Nuclear Fusion Energy

Nuclear Fusion is a nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei of low atomic number fuse to form a heavier nucleus accompanied by an energy release.

Nuclear Energy is the energy in the nucleus of an atom that comes from splitting atoms of radioactive materials, such as uranium, and which produces radioactive wastes. The Nuclear Energy can be used to produce electricity during nuclear fission or fusion.

Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) or Nuclear Power Station is an electrical generating facility using a nuclear reactor as its heat source, to provide steam to a turbine that converts atomic energy into usable power.

Small Modular Reactor (SMR) is the nuclear reactors generally 300 MW per module (up to about 700 MW as a Medium) equivalent or less which is smaller than conventional reactors that is designed with modular technology. A SMR allows for less onsite construction activities, increasing efficiency, enhanced safety due to passive nuclear safety features, and pursuing economies of series production and short construction times. There are about 50 SMRs design and concept globally, several existing and newcomer nuclear energy countries conducting SMR research and development.

Nuclear power has not been immune to the impacts of the Covid‑19 crisis, though in most cases reactors have continued to produce electricity. Global nuclear power generation fell by about 3% in Q1 2020 compared with Q1 2019, pulled down by electricity demand reductions. In our estimate for 2020, nuclear power declines by 2.5% from 2019 due to lower demand and delays for planned maintenance and construction of several projects. If the recovery from the crisis is faster, electricity demand would be higher and some new reactors would be completed in 2020, leading to a reduction in nuclear power in 2020 of just over 1%. In Q1 2020, most of the reductions in nuclear power were caused by lower electricity demand, alongside planned permanent closures of nuclear facilities. Since Q1 2019, six new reactors have come online globally, with a total power capacity of 5.5 GW, but this was only equivalent to half of the nuclear capacity that was permanently shut down over the same period. (Source: IEA)

In 2017, new nuclear power capacity dropped sharply to only 3.6 GW. Construction starts, a proxy for final investment decisions, remained low. Declining investment, announced phase-out policies and planned retirements, combined with only 56 GW of nuclear capacity under construction in 2017, suggest that meeting the goal of 185 GW of net increase needed by 2030 will be very challenging. Looming construction decisions by China, India and Russia in 2018-2020 will play a major role in whether nuclear power will meet the SDS targets in 2030 and beyond. Nuclear capacity additions declined significantly in 2017, falling to just 3.6 GW, down from 10 GW in 2016. Over the past five years, 33 GW of capacity was connected to the grid, with China accounting for two-thirds of that total. Meanwhile 18 GW has been shut down permanently, including 7.3 GW in Japan and 4.9 GW in the United States. (Source: IEA)

Alkali Fusion is applied to substitute a sulfonic acid group with a hydroxyl group in a substituted aromatic ring.

Atomic Energy refers to the Nuclear Energy.

Fusion is 1) a process of combination or mixture of things; 2) a type of nuclear reaction that occurs when atomic nuclei fuse together. It is essentially the opposite of fission, which involves splitting atoms apart.

Fission is the splitting of a heavy nucleus into two smaller nuclei that results in two or more lighter nuclei and a release of energy.

Fusion, Nuclear Reaction Energy
Fusion, the nuclear reaction that powers the Sun and the stars, is a potential source of safe, non-carbon emitting and virtually limitless energy. Harnessing fusion's power is the goal of ITER, which has been designed as the key experimental step between today's fusion research machines and tomorrow's fusion power plants. (Source: ITER)

In nuclear physics, Nuclear Fusion is a reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei come close enough to form one or more different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles (neutrons and/or protons). The difference in mass between the products and reactants is manifested as the release of large amounts of energy. This difference in mass arises due to the difference in atomic "binding energy" between the atomic nuclei before and after the reaction. Fusion is the process that powers active or "main sequence" stars, or other high magnitude stars. (Source: Wikipedia)

National Ignition Facility (NIF) is a laser-based inertial confinement fusion (ICF) research device, located at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California, United States. The DOE and DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced on 13 Dec 2022, the achievement of fusion ignition which is a major scientific breakthrough decades in the making that will pave the way for advancements in national defense and the future of clean power. The laser shot, performed on 5 December, released 3.15 million joules (MJ) of energy from a tiny pellet containing two hydrogen isotopes – compared to the 2.05 MJ that those lasers delivered to the target.

Nuclear Decommissioning is the safely removing a nuclear facility or site from service, and reducing residual radioactivity to a level that permits either to release the property for unrestricted use, or to release the property under restricted conditions. Nuclear Decommissioning includes the activities such as planning, physical and radiological characterisation, facility and site decontamination, dismantling, and contaminated materials management, etc.

