Product Description
A timely and thought-provoking solution to the world's energy shortfall

The dramatic increases in oil and natural gas prices, the finite supply of fossil fuels, and concerns over emissions and global warming are forcing us to consider alternatives. In this measured and knowledgeable book, energy experts Alan Herbst and George Hopley argue that the time has come for the U.S. to revitalize its nuclear generation assets in order to successfully meet growing domestic electricity requirements and lessen our dependence on foreign sources of energy. Nuclear Energy Now provides an informed look at the benefits and drawbacks associated with this controversial alternative to traditional energy sources.

It opens with a brief overview of commercial nuclear development in the U.S. during the past half-century and moves on to discuss what the future may hold if new initiatives-supported by the Energy Policy Act of 2005-gain traction. Along the way, readers will find informed insights into why the need for nuclear power has become so critical and how we can safely add capacity in the coming years. Exploring all of the issues related to developing America's nuclear energy capabilities safely and cost-effectively, Nuclear Energy Now is a must-read for anyone concerned about our oil dependency, the environment, and future of the nation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Unemotional, fact-filled book on energy policy
Alan M. Herbst and George W. Hopley are two New York commodities trading experts. They have written a very dispassionate book, packed with facts, making the case that we need to add more nuclear energy to the mix of energy sources upon which America relies.The book's great strength is that these two know their stuff.They give a tremendous number of facts about oil, coal, natural gas and nuclear.

Their argument, in a nutshell, is that all forms of energy have serious problems.Oil is subject to high levels of political uncertainty.Solar and wind are too small to make any real difference.Besides, they are unreliable.Coal is abundant, but extremely dirty. Natural gas is relatively clean, but, since we have been using more and more of it, the price is starting to really go up and the supply is not infinite.We need nuclear, they say, because it is clean, its fuel mostly comes from politically stable and friendly nations (Australia has the most uranium in the world) and it can produce a great deal of reliable energy.The waste issue is manageable, they say.We can produce much less waste is we reprocess it, and the rest of it can be stored in Yucca Mountain.

In short, they argue, nuclear is not perfect, but neither is anything else.We need more energy, so it is time to get moving on nuclear again.If we do not, they argue, the rest of the world will; many other nations have moved to nuclear power in a big way.

Safe and secure nuclear power for replacing fossil fuels
"Nuclear Energy Now" is an excellent book about the present status of nuclear power.Its starting point is the realization that increasing amounts of carbon dioxide emissions are causing global warming and climate change.Combustion of fossil fuels is producing this chemically very stable and optically active gas.There seems to be only one effective way to stop its accumulation in the atmosphere; we must stop all fossil fuel combustion!
The industrial revolution of the last two centuries has made many nations and its citizens very prosperous.The ready availability of huge amounts of inexpensive energy facilitated this burst of industrial activity.World economies have become utterly dependent on the unlimited supply of electricity, heating gases, and transportation fuels.
"Nuclear Energy Now" shows that it is possible to build nuclear plants that can in due time replace all fossil fuel fired electric power plants.Nuclear energy cannot only replace fossil fuels in this energy sector.Nuclear fuel costs and nuclear plant costs are low enough to produce electricity at very competitive prices.
However, nuclear power has a major image problem.The public does not understand the technology, is deadly afraid of nuclear radiation, does not believe that nuclear reactors are safe, and fears that the proliferation of nuclear power across the world will create security problems.
The authors try to dispel these concerns.They make the point that the US has an outstanding safety record and that not a single person has ever been killed in an accident.They also point to France, which is producing close to 80% of its electricity from nuclear fuels.They ascertain that nuclear power plants do not emit greenhouse gases or radioactive substances and are safe.
Nuclear energy is the only viable option for replacing fossil fuels for electric power generation. Solar power, wind power, and other renewable energies can only replace a fraction of the electric power, which we need to keep our economies healthy.
Replacing petroleum for powering the world's transportation systems may be an even more challenging problem than electricity generation and is even more critical for the functioning of the world's economies.
The two authors, Alan M. Herbst and George W. Hopley have written an outstanding text that spells out the unique promises and the continuing problems of nuclear power.
In the end, the reader is left with a choice.Are the safety measures and security provisions described by the authors acceptable or are they still found wanting.
We need alternate ways to produce electric power urgently.Renewable energies cannot contribute enough power soon enough.Nuclear power seems our only hope.One question keeps lingering; can more be done to eliminate remaining safety and security concerns?

