E-Book Overview
As energy resources, particularly fossil fuels, become strained, nuclear energy (despite its known shortcomings) must be considered as an alternative. This book presents an objective view of nuclear energy as an important source for future energy needs. It discusses various types of reactors, the nuclear fuel cycle, the problem of nuclear waste disposal, reactor accidents, safety and new types of reactors that are being considered, and the cost of electricity from nuclear power. Additional themes include the problem of nuclear weapons, their storage, and, very important, their disposal as nuclear arsenals are pared down.
This new edition has been brought up to date throughout, with new data, figures, and tables added. The chapter on costs of electricity has been shortened, simplified, and revised to make reference to the changes caused by the electricity deregulation. A motivating introductory chapter, and a new chapter on nuclear waste disposal at Yucca Mountain have been added.
E-Book Content
NUCLEAR ENERGY
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NUCLEAR ENERGY PRINCIPLES, PRACTICES, AND PROSPECTS SECOND EDITION
David Bodansky
With 47 Figures
1
Springer
David Bodansky Department of Physics University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195 USA
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bodansky, David. Nuclear energy : principles, practices, and prospects / David Bodansky.—2nd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-387-20778-3 (hc : alk. paper) 1. Nuclear engineering. I. Title. TK9145.B54 2003 2003070772 333.792 4—dc22 ISBN 0-387-20778-3
Printed on acid-free paper.
c 2004, 1996 Springer-Verlag New York, LLC. AIP Press is an imprint of Springer-Verlag New York, LLC. All rights reserved. This work may not be transl