BONUS nuclear plant as it appears today (Photo courtesy US DOE)

Among the many different reactor concepts being investigated in the late 1950s and early 1960s was the idea that the steam produced by a boiling water reactor, which normally goes straight to the turbine building, could be superheated (or have further heat added once it was already steam) by nuclear energy. This would greatly increase the efficiency of the plant, as well as make dry steam at a high pressure that would allow the use of (less expensive) commercially available equipment in the steam plant. Two reactors were built to investigate the idea of performing both processes in essentially the same reactor-one in South Dakota and (perhaps incredibly to today's readers) another of a very different design on the island of Puerto Rico.

Our Friday Matinee this week looks at China's Shidao Bay nuclear plant.  This plant, widely touted as a Gen-IV design, is a bit unusual in that it employs two HTGR's (that's High Temperature Gas cooled Reactors) supplying steam to one turbine generator.  The video gives a good basic look at the plant's design and shows the steady progress being made toward fully operable, commercial HTGR's.

Courtesy SSE ChNPP.

In the administration building of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, a number of stained glass windows (as seen to the right) recall the optimistic tone of industrial Soviet-era art that can still be viewed today at power plants around the former USSR. That these are well preserved is not the result of a specific effort, but instead because of the essential abandonment of large parts of the facility, and even the entire region, after the most serious nuclear reactor accident in 1986 in history.

Dresden Nuclear Generating Station (Photo courtesy Exelon Nuclear)

August 2012 was hot in Chicago. It was one of those times, while the American Nuclear Society was assembled there for its annual meeting, when the air was so hot and laden with humidity that it palpably hit you when you walked outdoors. All air conditioners, everywhere, were running at their maximum just to keep the buildings in the city habitable.

Two videos are featured this week. The first is a short, brand new (released this morning) video from Georgia Power showing some of the progress at Vogtle Units 3 and 4, set to music.

Today's Matinee is a TEPCO video. A five-year look at the progress, opportunities gained, and the rejuvenation of the area since the day of the terrible earthquake that triggered the devastating tsunami on March 11, 2011 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan. 

The 302nd edition of the Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival has posted at The Hiroshima Syndrome.

"It does so much for the everyday citizen that they just don't know. Generating 20% of all the power in the United States, zero carbon emissions, and the jobs and economic activity it creates, it's one of the best kept secrets in the country." - Sean McGarvey, President of North America's Building Trades Unions

Today's Friday Matinee: Bill Gates explains why "we need to pursue many different paths" to carbon-free energy, including the "very promising path" of nuclear. Grab your popcorn and enjoy the video.

2008-2009 American Nuclear Society President William Burchill is interviewed on the benefits of nuclear: "Nuclear Energy is a very big part of the solution for all of us." #Nuclear4Climate

This week's ANS Nuclear Cafe Friday Matinee features an update from South Carolina Electric & Gas on "A Year of Progress for V. C. Summer Units 2 and 3."  These two AP1000 units are being built near an existing nuclear unit, and not too far from the former (now decommissioned) site of "The Southeast's First Nuclear Power Plant," the Carolinas-Virginia Tube Reactor.

The 298th edition of the Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival has posted at Yes Vermont Yankee.

NASA's December 2015 report: Curiosity on Mars. Brought to you with the help from nuclear technology! Enjoy!

Today's Matinee... learn about what goes on at a reactor facility to keep the environment safe and ensure all operations are at top level.  Click to watch this short video from Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

The 296th edition of the Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival has posted at Neutron Bytes.

ANS member Sam Brinton talks about his passion, nuclear waste policy and changing the outdated images of nuclear advocates.

1955 artist's concept of the Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant. (Will Davis collection)

In the previous installment, we looked at the first of four projects to study nuclear power plants in the 1950-1953 time frame, as part of a group of studies for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). This time we'll look at two more.

The 295th edition of the Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival has posted at Atomic Insights.

The 294th edition of the Nuclear Energy Blog Carnival has posted at Hiroshima Syndrome.

Today's Friday Nuclear Matinee is about using irradiation to improve food safety and quality. It comes to us from the International Atomic Energy Agency.  For more, check out NuclearConnect.org  and the Agriculture Applications. Grab your popcorn and enjoy.