Product Description
For many of us, the mention of nuclear power immediately brings to mind the notorious accidents: Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. Our next thought might be, I should really find out more about this.This book, written for the layman by an expert in the field, tells us how nuclear power works, what it looks like, and why it is safe. It explains how nuclear fission works, how nuclear reactors are controlled, and how their safety systems reliably protect us.For those of us who have never visited a nuclear power station, Roger Steed provides detailed descriptions, drawings, and photographs. He addresses our concerns about radiation protection, the economy of CANDU reactors, the lifespan of nuclear plants, and plant decommissioning.This book provides a very good understanding of the use of nuclear power, with its potential to protect our environment and decrease global warming. Having been in the nuclear industry since 1969, Roger retired just over three years ago from NB Power s Point Lepreau Generating Station, where he then was the technical supervisor, Nuclear Materials Management. He first showed me his manuscript in February 2002. I was most impressed by it. He told me then that he had written it to the non technically educated layperson, but I felt that it would also be helpful to many people in the nuclear industry.Lloyd Jones, former chief operating officer, Zircatec Precision Industries,and former chairman of the Canadian Nuclear Association. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Non professional opinion
I highly recommend this book to one and all. I live in proximity to a nuclear power station and had the usual concerns and interest in the installation. Several years ago Mr. Steed kindly led me through the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station and he made a casual comment which stuck in my mind. He said "To many people hearing the word "nuclear," the thinking process transposes the first two letters of the word and anything nuclear becomes unclear." This book ends that.
The nuclear electrical power generation industry is cursed by frequently ignorant, alarmist and sensational media and vested interest coverage in the popular press. Mr. Steed's book matter of factly lays out the good, the bad and the ugly of the matter. It turns out that there is nothing about which to wring one's hands.
I was fascinated especially by the safety aspect and the consequences and in depth analysis of the various mishaps that occurred in the early days and the lessons learned from them. Mr. Steed has clearly done the most immense amount of work in researching and writing the book. I appreciate that this is a very complex and involved area of expertise and Mr. Steed has clearly made efforts to make it understandable to lay persons but at the same time not dumbing it down to the extent that professional engineers will cringe. On the whole I would say that he succeeded but I caution readers that this is not a piece of fluff writing that one can casually read while listening to the news or carrying on idle conversation. I found that concentration was required to keep a handle on what was being said. The technical drawings are very good and the explanations cogent.
It is encouraging to hear from an expert with no axe to grind that the nuclear power generation business is a reliable, safe, non polluting and cost effective source of power. Roger addresses the storage of spent fuel issues in detail and he says that existing technology is well up to the challenge.
C.W.

WHETHER YOU ARE JUST STARTING TO LEARN ABOUT NUCLEAR POWER OR QUITE FAMILIAR WITH IT YOU SHOULD OWN THIS BOOK
Wonderfully comprehensive, descriptive and readable treatment of nuclear power worldwide. The book outlines the science and history of nuclear power,describes different plant designs, the benefits of nuclear power, environmental / waste disposal issues, and the major accidents that have occured to date. The design of the Canadian Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) plants is used to explain the components of a nuclear plant in great yet understandable detail because the book is filled with wonderfully clear illustrations and photos. It is the best book of it's kind I have seen. Students, teachers, even engineers and managers will find this book a useful, valuable tutorial and reference. ... Read more

Product Description
Decommissioning nuclear facilities is a relatively new field, which has developed rapidly in the last ten years. It involves materials that may be highly radioactive and therefore require sophisticated methods of containment and remote handling.The wastes arising from decommissioning are hazardous and have to be stored or disposed of safely in order to protect the environment and future generations.Nuclear decommissioning work must be carried out to the highest possible standards to protect workers, the general public and the environment. This book describes the techniques used for dismantling redundant nuclear facilities, the safe storage of radioactive wastes and the restoration of nuclear licensed sites.

