and the cost of electric power. To provide background for these discussions, the book begins with chapters on the history of the development and use of nuclear energy, the health effects of ionizing radiation, and the basic physics principles of reactor operation.

The text has been rewritten and substantially expanded for this edition, to reflect changes that have taken place in the eight years since the publication of the first edition and to provide greater coverage of key topics. These include the Yucca Mountain repository plans, designs for next-generation reactors, weapons proliferation and terrorism threats, the potential of alternatives to nuclear energy, and controversies about low-level radiation.

Acclaim for the first edition:

"…The book provides a superb background for scientists and those in technical fields. It provides probably all the information that many people, including government policy makers, will ever need...[a] well-written and balanced book. This book is recommended for anyone who wants a broad technical background on nuclear energy."
-American Journal of Physics

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxii
The Motivation for Nuclear Energy....Pages 1-23
Nuclear Power Development....Pages 25-56
Radioactivity and Radiation Exposures....Pages 57-83
Effects of Radiation Exposures....Pages 85-121
Neutron Reactions....Pages 123-137
Nuclear Fission....Pages 139-152
Chain Reactions and Nuclear Reactors....Pages 153-169
Types of Nuclear Reactors....Pages 171-192
Nuclear Fuel Cycle....Pages 193-229
Nuclear Waste Disposal: Amounts of Waste....Pages 231-251
Storage and Disposal of Nuclear Wastes....Pages 253-290
U.S. Waste Disposal Plans and the Yucca Mountain Repository....Pages 291-335
Policy Issues in Nuclear Waste Disposal....Pages 337-369
Nuclear Reactor Safety....Pages 371-410
Nuclear Reactor Accidents....Pages 411-438
Future Nuclear Reactors....Pages 439-480
Nuclear Bombs, Nuclear Energy, and Terrorism....Pages 481-516
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons....Pages 517-558
Costs of Electricity....Pages 559-577
The Prospects for Nuclear Energy....Pages 579-618
Back Matter....Pages 619-693
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