Posted: 29 Aug 2012 04:21 AM PDT
Many
nuclear power plants rely heavily on access to nearby sources of cold
water to keep the system cool. Many of these power plants were built
several decades ago and some of them are not well prepared for the
warmer weather we are now experiencing.http://theenergycollective.com/globalwarmingisreal/107461/how-climate-change-may-affect-nuclear-power-plants?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29| Dropping water levels raise power plant questions Kansas City Star Drought conditions are draining a reservoir used to cool the Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant, but officials of the eastern Kansas plant say there are no worries about safety or the ability to provide electricity to customers. Hot, dry conditions across ... |
Not just nuclear plants, but all thermal plants require cooling, typically by water. These include coal plants, combined cycle natural gas plants, geothermal plants, and thermal solar plants.
ReplyDeleteRather than heating rivers, lakes, or oceans, some thermal plants evaporate water in cooling towers in order to generate electricity from turbine/generators.
Advanced nuclear power plants that operate at higher temperatures have high efficiency and need less cooling than today's plants. Direct air-cooled power plants are also possible at high temperatures generated by thorium molten salt reactors such as LFTR (liquid fluoride thorium reactor). A new book, THORIUM: energy cheaper than coal covers these topics. It is described at http://www.thoriumenergycheaperthancoal.com
Having read this I believed it was really enlightening. I appreciate you finding the time and energy to put this
ReplyDeletearticle together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and commenting.
But so what, it was still worthwhile!
Also see my page > climate Change