The Time Has Come for Nuclear Energy
Scientists and economists are working diligently to determine ways of producing sufficient electrical energy to supply our increasing demands. Electrical energy must be produced both economically and with the least environmental impact.

Awareness concerning the increased production of Carbon Dioxide by electrical generation facilities has spurred new interest in energy sources other than fossil fuels. Carbon Dioxide, an odorless colorless gas is an important part of the carbon cycle which consists of the production and consumption of Carbon Dioxide in our earth. The balance of Carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere has increased in part due to our expanding consumption of electrical energy.

The production of electrical energy in the United States is largely dependent on the burning fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuel such as coal, oil, and gas increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, thus negatively impacting the carbon balance in our atmosphere.The increased output is a concern of the citizens in the United States and World, but what can we do to help? Nuclear Energy Now, by Alan Herbst and George Hopley describes how we can solve both our increased need for energy while reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

The authors of Nuclear Energy Now give a compelling explanation as to "why the time has come for the world's most misunderstood energy source". I find their solutions easy to understand with a wealth of information to support their thesis.

Nuclear Energy now is a ready reference of information concerning the nuclear energy industry and world energy usage. Persons wanting detail information regarding the benefits of increased nuclear energy production will find a modicum of information. Those wanting to survey the major points with minimal detail, will find their summaries both compelling and logical.

If you are like me and want to receive detailed information concerning the use of Nuclear Energy and the benefits to our environment and economy, this book will serve you well. If you are researching only one aspect of this large and complex issue, you will also find Nuclear Energy Now a necessary reference.

Damming with faint praise
This book purports to support nuclear power and then doesn't make much of a case for it. I am sorry that I wasted my money on this book.

Try Power to Save the World: The Truth About Nuclear Energy by Gwyneth Craven who is a 30 year green activist and makes a fact based argument for nuclear. She puts forward all the standard arguments against nuclear and shows how they don't hold up. She spent 8 years researching her book with another environmentalist who works at the Sandia National Laboratory.

Is this a satire?
As someone who has studied the pros and cons of nuclear energy for over 30 years, I am always interested to see what reasons people muster for supporting what I have come to see as "Jurassic technology" (doomed to extinction because of inherent insupportability). This book reads like a satire. For example, the authors list the huge cost overruns in nuclear plant construction, and note that nuclear "overnight" KWh costs are almost 4 times those of natural gas and double coal's. For them, those turn into reasons why we *should* pursue nuclear electricity. They say that if we ignore the environmental legislation that gave nukes a "clean image" (note: "image"--even the authors understand that the reality is not clean), they would be price-competitive. And their safety record--since the last big accident--is exemplary!
Their clinching argument (p. 185): "Simply stated, if new reactor technology is good enough for Tanzania, Portugal and Mexico, it should be good enough for further expansion in the United States." Why sure, if those global leaders in developing new technologies (as the authors note, Tanzania can't even afford to construct a nuke), renowned for their stringent environmental laws and oversight, are thinking about building new nukes, why shouldn't the US?
I have to believe the authors wrote this with tongue firmly in cheek. ... Read more

