The reasons for the renewed interest in fast reactors and an overview of the progress in sodium cooled fast reactor operation in the last ten years are given. The excellent operational performance of sodium cooled fast reactors in this period is highlighted as a sound basis for the development...

Purpose – The incident in 2006 at the Vattenfall owned plant in Forsmark turned out to be one of the most serious ever in Sweden. Vattenfall's communication during this crisis did not meet the accusations, instead their line of defence was not to engage in discussions of the accusations, but...

This paper traces various aspects of nuclear electrical power from about 1970 when it burst on the world scene, starting in the USA and spreading rapidly to the rest of the world. Taking the US situation as typical, and perhaps dominant, I show that the cost of nuclear electricity was cheap in...

Recent years have seen a growing interest in the possibility of building new nuclear power plants in Canada and the USA. Electricity generating companies, especially in the south-eastern USA and Ontario, announced plans during 2005 and 2006 which could lay the groundwork for future decisions to...

Purpose – Aims to clarify the use of “nuclear” robots with special reference to one UK contractor (Magnox) and the cost‐effectiveness of its decommissioning programme. Design/methodology/approach – Goes through the protocol of the use of robots in the disposal of contaminated scrap....

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to build up a parallel robot for assembling, machining and repairing of the vacuum vessel of the international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER). Design/methodology/approach – The process of assembling and machining of the vacuum vessel need a...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the uses of robots in the nuclear power industry, with an emphasis on newer developments and applications. Design/methodology/approach – Following an introduction to the nuclear industry, this paper considers robotic applications...