Summary

Newly conceived, safer reactor designs are being built in the United States (and around the world) to replace the 104 obsolete operating nuclear power reactors in this country alone. The designs—which once seemed exotic and futuristic—are now 40 years old, and one by one these vintage Generation II plants will reach the end of productive service in the next 30 years.

The Future of Nuclear Power examines the advanced designs, practical concepts, and fully developed systems that have yet to be used. This book introduces readers to the traditional, American system of units, with some archaic terms remaining in use. Ideal for students and teachers interested in the technology of energy production in the next 100 years, this brand-new, full-color resource provides clear explanations of the terms and expressions used almost exclusively in nuclear science and the direction in which nuclear power is expected to go.

Specifications

Full-color photographs and line illustrations. Index. Glossary. Chronology. Further print and Web resources.

About the Author(s)

James A. Mahaffey, Ph.D., has more than 25 years' experience as a senior research scientist at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, where he was engaged in a wide variety of projects, ranging from theoretical mathematics to nuclear science. At the Georgia Institute of Technology, he completed undergraduate and master's studies and earned a doctorate there in nuclear engineering. He was director of a long-term project to design and build the Emergency Response Data System at Georgia Power's Plant Hatch nuclear power station. He has also worked on projects for the Defense Nuclear Agency, the National Ground Intelligence Center, and the Air Force Air Logistics Center.