Nuclear Fuel Cycle is the series of industrial processes which involve the production of electricity from uranium in nuclear power reactors. The Nuclear Fuel Cycle starts with the mining of uranium and ends with the disposal of nuclear waste, consisting of the supplying fuel for nuclear reactors including mining, milling, refining, enrichment, fuel manufacturing, electricity generation, storage, reprocessing, and disposal processes. After uranium has spent about three years in a reactor to produce electricity, the used fuel may undergo a further series of steps including temporary storage, reprocessing, and recycling before the waste produced is disposed.

Nuclear Reactor is the main component of a nuclear power plant used to initiate and control a self-sustained nuclear chain reaction that occurs under controlled conditions, generating heat.

Nuclear Waste Pollution is pollution created by mishandling and inappropriate storage of spent nuclear fuel rods (High level waste), used filters, steel components from within the reactor and some effluents (Intermediate level waste), and pieces of protective clothing and tools (Low level Waste).

Nuclear Winter is a period of time that would follow a large nuclear explosion, widespread climatic cooling caused by the probable effect of nuclear warfare on such atmospheric conditions as would reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the earth’s surface.

Radioactive Waste is any waste that emits energy as rays, waves, streams or energetic particles that remains, or might remain, radioactive for a time after use. Radioactive materials are often mixed with hazardous waste, from nuclear reactors, research institutions, or hospitals. Radioactive Waste classification is based on the radioisotope, content, the specific activity, the chemical and physical form, and the stability of the radioisotope material. The safety and security measures applied to waste depend on a classification of high-level waste, intermediate-level waste, and low-level waste.

Decommissioning Process for Nuclear Power Plant involves removing the used nuclear fuel from the reactor, placing it into the used fuel pool, and eventually into dry storage containers (which can be stored on-site or transported off-site); dismantling systems or components containing radioactive products (e.g., the reactor vessel). The companies that operate nuclear power plants can use one or both of two options to decommission their facilities: SAFSTOR (Safe Storage) or DECON (Decontamination). Generally, sites must spend no longer than 50 years in SAFSTOR to allow up to 10 years for decontamination. The entire process must be completed within 60 years. (Source: www.nei.org/)

DECON (Decontamination): The plant is dismantled in a process similar to the DECON option once radioactivity has decayed to lower levels and the safety risk to workers is substantially reduced. In DECON phase, the operator first decontaminates or removes contaminated equipment and materials. The removal of used nuclear fuel rods and equipment—which accounts for over 99 percent of the plant’s radioactivity—lowers the radiation level in the facility and significantly reduces the potential exposure to workers during subsequent decommissioning operations. DECON can take five years or more. Both of these options allow companies to choose the optimal time and method for decommissioning their particular site. Companies can choose to start DECON at the beginning of the 60-year period. In reality, most plants use a combination of the two approaches, conducting some dismantlement while setting aside funds to pay for others later. (Source: www.nei.org/)

Tokamak is an experimental machine designed to harness the energy of fusion. Inside a tokamak, the energy produced through the fusion of atoms is absorbed as heat in the walls of the vessel. Just like a conventional power plant, a fusion power plant will use this heat to produce steam and then electricity by way of turbines and generators. (Source: https://www.iter.org/)

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was created in 1957 in response to the deep fears and expectations generated by the discoveries and diverse uses of nuclear technology. Widely known as the world’s “Atoms for Peace” organization within the United Nations family, the IAEA is the international centre for cooperation in the nuclear field. The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies. (Source: www.iaea.org/)

U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) mission is to address the nation’s Cold War environmental legacy resulting from five decades of nuclear weapons production and government-sponsored nuclear energy research. This legacy includes some of the world’s most dangerous radioactive sites with large amounts of radioactive wastes, spent nuclear fuel (SNF), excess plutonium and uranium, thousands of contaminated facilities, and contaminated soil and groundwater. Created in 1989, EM has the responsibility for completing the clean-up of this Cold War legacy and managing the remaining nuclear materials. As the largest environmental clean-up program in the world, EM has been charged with the responsibility of cleaning up 107 sites across the country whose area is equal to the combined area of Rhode Island and Delaware. EM has made substantial progress in nearly every area of nuclear waste clean-up and as of September 2012, completed clean-up at 90 of these sites. (Source: http://energy.gov/)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was created as an independent agency by Congress in 1974 to ensure the safe use of radioactive materials for beneficial civilian purposes while protecting people and the environment. The NRC regulates commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials, such as in nuclear medicine, through licensing, inspection and enforcement of its requirements. (Source: www.nrc.gov/)

World Nuclear Association (WNA): Information on the leadership, organisation and secretariat of the World Nuclear Association. The WNA is the only international industry organisation with a global mandate to communicate about nuclear energy. The Association’s mission is to promote a wider understanding of nuclear energy among key international influencers by producing authoritative information, developing common industry positions, and contributing to the energy debate. (Source: http://www.world-nuclear.org).