Nuclear power : technology on trial / James J. Duderstadt and Chihiro Kikuchi. Duderstadt, James J., 1942- Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press, c1979. http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google This work is protected by copyright law. It is made available from HathiTrust with permission of the copyright holder. Permission must be requested from the rights holder for any subsequent use. The digital images and OCR of this work were produced by Google, Inc. (indicated by a watermark on each page in the PageTurner). Google requests that these images and OCR not be re-hosted, redistributed or used commercially. They are provided for educational, scholarly, non-commercial purposes. Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google tO^<^A*^^;) Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google nuciJEnn POWER Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google James J. Duderstadt Chihiro Kikuchi nUCLERR ROUUER Technology on Trial Ann Arbor The University of Michigan Press Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google Copyright © by The University of Michigan 1979 All rights reserved Published in the United States of America by The University of Michigan Press and simultaneously in Rexdale, Canada, by John Wiley & Sons Canada, Limited Manufactured in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Duderstadt, James J Nuclear power. 1942- Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Atomic power-plants. I. Kikuchi, Chihiro, 1914- TK1078.D83 621.48'3 ISBN 0-472-09311-8 ISBN (M72-06312-X pbk. Atomic power, joint author. II. Title. 79-16455 Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google I" 5~ To our students Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google Preface Nuclear power has become the focus of great controversy. It is almost impossible to pick up a newspaper or turn on the television without encountering some aspect of the debate over this energy source. Are nuclear power plants safe from accident or terrorism? Will they permanently damage man's environment by discharging large quantities of hazardous substances such as radioactive waste or plutonium? Will the international transfer of nuclear power tech- nology accelerate the proliferation of nuclear weapons? Is nuclear power really economical when the staggering increases in plant construction costs, the reliability of nuclear plant operation, and hidden government subsidies are taken into account? The debate over the future role of nuclear power has taken on particularly ominous overtones in the light of the energy crisis that looms in our immediate future. The current imbalance between our ever-growing energy consumption and our capacity for supplying this energy poses a serious threat to society as we know it. We can achieve a new balance between energy supply and demand only by simultaneously stressing energy conservation while developing new sources of energy as rapidly as possible. Action will be effective only if this nation becomes broadly and pervasively aware of the energy problem, the nature of present energy usage, and the limited availability of conventional energy sources. We must be very realis- tic in our assessment of the options that are or may become available to alleviate the energy crisis. As one step to achieve public understanding, we have chosen to analyze the possible role of nuclear power in meeting the future energy requirements of our society. From a more general perspec- tive, nuclear power is an excellent case study of how society accepts or rejects a new technology to meet a perceived need, how it bal- ances the benefits against the risks of the technology to determine its suitability for massive implementation. A detailed study of nuclear power generation exhibits many features that will surface time and time again as our society attempts to adapt technology to its needs. We will evaluate critically the suitability of nuclear power as an energy source by examining this technology in terms of the most Generated for jjd (University of Michigan) on 2012-08-08 15:24 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015003403014 Open Access, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#oa-google viii Preface significant decision criteria: Does it possess a sufficient resource base? Is its impact on public safety and the environment acceptable? Will it represent an economically viable source of energy? As the nuclear power industry has matured, as it has passed from Fermi's demonstration of scientific feasibility to its present status of economic viability, so too has grown the public con- troversy over the role that nuclear power should play in our society. This book introduces readers to the technical issues involved in nuclear power generation so that they can rationally evaluate the future role of this energy source. We have chosen a level of presentation suitable for the broadest possible audience. No particular scientific background or familiarity has been assumed. Since only a modest introduction to the issues in nuclear power generation can be given in such a brief presentation, we have provided ample documentation to allow the interested reader to pursue further studies. We must caution the reader that although we have tried to look at both sides of controversial issues, some bias has inevitably crept into our discussion. As scientists and engineers who have partici- pated actively in nuclear energy research for many years, we could hardly be without an opinion. In this spirit we have confined most of our analysis to scientific evidence as we see it. We have avoided merely listing without critical comment the familiar pros and cons of this well-worn debate. We feel that far too few scientists have spoken out on these issues. As a result, the nuclear power debate has frequently drifted away from scientific fact into a dialogue in which scientific misunderstanding and half-truths are rampant. We sincerely hope that more scientific analyses such as this book will correct this alarming trend. This endeavor has benefited enormously from discussion with and encouragement from a great many colleagues including Profes- sors William Kerr, John Lee, Glenn Knoll, Thomas Brewer, William Martin, David Bach, and John King, along with Drs. Anthony Sinclair, Stanley Borowski, and Robert Campbell. A particular note of gratitude is due Alfred Slote and Anne Duderstadt for their assistance in translating scientific jargon into comprehensible lan- guage. We should admit that the real stimulus for this effort came from an entirely different quarter, from those who have been most outspoken in their condemnation of nuclear power. For it was the strong and frequent criticism of all aspects of nuclear power genera- tion voiced by these individuals that stirred within us a strong sense of scientific and social responsibility and that led to this book. Generated for jjd (University of Michigan)