Product Description
This a paperback edition of Professor Walker's full-scale examination of the German efforts to harness the economic, military and political power of nuclear fission between 1939 and 1949. The book explains clearly, in terms that the non-specialist can understand, what was involved in the Germans' quest, and in what ways the German scientists succeeded or failed in the development of 'the bomb'. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Very good, informative and well-written
This is a very good book, which is unfortunately difficult to find.It details the German nuclear program and why it did not lead to the atomic bomb.While an academic book, replete with footnotes and some diagrams (but no photographs), it is a very well-written, accessible to a general reader and very interesting.It is the contention of the author, backed up by his excellent scholarship, that while the German nuclear program was on a par with those of the allies up to about the end of 1941, the Germans came to a different conclusion than the allies regarding the possibility of a bomb being developed in time to influence the outcome of the war.The Germans felt that while making a bomb was possible, the war would be over before this could be done.In 1941 and early 1942 they believed that, in spite of the reverses in Russia, the war would be over in a year or so, and perhaps less.Also, believing that they were well ahead of the allies there was no fear that the allies could build one soon enough to influence the war.Thus, no serious effort was made to build a bomb.In contrast, the allies, recognized that the war would be a long and drawn out affair, so that a bomb could influence its outcome and that the Germans might be ahead in the race, so building one was a necessity lest the Germans have one first.

The author dispels the myth that the Germans did not understand how to make a bomb, or made fundamental errors regarding the physics and engineering involved.He shows that they understood how a nuclear reactor worked, developed different reactor designs and understood that a reactor could generate power and make material that could be used in a bomb.They understood that a bomb could be made with U235 or element 94 (Pu) and they developed all of the methods for separating U235 from the much more prevalent U238.In short, at least as of the end or 1941, their understand of the physics and engineering required for making a bomb was as far advanced as that of the allies.They just came to a different conclusion regarding the necessity of committing the vast amount of resources required to actually make a bomb.The author also dispels the myth that German scientists, particularly Werner Heisenberg, deliberately withheld information regarding bomb physics or tried to sabotage the bomb project.He shows, by citing documents and reports, that German scientists and engineers were forceful in stating that a powerful bomb could be built and throughout the war sought funding for research in this area.The decision not to build a bomb was economic and rational in view of their belief that the war would soon be over.By the time it became apparent that this was not going to be the case it was too late.The economic and manpower situation became steadily worse and even if they had wanted to, and could have built the vast engineering facilities that were required, allied or Soviet bombing would have destroyed them.

The author goes into the role of Werner Heisenberg in the development of the physics and engineering behind any possible bomb program and shows that it has been greatly exaggerated.He shows how the myths of the "German Bomb" came about and fully describes the efforts to clarify the history of the German efforts in the is area.Indeed his book is a very important one in dispelling these myths.

I recommend this book to those interested in WWII, the history of science and the history of the development of the atomic bomb.This book makes a great companion to Richard Rhodes' "The Making of the Atomic Bomb", which details the successful allied effort.

Appropriately advertised
I received what a reasonable person would expect based on the review of the book and its condition.

Great research.
Walker has given us a meticulously researched work that is highly informative and objective.It's a recitation of history without being judgmental.It's not a page-turner, but the depth of the research makes it a compelling read. ... Read more

Product Description
This comprehensive volume provides a complete, authoritative,up-to-date reference for all aspects of power plant engineering.Coverage ranges from engineering economics to coal and limestonehandling, from design processes to plant thermal heat balances. Boththeory and practical applications are covered, giving engineers theinformation needed to plan, design, construct, upgrade, and operatepower plants. Power Plant Engineering is the culmination ofexperience of hundreds of engineers from Black & Veatch, a leadingfirm in the field for more than 80 years. The authors review allmajor power generating technologies, giving particular emphasis tocurrent approaches. Special features of the book include: * More than1000 figures and lines drawings that illustrate all aspects of thesubject. * Coverage of related components and systems in power plantssuch as turbine-generators, feedwater heaters, condenser, and coolingtowers. * Definitions and analyses of the features of various plantsystems. * Discussions of promising future technologies. Power PlantEngineering will be the standard reference in the professionalengineer's library as the source of information on steam power plantgeneration. In addition, the clear presentation of the material willmake this book suitable for use by students preparing to enter thefield. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Review
This is most probably a Bible for who wants to learn about power plants, and I would rate it better than "Steam" as it is 360°C around the boiler, up to the transmission lines. This book is It is really complete, you just need time to read it.