* Describes the techniques used for dismantling nuclear facilities, safe storage of radioactive wastes, and the restoration of nuclear licensed facilities.
* Provides the reader with decommissioning experience accumulated over 15 years by UKAEA.
* Contains valuable information to personnel new to decommissioning and waste management. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nuclear Decommissiuoning...
The book, as is the University of Birmingham Postgraduate course on which it is based, is unique in bringing together material over the whole range of waste management, decommissioning and site remediation.It is essential reading for postgraduate students in this area, regulators, environmentalists and government agencies.It provides a basic understanding of the key principles, methodologies and current best practice.This well presented book contains 25 chapters under 5 broad headings: Fundamentals, Decommissioning, Project and program management, Waste management, and Site environmental remediation.There are numerous tables, figures and illustrations. Highly recommended.I have 2 copies for home and work! ... Read more

Product Description
Scholarly study of evolution of nuclear power in INdia, including defence and strategic issues. Documents appended. by two leading physicists. ... Read more

Product Description
The subject of nuclear power is fraught with controversy, and it is often discussed with an inadequate understanding of the science behind today's reactor technology.This book covers the entire nuclear fuel cycle, from mining uranium ore to disposal of radioactive wastes.It is intended for a broad audience of nonspecialist readers.Basic principles are fully explained, and topics such as environmental radioactivity--both naturally occurring and man-made--and safety issues are explored.Anyone interested in the operation of today's nuclear power-generating plants will want to have a copy of this informative volume. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Poorly researched, poorly written
Burleson's book seemed like a "cant-miss" proposition, but the author's poor writing and flawed research leaves much to be desired.On the one hand, the actual stories that he addresses have the potential to be very interesting.Sometime Burleson succeeds, and the reader can actually learn something.Most of the time, however, his writing is a mixture of spotty details and rambling explanations that vacillate between opposing viewpoints without any information to support his claims.In addition, by the time the reader reaches the half-way point of this book, it is painfully clear that Burleson is very much a pro-nuclear power thinker.While I don't begrudge him is point of view, I was incredibly disappointed with his lack of objectivity in "Nuclear Afternoon."

The only reason I gave this book two stars instead of one is that, in those few spots where the writing is well organized and objective, it is both entertaining and informations.Most of the time, however, "Nuclear Afternoon" is waste of time.

Don't buy this book
This is not a good book.

Allow me to explain.

I bought this book hoping for some accurate histories, collected in a single volume, of some of the more interesting accidents in nuclear history.Rather, what I got was a barely coherent rant, railing against the supposed dangers of nuclear power.I wouldn't have minded so much-I'm not particularly enamoured with the horribly confused and schizophrenic nuclear industry myself-but the book is riddled with inaccuracies.It even goes so far as to confuse radioactivity (the property of a material that causes it to produce radiation) with radiation (the emanations of such a material).This is important in a volume that concerns itself with dosimetry and the safety ramifications of nuclear technology.

I can't recommend this book.It's hysterical and relentlessly unbalanced.It's also stunningly badly written.Just don't buy it. ... Read more

Product Description
This book constitutes the proceedings from a symposium titled Separations for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle in the 21st Century which was held in March 2004. This symposium focused on assessing the current state-of-the art in nuclear separations science and technology, and on identifying R&D directions required to enable nuclear separations to meet 21st Century demands for waste minimization, environment protection, safety, and security. Several recent developments have elevated the importance of this topic including: the potential effects of global warming caused by carbon dioxide emissions from burning of fossil fuels;rising demand for the electric power that is needed to raise the global standard of living; geopolitical issues such as those related to nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism. Although expansion of fission-based nuclear power would help reduce the potential for global warming, future development of the nuclear fuel cycle must be weighed against the issues of proliferation and management of irradiated fuel. Separations will play a central role in addressing these issues. The subject matter of this book is organized into five topical areas. These are: 1) current trends and direction to the future, 2) aqueous processing, 3) emerging separations systems, 4) actinide/lanthanide separations, and 5) solution-solid interactions. This collection of papers provides a snapshot of the current state of nuclear separations chemistry and can be used to help guide future directions in this critical technological field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent source
This book is a great source of information about nuclear waste reprocessing. It is very detailed about processes that have been used and it also gives you a nice look at what is to come in the future. ... Read more

Product Description
Northeast Utilities Company adopted an ambitious new competitive strategy in the mid-1980s, seeking to become the low-cost supplier in New England electric power markets bracing for deregulation. Given its high-cost nuclear facilities, doing so required a corporate turnaround. For a decade Northeast faced increasing public and employee resistance to cost cutting at its nuclear plants. Though management achieved many of its goals, curtailing outlays on nuclear operations meant high risk that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would close the plants because of frequent, prolonged outages. This is just what happened in 1996. Did management's deliberate cost-containment strategy take nuclear operations to an inevitable regulatory shutdown, and if so, why? Was it the pursuit of executive compensation tied to cost containment that caused undue risk of regulatory shutdown?

