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Swiss nuclear power and the case for long-term operation
Designed for 40 years but built to last far longer, Switzerland’s nuclear power plants have all entered long-term operation. Yet age alone says little about safety or performance. Through continuous upgrades, strict regulatory oversight, and extensive aging management, the country’s reactors are being prepared for decades of continued operation, in line with international practice.
J. D. Gordon, T. K. Samec, S. A. Freije, B. I. Hauss
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 4 | Number 2 | September 1983 | Pages 348-352
Alternate Fuels | doi.org/10.13182/FST83-A22889
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
We have evaluated the energetics of the proton-11boron advanced fuel fusion cycle and find that the enhancement of reactivity obtained from non-thermal mechanisms is significantly less than the enhancement required for ignition or high gain operation. Based on a detailed calculation of synchrotron radiation losses, at least 135% enhancement of the reactivity is needed for ignition. The direct and induced radioactivity associated with the cycle, while being orders of magnitude lower than that of D-T, is not negligible and requires serious attention in the design. Thus, we conclude that, using our present physics knowledge, the p-11B cycle is not viable for commercial fusion power.