Small and modular nuclear power reactors

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dc.contributor.authorEbeling, DRen_AU
dc.contributor.authorRodd, JTen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2025-07-25T12:55:36Zen_AU
dc.date.available2025-07-25T12:55:36Zen_AU
dc.date.issued1985-05-16en_AU
dc.date.statistics2025-07-18en_AU
dc.descriptionPhysical copy held by ANSTO Library at DDC 621.48/79.en_AU
dc.description.abstractEvents in the power reactor construction industry, particularly in the USA, have recently focussed attention on the possibility that the direction of reactor technology towards ever larger units nay not be economically sound. In a recent article <"Quick is Beautiful" - Dyson) a biological parallel is drawn between the large reactors and the larqe dinosaurs in which a slight change in the rules of the game eliminated the slow and ponderous from contention. This was supported in detail by the latest EPRI Journal ("Nuclear Power - The Next Generation" - John Douglas - March 1985) in which a new era in reactor design is predicted. Several general reasons for thinking that the small or modular reactor can successfully compete are: 1. Previous assessments of reactor economics ignored the possibility of series production and the benefits of standardisation and factory testing. 2. Load factor improvements on a slowly expanding smaller grid system were not appreciated. 3. Time and cost overruns to the extent experienced by some USA utilities were inconceivable to the early planners. Known drawbacks to small reactors such as increased staff and equipment replication costs are expected to be reduced by the latest designs and use of higher technology. The few whole system studies that have been done indicate emphatically that these disadvantages are swamped by the above 3 major effects and that not only major opportunities to produce "eversafe" designs are offered, but opportunities to produce designs that are perceived by the public to be "eversafe" appear possible. Australian authorities saw a paradox 20 years ago with nuclear reactors in that the larger grids, capable of accepting a large (and therefore cheap) reactor, were confined to the «astern states. These possessed large and cheap coal deposits so that the nuclear units were, though large, still uncompetitive. In the other states, where the coal was expensive, the grid systems were too small and the size of reactor unit that could be accepted by the authorities was too small to compete. Although this still appears to be the conventional wisdom of the day, the possibility of being able to purchase a cheap small unit "off the line" creates the opportunity for breaking the paradox and introducing economically competitive nuclear units to Australia and other 3rd World regions. Although factory production of medium sized reactors is already a fact in USSR, the western world will not benefit from such innovations until the USA or Europe set up such facilities under a properly competitive situation. Since this is already under intensive discussion and lobbying in the USA, it is recommended that the possibility of such a new era being imminent be closely addressed by power authorities and government departments in respect to future policies.en_AU
dc.identifier.booktitle4th AINSE Engineering Conference, 16-17th May 1985, AINSE Theatre, Lucas Heights handbook : conference handbook (programme, abstracts and general information)en_AU
dc.identifier.citationEbeling, D., & Rodd, J. (1985). Small and modular nuclear power reactors. Presentation to the 4th AINSE Engineering Conference, 16-17th May 1985, AINSE Theatre, Lucas Heights. 4th AINSE Engineering Conference, 16-17th May 1985, AINSE Theatre, Lucas Heights handbook: conference handbook (programme, abstracts and general information), (pp. 25). Lucas Heights, Sydney: Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineeringen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate1985-05-17en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencename4th AINSE Engineering Conferenceen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceLucas Heights, Sydneyen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate1985-05-16en_AU
dc.identifier.isbn0725-7627en_AU
dc.identifier.pagination25en_AU
dc.identifier.placeofpublicationLucas Heights, New South Walesen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/handle/10238/16343en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherAustralian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineeringen_AU
dc.subjectEconomicsen_AU
dc.subjectEngineeringen_AU
dc.subjectModular structuresen_AU
dc.subjectNuclear engineeringen_AU
dc.subjectNuclear facilitiesen_AU
dc.subjectNuclear power plantsen_AU
dc.subjectPower Plantsen_AU
dc.subjectPower reactorsen_AU
dc.subjectSizeen_AU
dc.subjectSpecificationsen_AU
dc.subjectReactorsen_AU
dc.subjectThermal power plantsen_AU
dc.titleSmall and modular nuclear power reactorsen_AU
dc.title.alternativeRisk analysis in nuclear engineeringen_AU
dc.typeConference Abstracten_AU
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