Paul MacAvoy and Jean Rosenthal describe ten years of corporate performance preceding the shutdown, detailing aggressive executive decisions, mounting regulatory actions in response to increasingly severe operational failures, and--at the same time--overall improvement in corporate earnings, stock prices, and executive pay packages. They relate the complexities of managing declining nuclear plant operations under ever more pressing budgetary targets. Their discussion of the increasing risk of outages raises the issue of the tradeoff of profit and conservative management of hazard operations.

All the more timely in light of the massive 2003 East Coast blackout, Corporate Profit and Nuclear Safety represents a powerful and cautionary commentary on industrial practices that goes to the heart of effective corporate governance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Corporate Profit and Nuclear Safety
Very well-reserached and thorough book. Provides valuable insights into nuclear plants when profit overrides prevention. ... Read more

Product Description

World energy consumption has grown dramatically over the past few decades. This growth in energy demand will be driven by large increases in both economic growth and world population coupled with rising living standards in rapidly growing countries. The last years, we routinely hear about a "renaissance" of nuclear energy. The recognition that nuclear power is vital to global energy security in the 21st century has been growing for some time.

"The more we look to the future, the more we can expect countries to be considering the potential benefits that expanding nuclear power has to offer for the global environment and for economic growth," IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said in advance of a gathering of 500 nuclear power experts assembled in Moscow for the "International Conference on Fifty Years of Nuclear Power - the Next Fifty Years".

But such a renaissance is not a single-valued and sure thing. Legitimate four unresolved questions remain about high relative costs; perceived adverse safety, environmental, and health effects; potential security risks stemming from proliferation; and unresolved challenges in long-term management of nuclear wastes. Failure to answer these questions adequately could imperil the nuclear revival so many have proclaimed is night. This proceeding examines the status and future of nuclear power because of a belief that this technology is an important option for the regional and the world countries to meet the future energy needs without emitting carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants. The objectives, addressed to government, industry, and academic leaders, discusses the interrelated technical, economic, environmental and political challenges facing a significant increase in the global nuclear power utilization over the next half century and what might be done to overcome those challenges.

Product Description
This collection of selected articles documents the pioneeringwork of J.C. 'Charlie' Martin and his colleagues in modern pulsedpowerresearch at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment,Aldermaston,Reading, United Kingdom. The articles, taken primarilyfrom Martin'snotes and his lectures on high voltage topics, bringshis knowledgeof the field into focus. This collection also containsnever-before-published reports from Aldermaston. The material isremarkably current and deals with pulsed systems less sensitive tothose factors involved in slower pulsed scenarios. Articles alsocover the design and operation of large pulsed power systems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Bit More Than Beginners
Originally published under the title 'Anti-Nuclear Handbook' by Pantheon Books, this book is set out to raise awareness to the issue of nuclear power as it posed a threat in the eighties (and most likely today as well). While it begins quite simply explaining how nuclear power came about with the advent of Oppenheimer and the atomic bomb in which it was used in WW2, from then on it was harnassed as a tool. It seems to have caused more destruction and problems than the bomb itself has manifested. At this point in the book, it seems to trail into political stances and other world problems. The author Stephen Croall is also the author of 'Ecology for Beginners,' which is evident that the author is somewhat self righteous in his own stance, regardless of his points. The book eventually becomes bogged down with too much information that it transcends comic book beginners status and into intermediary positions. So in essence, it was not an altogether enjoyable read. While I dont know much about nuclear power in general, I would imagine this being an ideal place to begin as I would guess its a thorough and tough subject to ascertain comfortably. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's large-scale digitization efforts. The Library seeks to preserve the intellectual content of items in a manner that facilitates and promotes a variety of uses. The digital reformatting process results in an electronic version of the original text that can be both accessed online and used to create new print copies. The Library also understands and values the usefulness of print and makes reprints available to the public whenever possible. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found in the HathiTrust, an archive of the digitized collections of many great research libraries. For access to the University of Michigan Library's digital collections, please see http://www.lib.umich.edu and for information about the HathiTrust, please visit http://www.hathitrust.org ... Read more

Product Description
This collection presents an exchange of ideas among scientists and engineers about the economic and safety concerns surrounding environmentally induced materials problems which lead to nuclear power plant outages. Scientists and engineers concerned with the environmental degradation processes (corrosion, mechanical, and radiation effects) present their latest results on such topics as life extension/relicensing and materials problems associated with spent fuel storage and radioactive waste disposal. This collection will be of interest to utility engineers, reactor vendor engineers, plant architect engineers, researchers concerned with materials degradation, and consultants involved in design, construction, and operation of water reactors. ... Read more