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Large Nuclear Reactors versus Small Modular Reactors: An Economic Comparison of Power Generation Methods
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Munson, Bradley |
| Copyright Year | 2017 |
| Abstract | The world today is looking for new sources of electricity to replace fossil fuels as concerns about climate change become more serious. Of a variety of electricity generation methods, we chose to investigate nuclear power because it makes a good replacement for coal plants. One of the main concerns with nuclear power is that it has high initial costs. A less costly option for nuclear energy may be Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). In this comparison we used two different models, a “home mortgage” model and a “set payment” model. These models were used to evaluate costs and compare the large reactor to the SMR. The main conclusion of this study is that the two different plants address different markets. Specifically, while SMRs may serve as a useful introduction for countries that are developing their nuclear programs, countries with developed nuclear programs may benefit more by investing in large reactors. Chapter 1: Introduction Climate change is the biggest problem that this generation and the next is going to have to solve very soon. We can already see the effects that humans are having on a global scale with rising air temperatures, melting polar ice caps, and dying coral reefs. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), some other issues that will arise include: an influence on the patterns and amounts of precipitation, reduction of ice and snow cover, rising sea levels, increased acidity of the oceans, increase in frequency of extreme weather events, shift in ecosystem characteristics, and an overall increase in threats to human health1. Continued ignorance of the signs of climate change and the refusal to act immediately will result in permanent ecological disruptions and irreversible effects. The first question when trying to tackle climate change is where to begin. Climate change is happening because of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions (methane and nitrous oxides) that trap heat in our atmosphere. These emissions come from factories, transportation (personal, import, and export), power plants, and deforestation. There is simply no way to cease all |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://northcentral.constellation.libras.org/bitstream/handle/10969/1205/Munson_Bradley_Thesis_2017.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1 |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
