Nuclear Energy An Introduction to the Concepts, Systems, and Applications of Nuclear Processes

Raymond Murray

Nuclear Energy, Fifth Edition provides nuclear engineers, plant designers and radiation physicists with a comprehensive overview of nuclear energy and its uses, discusses potential problems and provides an outlook for the future

New and important trends are discussed including probabilistic safety analysis (PSA), deregulation of the electric power industry to permit competition in the supply of electricity; improvements in performance characteristics of nuclear power plants, such as capacity factor, production costs, and safety factors; storage and disposal of all types of radioactive wastes; advances in decontamination, decommissioning and reutilization; continued progress in evolutionary reactors; increased interest in the role of nuclear power in reducing pollution and global warming. Attention is given to the developments in Russia, Ukraine, France, Sweden, South Korea, China and Third World Countries. The author also looks at the problems of nuclear weapons proliferation and the potential threat from terrorist organizations. Web sites and other electronic information sources are listed to supplement all of the topics covered in the book.


Contents

Basic Concepts: Energy, atoms and nuclei, Radioactivity, Nuclear processes, Radiation and materials, Fission and fusion; Nuclear Systems: Particle accelerators, Isotope separators, Radiation detectors, Neutron chain reactions, Neutron heat energy, Breeder reactors, Fusion reactors; Nuclear energy and Man; History of nuclear energy; Biological effects of radiation; Information from isotopes, Useful radiation effects, Reactor safety, Nuclear propulsion; Radiation projection, Radioactive waste disposal; laws, Regulations and organisations; Energy economics, International nuclear power, Nuclear explosions; The future.