The Development of The Tungsten Encased Nuclear Reactor

 

A new fusion record has been set by the tungsten tokamak WEST. The development of tungsten encased nuclear fusion reactors could become a more efficient method of energy generation. The device located at the Princeton Physics Plasma Laboratory was able to hold hot fusion  plasma at 50 million degrees Celsius for six minutes. In order to generate power for a grid, the plasma has to be hot and dense. If the research continues, there might be fusion reactors that will be commercially available. The efforts of the Coordination on International on Long Duration Operation have produced favorable results.  Prior to this experiments did utilized graphite titles. The device that used that material was the Tore Supra. Tungsten is favorable because it retains less fuel. However, the limitation is that it cane make the plasma cool. Keeping a certain amount of heat is needed for energy generation. Technological barriers and physics challenges do prevent fusion reactors from being used for power. Tokamak WEST will require more adjustments to be able to be connected to a large power grid. The tungsten walls are going to be the most important development in nuclear technology. As fusion reactors advance further, considerations for tungsten mining should be made. China, the United Kingdom, Rwanda , Vietnam, and Russia are going to have to increase tungsten mining. These countries are the major producers of the element. Production would have to increase dramatically if fusion reactors are going into regular use. At the moment the machinery requires more advancement. The news demonstrates that fusion reactors are not theoretical. The devices have reached a phase of applied science.  

The Nuclear Energy Summit

 

The Nuclear Energy Summit has opened in Brussels. The summit is the first of its kind seeking to expand nuclear power. Europe was for a time focusing on the expansion of renewable energy. This comes as a reversal of policies that were proposed a decade ago. Demonstrations against the summit expressed concerns from environmentalists. Nuclear power does produce waste, which must be stored in other areas. Unless there is a serious discussion about fusion reactors, the summit will not be effective. Nuclear fusion reactors could generate power and reduce waste. Environmentalists note that more nuclear reactors will not protect the climate. The expansion of nuclear power plants is about energy independence for Europe. The Russia-Ukraine War made EU countries realize how vital this is. Another aspect is that nuclear energy business sector wants to remain relevant. Solar, hydropower,  and wind power technology could get much cheaper, which means it would be more difficult for nuclear to compete. The move away from nuclear power was sparked by the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011.According to IAEA nuclear energy accounts for less than 10 % of global energy generation. France remains the leader in nuclear energy. An estimated 66.66 % accounts for its energy generation. A total of 30 countries are attending the summit in Belgium. The proposals are designed to phase out fossil fuels, which using nuclear energy as a substitute. The objective is to triple nuclear energy. This is dependent on the amount of uranium available. Countries such as Kazakhstan, Canada, and Namibia are going to have more importance to the nuclear energy industry. Those countries have uranium mines, but it is not clear if the can keep up with a surge in demand. The goal is to reduce emissions by 2050 , but certain factors could prevent this summit target. The Nuclear Energy Summit has been controversial with activists concern about negative effects to public health and the environment.    

The Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Water Released Into The Pacific Ocean

 

Japan has released the water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The IAEA has claimed that the radiation levels are safe and that releasing the war will cause no harm. It would be erroneous to think that is so. The release of radioactive water not only is a concern for public health, but the the aquatic ecosystem. Marine wildlife will be negatively impacted by this development. More radioactive water is going to be released in the coming decades. Seafood production and the fishing industry are going to experience the economic effects. China has already expressed that it will be cautious about purchase of seafood from Japan. The United Nations approved of Japan's plan of disposal of the radioactive water. There is little evidence that discharge of the water is safe. Tokyo Electric Power which operates Fukushima stated that not abnormalities were observed. Environmentalists are growing frustrated with a number of international institutions that favor the release of the water. The first discharge of water is set to reach a total of 7,800 cubic metres. That is not so large that any damage done cannot be reversible. The releases must be stopped for the sake of public health and environmental protection. The biggest concern is the tritium contamination. As long as contaminated water is being released ban on Japanese imports could become permanent. South Korea  Hong Kong, China, and Macau are banning Japanese aquatic imports. Those in the fishing industry are more anxious about how the discharge of radioactive water could impact their business. The Fukushima disaster has never really ended in this regard. Natural disasters are never going away. Which is why buildings and infrastructure should take into account particular engineering needs.    

Abdul Qadeer Khan Explains The Reasoning For Pakistan's Atomic Weapons Program

 

Abdul Q.  Khan ( 1936-2021) was the responsible for Pakistan's nuclear weapons program. He explains the reason that Pakistan needed nuclear weapons was a means to balance the power with India. India had a larger army, navy, and air force. Khan claims that in 1998 Pakistan was capable of making a nuclear strike on New Delhi. India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974. This alarmed Pakistan, so it sought to develop atomic weapons of its own. The defeat in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 made the country change its national security policy. The Khan Research Laboratories were established in 1976. By the end of the 20th century India, Pakistan, and China had nuclear weapons. Abdul Q. Khan was later accused of selling nuclear secrets to other nations. It was discovered that he sold secrets to Iran, North Korea, and Libya. Nuclear proliferation among nations will continue to be an issue among various regions of the world. Khan was pardoned by Pervez Musharraf  in 2004. The more conservative political circles considered Khan a national hero. Others believe that nuclear power should be used for peaceful purposes, rather than military applications. 

Japan Will Release Contaminated Water From The Fukushima Plant Into The Ocean

 

Ten years after the Fukushima Plant disaster, Japan has decided to release the contaminated water into the ocean. An estimated 1.25 million tons of water from Fukushima  has been treated. The concern becomes what impact will this have on sea life in the Pacific Ocean. The ecosystem could be disturbed by this sudden release of  waste water. Public health is also at risk. The consumption of sea food and the possible contamination of wildlife could make people sick. The waste water contains tritium and radionuclides . The government insists that the treated water will not cause harm. The process is going to be a gradual release. The practice of releasing treated water has been done by various nuclear power plants. Vapor release is a popular method for disposing of water from these facilities. Other Asian nations, environmentalists, and those in the fishing industry have voiced their concerns. So far, the radiation from Fukushima has not caused a major public health crisis. Most of the damage was induced by the earthquake in 2011. Fisheries were negatively impacted by the disaster. Over the next decade, they were able to recover. The fear is of another crisis that could put the industry at risk. Water waste treatment techniques must be done in a way to  preserve the environment and public health. The Daiichi Nuclear Plant is the reason why more research should be done with fusion reactors. A more efficient power source would ensure safety and less reliance on vapor release.