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Nuclear power phoenix: markets for computers & instrumentation

Friday 3rd October 2008
Phoenix: Courtesy:http://trevorhiggs.com/artwork/

As Brokk robots start to dismantle the Dounreay uranium fuel reprocessing plant, a new market report notes that the recent years high prices and insecure supply of traditional fuels, combined with concerns over the environmental impact of fossil fuels, are driving renewed interest in nuclear power. Countries such as the Finland, UK and Germany that already have significant nuclear plants, now plan a new generation of developments. And developing countries also see nuclear as a key element in meet burgeoning energy needs. Critically nuclear power has now gained a modicum of public acceptance and favorable political will in many countries. This is set to support a leap in a new generation of nuclear power going forward, and create a management, quality and control market for both computing and instrumentation.

Robots will soon begin dismantling the plant at Dounreay with workers  drilling through the concrete that surrounds the uranium fuel reprocessing plant. The £2.9m decommissioning is  using specialist demolition firm Brokk to supply remotely operated equipment that can work in high radiation levels not accessable to  humans.

The robotic equipment (right Brokk 330) is are mounted on excavator tracks and electrically powered to cut up and package vessels and pipes where more than 10,000 spent fuel elements were dissolved and reprocessed before the plant shut down in 1996. Walls and ceilings made from reinforced concrete several feet thick, provide environmental containment and protection from the internal radiation.

Stainless steel and glass-reinforced plastic has been erected outside to provide protection for a protective suited team, wearing  respirators. Using diamond-tipped drills to penetratewalls, they are drilling in a carefully designed pattern, to weaken the wall sufficiently and let robots drive into the cells by year end.

Inside, the three-tonne robots will use specially developed shears, grapples and crushers to strip the chemical plant. Each dismantled part of the chemical works will be cut up and segregated in a dedicated waste processing structure, where a platform-mounted robot will consign each item as low or intermediate-level waste, after radiation checks.

Mining, milling & production
Uranium production, especially mining and milling  activities are expected to accelerate in the coming years as the demand for fuel grows with commissioning of new nuclear power plants. Currently, uranium is produced commercially in 19 countries across the globe. The top five (Canada, Australia, Kazakhstan, Niger and Russia) account for around 75% of the total global production. However, uranium mining activities are also being conducted in other countries, most notably in Central Asia and Africa including Namibia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and South Africa. The uranium mining industry is expected to show significant growth in these countries in the coming years.


Technology & expertise accelerate growth
Technology development has been a  the key drivers for the expansion of global nuclear capacity. Currently the majority of nuclear electricity production in the world is through reactors originally designed for defense usage (Generation II). Reactor technology has  reached Generation IV which meets requirements of various industrial as well as national grid usages.

New reactors offer longer operating plant lives, protection against aircraft impact, and reduced possibility of core melt. Development of small and medium sized reactors has expanded the application of nuclear energy to new energy market sectors  as in oil extraction, and desalination without access to other major power  sources.

The Global Markets Direct report explores some of the popular nuclear reactor technologies and assesses their potential development.

Nuclear role In global electricity mix
Nuclear power accounted for around 15% of total global electricity generation in 2007.Used for electricity generation in only 31 countries, there are many  planning to develop a nuclear industry to address their domestic energy concerns. Environmental concerns are forcing the countries to change their generation mix from fossil-based  to low emission technologies. High costs and insufficient development in renewable power means nuclear is emerging as a viable alternative to meet the increasing demand for clean power globally.

This report provides a deeper understanding of the electricity generation share of nuclear and its potential growth in some of the major countries in the Asia Pacific, Europe and Americas. It highlights continued concerns relating to safety, hazards of  waste, and domestic political policies that could play an adverse role nuclear industry growth in some nations.

Investment Is development key
The use of nuclear energy is set to significantly expand in China, Japan, Russia, Republic of Korea and India. Over 150 nuclear reactors are expected to be commissioned in these countries in the next ten years, opening up enormous opportunities for uranium supply, nuclear reactor builder,  operating and service industries and other related sectors. Significant investments are expected across the industry on uranium mining, plant construction and technological development.

This report ‘The Reemergence of the Nuclear Industry in the Global Energy Sector' details planned and proposed nuclear power plants, the main channel and driver for investments in the sector.

Sources:http://www.theherald.co.uk/
http://www.globalmarketresearch.com/
Web:http://www.brokkinc.com/

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