New Invention to Prevent Future Fukushima

It is almost a decade since the Fukushima nuclear disaster sent shockwaves around the world, and triggered a mass shift aware from nuclear power due to safety concerns. The reactor was designed to withstand the impact of earthquakes and tsunamis that are always considered a threat in Japan, but when both struck at once the emergency backup systems failed to prevent a series of nuclear meltdowns and widespread radioactive contamination.

Since then Japanese scientists have identified the ultimate cause of the radiation leak, and have been working with scientists in the US and Europe to find ways of preventing any future recurrence. A European team at the Czech Academy of Scientists believe theynow have a solution that has received EU-wide patent protection.

Cause of the Radiation Leak

The nuclear fuel that powers reactors is housed inside rods made from alloys of zirconium combined with other metals. Zirconium is used thanks to its resistance to extreme temperatures, which regularly reach up to 400 degrees centigrade during normal operation, but which during a disaster like the one in Fukushima, can rise much higher, causing what is known as a meltdown in the reactor’s core.

“The problem is that at these high temperatures corrosion inevitably sets in [to the protective nuclear rods],” explained Irena Kratochvílová, head of research at the Academy’s Physics Institute. “And it was precisely this corrosion that caused the fuel rods to be torn apart and radioactive nuclear fuel to leak out of the Fukushima reactor.”

When the plant’s sensors correctly detected the earthquake, its emergency systems kicked into place, halting the fission process when the main power systems failed. Backup diesel generators continued to circulate coolant to prevent the nuclear core from overheating, and going into meltdown. Those backup generators, however, were knocked out by the subsequent Tsunami, causing the core’s temperature to rise and trigger the nuclear meltdown.

Scientists believe that if the protective nuclear rods had not been weakened by the normal process of corrosion, or if they had been made of a more resilient substance then the situation might have been brought under control.

Solution

Since the disaster a number of prototype casings for the fuel rods have been created, that have promised to be more operationally resilient at high temperature and less prone to corrosion. These prototypes have included stronger metal alloys, as well as ceramic coatings, which like the ceramic tiles that protected NASA shuttles against the extreme heat generated on re-entry in the earth’s atmosphere, can withstand extremely high temperatures. Each new prototype, however, failed to perform as intended when put through test protocols, ultimately causing the type of cracking that allowed radiation to leak out of the reactor at Fukushima.

By contrast, the Czech team have developed a specialist coating of microscopic diamonds and soft carbon, that achieves the combined properties of high strength, high resistance to heat, but also a level of flexibility to prevent cracking. In addition, once exposed to high temperature, traces of carbon penetrate the Zirconium providing an added layer of defence against corrosion from water and hydrogen.The protection that the coating provides not only during temperatures generated during normal conditions, but also during conditions generated during a nuclear accident, have been described as “astounding”.

By reducing corrosion by almost 90%, the new invention not only reduces the risk of a meltdown during a disaster, but also stands to massively reduce the impact of nuclear waste on the natural environment. This is considered vital for the future of nuclear energy, because while it does not produce carbon dioxide and can assist the fight against global warming, storing nuclear waste has long been a costly and potentially hazardous exercise.

“People often don’t realise,” said Kratochvílová, “That the rods with the nuclear fuel are usually not taken out of service due to the radioactive fuel being entirely spent, but because of corrosion to the Zirconium casing.”

Patents are now also pending in the US and South Korea, and negotiations allowing the use of the technology by global leaders in civil nuclear energy are already underway. In another first, the hi-tech coating has also found new applications in heart surgery, and is currently being trialled as a coating on coronary stents, which it is hoped will similarly prevent corrosion and other forms of wear and tear.

Surface of the new coating as viewed under an electron microscope. Photos courtesy of the Czech Academy of Sciences

Image of nuclear rods with the revolutionary new coating. Photos courtesy of the Czech Academy of Sciences

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos