Preliminary nuclear power reactor technology qualitative assessment for Malaysia

  • Shamsul Amri Sulaiman
Keywords: reactor technology selection, screening criteria, candidate reactor technologies

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Since the world’s first nuclear reactor major breakthrough in December 02, 1942, the nuclear power industry has undergone tremendous development and evolution for more than half a century. After surpassing moratorium of nuclear power plant construction caused by catastrophic accidents at Three-Mile Island (1979) and Chernobyl (1986), today, nuclear energy is back on the policy agendas of many countries, both developed and developing, signaling nuclear revival or nuclear renaissance. Selection of suitable nuclear power technology has thus been subjected to primary attention. This short paper attempts to draw preliminary technology assessment for the first nuclear power reactor technology for Malaysia. Methodology employed is qualitative analysis collating recent finding of TNB-KEPCO Preliminary Feasibility Study for Nuclear Power Program in Peninsular Malaysia and other published presentations and/or papers by multiple experts. The results suggested that pressurized water reactor (PWR) is the prevailing technology in terms of numbers and plant performances, and while the commercialization of Generation IV reactors is remote (e.g. not until 2030), Generation III/III+ NPP models are commercially available on the market today. Five (5) major steps involved in reactor technology selection were introduced with a focus on introducing important aspects of selection criteria. Three (3) categories for the of reactor technology selection were used for the cursory evaluation. The outcome of these analyses shall lead to deeper and full analyses of the recommended reactor technologies for a comprehensive feasibility study in the near future. Recommendations for reactor technology option were also provided for both strategic and technical recommendations. The paper shall also implore the best way to select systematically the first civilian nuclear power reactor.  

ABSTRAK

Semenjak dari penemuan nuklear reaktor yang pertama di dunia lebih dari setengah abad yang lalu pada Disember 02, 1942, industri nuklear telah mengalami perkembangan pembangunan dan evolusi yang amat pesat. Selepas mengharungi moratorium pembinaan loji janakuasa nuklear yang disebabkan oleh kemalangan di Three-Mile Island (1979) dan Chernobyl (1986), mutakhir ini, tenaga nuklear telah kembali sebagai agenda polisi untuk pelbagai negara, baik yang maju mahupun membangun, yang menandakan pengembalian semula nuklear atau “nuclear renaissance”. Justeru, pemilihan teknologi nuklear yang serasi telah menjadi perhatian utama. Kertas ini bertujuan untuk membuat penilaian awal teknologi untuk loji janakuasa nuklear yang pertama di Malaysia. Perkaedahan yang digunapakai ialah analisis kualitatif melalui pengumpulan pelbagai maklumat terutamanya daripada kesimpulan terkini Kajian Kebolehlaksanaan Awal Program Kuasa Nuklear di Semenanjung Malaysia TNB-KEPCO dan juga persembahan penerbitan/ kertas kerja oleh pakar-pakar luar negara. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan bahawa teknologi Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) mengatasi teknologi-teknologi yang lain berdasarkan bilangan dan prestasi loji, dan manakala teknologi Gen IV masih jauh terkehadapan (e.g. permulaan dijangka pada 2030), model-model Generation III/III+  kini sudah berada di pasaran komersil. Lima (5) langkah-langkah berkaitan pemilihan teknologi reaktor telah diperkenalkan dengan memfokuskan aspek-aspek yang mustahak di dalam pemilihan kriteria. Tiga (3) kategori telah digunapakai untuk penilaian awal reaktor. Hasil analisis dijangka akan menyumbang kepada kajian yang lebih mendalam dalam saranan teknologi reaktor di dalam kajian kebolehlaksaan menyeluruh pada masa akan datang. Saranan-saranan awal untuk pilihan teknologi reaktor juga disediakan berdasarkan saranan-saranan strategik dan teknikal. Kertas ini juga menerokai kaedah yang terbaik untuk memilih loji janakuasa nuklear secara sistematik.

Published
2011-06-30
How to Cite
Sulaiman, S. A. (2011). Preliminary nuclear power reactor technology qualitative assessment for Malaysia. JOURNAL of NUCLEAR and Related TECHNOLOGIES, 8(01), 51-68. Retrieved from http://jnrtmns.net/index.php/jnrt/article/view/136
Section
Articles