A Milestone for Small Modular Reactors (SMR 2020)

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A Milestone for Small Modular Reactors (SMR 2020)

In a time where we need to lower our carbon footprint, all nuclear power problems are outweighed by its benefits, such as; low pollution, high output power, stable base load energy, low operating costs, cheap electricity and reliability.
Nevertheless, the construction of new powerplants is on decline, with only one new plant being activated in the past 20 years in the united states.
High construction cost is one of the main reasons that makes it difficult to compete with other energy options.
This is why we don’t see new nuclear facilities being built and those that are, have significant construction delays. The average time it takes to build a power plant is about 7.5 years, and total costs could reach 10s of billions of dollars.
Georgia’s Vogtle nuclear expansion is one example. The project started in 2009 with an estimated final cost of 14 billion dollars. It was supposed to be up and running by 2016. Now it seems that the facility will most likely start working in 2021 with a total estimated final cost of 23 billion dollars.
These power plants are extremely complex to build and have to adhere to numerous safety standards, which adds even more intricacy.
But all of this could be a thing of the past with the introduction of Small Modular Reactors.

 Softwares Used:
Blender 2.8 EEVEE
Apple Motion
Final Cut Pro X

[XSpImmaLion]

Let me add something that I feel must ALWAYS be added when talking about the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, because it often isn't:

Yes, it was a pretty dire scenario that the power plant had to deal with... very strong earthquake followed by several tsunami waves. But actually, much like several other nuclear disasters, this one also came from mismanagement and corruption.

TEPCO, the main energy company behind several of Japan's power plants and electrical grid, together with the japanese government itself, ignored multiple warnings that a major earthquake event could cause a runaway incident.
The warnings started back in 1991, getting reinforced multiple times in 2000 and 2008, with increased alarm every time it was raised.
All the fail points that led to the meltdown were thoroughly addressed in risk accessment reports, including the possibility of diesel backup generators getting flooded and failing to work. The need for a secondary failsafe source of power came up in 1991, and from 2000 on the risk accessment warned multiple times about the tsunami risk.

This often doesn't come out when talking about the disaster, but several energy officials, regulatory bodies heads and TEPCO executives were fired, some were prossecuted, but found not guilty... because you know how these things go.

But really, the whole structure of safety and checks that Fukushima Daiichi was propped on was rotten from start. Regulators more worried about their careers and promotions rather than public safety.

We have this image of honesty and hard work in Japan, but corruption, collusion and nepotism also does happen there, and it just so happens that the Fukushima disaster is directly tied to one such case. A conservative top down structure that led to corruption which allowed for the disaster to happen. Politicians and executives ignoring multiple studies and multiple warnings for decades of a disaster that ended up happening. And then, media coverage forgetting about it, as well as this part of the case getting sweeped under the rug because it doesn't look good for the japanese government and the most powerful energy company in Japan.

This needs to be said everytime the subject comes up, or we learn nothing from mistakes. It was a disaster, but was no accident.

[parrotraiser]

The US Navy has been operating small reactors safely for over 60 years without a serious leak.

[MestreDentistaGUC]

This is by far my favorite explanation channel!!! Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication.

[TW-ltvr]

I live here in SC, near Vogtle; have some friends working there. They have literally dumped money just switching contractors and are literally running in circles when it comes to management.. The entire process would've been done if these "managers" would stop their ridiculous and pointless game of "management."

[TCOphox]

Singapore would definitely need these. The air pollution here is getting worse.

[flux]

No matter how complex it's still steam power.

[apexshinbi]

"Two Tsunamis, One Reactor" lmao

[Killtime]

bingo spot on the "successful and safe reactor advancements and acception" bingo sheet of the spot of "smol, auto-shutdown capable reactors."

[greasysteve]

I let out an audible laugh at how simple the SCRAM system is. Reactor: loses power. Control rods: *plunk*

[kazwalker]

Hah, I was just checking out your website and was wondering when your next video would be... Great timing!

[MartinCHorowitz]

The issue with passive drop cooling rods in other designs, is that the rods and channels can warp with age and fail to drop. Hopefully the tolerances are loose enough.

[andrewpaulhart]

Isn’t nuclear only in decline in the west? My understanding g is that China is building lots of nuclear plants

[mwvilla]

We need MSRs with thorium, this are safer and this is what we should be working on.

[Martin_e_]

The only SMR currently under construction in the world is the CAREM project prototype in Argentina, who developed the technology back in the 80's but because of budgetary problems and redesign delays couldn't start construction until 2014.

[cautiousoptimist]

I've been calling this for 40 years....

[harrybarrow]

People tend to forget that nuclear costs are not just construction. Other major costs are dealing with radioactive waste and decommissioning.

[CarlosAM]

You should talk about molten salt smrs! Also the fuel on this reactor can be recycled like in france right?

[SNixD]

Fukushima construction guide:
Build the wall lower than the estimated maximum tsunami height. It's cheaper that way
Put emergency generators somewhere safe, like down by the sea, behind the wall
Put backup generators in the basement so they're not in the way
Hydrogen scrubbers inside the building? What for? Everyone else has been doing it since the 80's you say? Nah, we're good.

Emergency procedures:
In case of cooling failure, do not pump sea water into the core, as that would make refurbishment expensive. It's probably going to be fine anyway.

[ryanmckay]

While the world burns, science must go on.

[Dmitrioligy]

I get angry when I see a dumb channel and dumb video with ads everywhere.

I get angry when I see Subject Zero channel and Subject Zero video and ads no where.

YOU DESERVE MORE MONITIZATION. This is discovery Channel quality but better. More ads bro! You deserve all the dolla bills for such great imagery and explanation