Business, Thought, and Management Articles --- Nuclear Power
Here we take a look at the nuclear power generation. Nuclear power generates steam and turn turbine by the energy of the fission of uranium, etc. Let's think about the current issue and future of nuclear power and power supply.
Here we take a look at the nuclear power generation. Nuclear power generates steam and turn turbine by the energy of the fission of uranium, etc. Let's think about the current issue and future of nuclear power and power supply.
Once nuclear power generation attracted attention as the future of energy, it had been expected as the stable power supply in the future.
One of the reasons that nuclear power has been expected as an energy source, is the concern of oil energy dependence.
It is said that oil energy will be exhausted in not far future. And the mass consumption of oil had been said to contribute to environmental destruction and global warming. In addition, when our country are highly dependence on oil, our economy can be affected by oil price increase for the Middle East unrest etc.
During in the economic growth, Japan increased oil consumption rapidly. Under such circumstances, the risk to be dependent on oil energy is becoming major concern of Japan from oil shocks and unstable Middle East situation. So, nuclear energy has attracted attention and became to be expected as a de-petroleum energy.
The second half of the 20th century, in Japan nuclear power plants are steadily constructed, and started operating.
In addition, new plans that use nuclear power such as fast-breeder reactor construction and Pluthermal plan are also begun.
When 21st century comes and global warming problem is to be close up, nuclear power that is considered to be small contributions to the global warming such as CO2 emissions attracts attention.
In order to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in Japan, Japan once planned to increase dependence on nuclear power to 50% and more, or even 70%.
Meanwhile, the occurrence of the 2011 earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, brings a big impact to the world.
Reliance on nuclear power in Japan is hugely lost, now its risk is strongly pointed out.
However, the fear of nuclear power did not begin in the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident of 2011. The risks has been pointed out from long before.
Cases of overseas accidents. The research reports of the impact of radioactivity. Processing problems of radioactive waste. Domestic past accidents that could lead catastrophes. Risks of the plans itself, such as fast breeder reactors and Pluthermal plan.
However, those risks had not been regarded as important, Japan steadily increased nuclear power generation.
Nuclear power generation uses the nuclear fission energy of uranium etc. While fission is to be expected as an energy source for the magnitude of the energy, radioactivity generated and its explosive force has been considered to be very dangerous. If radiation leak or explosion accident happens, it not only threaten people's lives and livelihoods, it can severely damage the ecosystem.
Of course they should be able to be controlled technically. Nuclear power plants should have been made with multiple safety design in light of the lessons of past data and accidents. Therefore nuclear power has been believed to be safe power generation.
However, while you continue to the investigation of the nuclear accidents, a variety of facts come out, some of them have made us that we can not say they are very safe.
Here, we will primarily look at nuclear power generation in Japan. From the basic knowledge of nuclear power, we will look at the current situation and issues of nuclear power in Japan.
In addition, we would think about the future of nuclear power and Japan's energy policy.
Fission Energy
Nuclear power is basically the power generated by the nuclear reaction. Nuclear reaction has mainly nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Nuclear power generation that is operating currently in commercial takes advantage of the fission energy of uranium-plutonium.
Atmic Reactor
Atomic reactor is the equipment to make continuously stable nuclear reaction. Fission will generate a large amount of radioactive substance with explosive energy. Nuclear power generation is to generate electricity using the heat energy by controlling the nuclear reaction in the reactor.
Power Generating Plant
Power generation plant will generate the power by the generator. In order to move the generator, you need the power. In the case of nuclear power plant, it creates the steam that was heated by the nuclear reaction energy, thereby turns the turbine.
Radioactive Waste
When operating nuclear power plant, radioactive waste will be made. Radioactive waste is waste that contains radioactive substances. Processing of radioactive waste has concerns of its risk and the impact to the environment, it has become a major issue of nuclear power.
Workers and Their Health
Those who supports the operation of nuclear power plant are the workers who work there. Workers sometimes have to work side-by-side with danger at high radiation area. And their health management is a big issue.
Safety Design and Quality Management
Fission energy is explosively large, nuclear reaction is dangerous accompanied by radioactivity. So, variety of safety design shall be applied to nuclear power so that any accidents or failures shall never occur.
Correspondence in Case of Accident
If the accident occurs in a nuclear power plant, it will have a significant impact on a wide range of people. Depending on the correspondence in case of accident, it can harm many people's lives and health, cause pollution in wide area and ocean, and will be criticized from the international community.
Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Plant
The nuclear power plant will be gradually aging by continuous long-term operation. Outdated nuclear power plants will have to stop the operation, and must be decommissioned. The nuclear power will also have a big issue for this "decommissioning".
The Future of Nuclear Power
How the future of nuclear power will be that have variety of issues? How the nuclear power should be? Let's think about he future of nuclear power here.
Should the Nuclear Power Be Eliminated?
There are opinions that we should be without nuclear power. That says, we should abolish the nuclear power plants because nuclear power is dangerous, has concerns like accidents and radioactive waste, and it is not promising as an energy source.
Future of Energy Policy
How our energy policy will be in future? What should we consider the use of energy from now? Let's think about the future of energy policy here.