Very Good refe.
one of the best books i have red. it have all the fundemental topics of power plant.

buy it
Good information, well worth the price, after receiving the first one I bought three more, for other people.

Power Plant Engineering
This book presents the latest data on power plants and provides much needed formulas and rules of thumb for sizing equipment based on plant size and arrangement. The book has many examples of equipment and has a good section although somewhat out of date on permitting of power plants. I would recommend it for any power plant engineer especially those just entering the power generation industry.

Good for the one who involve in power industry.
This book cover all subjects concerning power plant, from economics to operation of the plant. Some data you can not find from somewhere else. ... Read more

Product Description
The need to reduce carbon emissions has brought the debate over nuclear power to a head. Is it, as its detractors say, expensive, dangerous and inflexible? Or is it an opportunity to invest in a long term large-scale electricity source that will help win the battle against climate change? This book is an accessible primer on how nuclear power works, examining its costs and benefits as part of an electricity supply system, as well as the nuclear power industry's operating record.

Also available:

Embedded Generation - ISBN 9780852967744
Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) - ISBN 9780852967713

The Institution of Engineering and Technology is one of the world's leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community. The IET publishes more than 100 new titles every year; a rich mix of books, journals and magazines with a back catalogue of more than 350 books in 18 different subject areas including:

-Power & Energy
-Renewable Energy
-Radar, Sonar & Navigation
-Electromagnetics
-Electrical Measurement
-History of Technology
-Technology Management
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not a review; just the contents
Part I: Energy Economics and Supply. Part II: Health, Environment, and Safety. Part III: Nuclear Proliferation and Terrorism. ... Read more

Product Description
WHY vs WHY is a unique series of small books that tackle both sides of the hot topics that confront, confuse or trouble most people.Making sense of everything. This series aims to present everything you need to know about a complex topic in an easy-to-read, jargon-free, 2-books-in-1 format... all in one handy, & pocket-sized place.Uniquely, this book presents both sides of the battle with equal prominence & space. Each side has its own front cover. But it's you, the reader, who chooses who goes first.It's part of Pantera Press's push to foster debate in this rapidly changing & confusing world, covering a wide range of big issues... topics which for most of us have no simple, easy answers.In WHY vs WHY Nuclear Power, experts, Barry Brook & Ian Lowe, go head-to-head, each presenting 7 key reasons why you should say yes/no to nuclear power.After each author presents his arguments, his opponent tries to tear each of them apart, both in the book & on this website (with further rebuttals). For readers, this book aims to leave nothing unanswered.Barry & Ian are good writers with strong, well-argued opinions. Who will you agree with? Will one of them change your mind? Read the book & find out.In WHY vs WHY, you get both sides, so you can decide for yourself... The books are also a great tool to help you convince others, people who don't see the light the way you do. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The best summary of the case for advanced nuclear you'll find anywhere
Barry has done a fantastic job laying out the case for nuclear and fast nuclear. This is, without a doubt, the single best summary of the arguments and counter-arguments for nuclear that I've ever seen. It is clearly written and it's a quick read.

The short story is fast nuclear holds the promise of carbon free energy at a cost less than coal. It's the only technology we have that can replace coal plants at a price comparable to coal and that's CRITICAL if we are to stop global warming. Without getting rid of coal, our planet is toast.

In less than 30 minutes, you'll understand why investment in fast nuclear is the THE single most important thing we can do to save the planet. Bill Gates thinks so too --- he's heavily investing in fast nuclear technology for the same reasons...it's our best bet to combat global warming, as well as supply inexpensive clean energy for the world. Check out his talk on "Innovating to zero" on the TED website.

This is a must read for anyone involved in the debate on nuclear energy. ... Read more

Product Description
Since the publication of the bestselling first edition, there have been numerous advances in the field of nuclear science.  In medicine, accelerator based teletherapy and electron-beam therapy have become standard. New demands in national security have stimulated major advances in nuclear instrumentation.An ideal introduction to the fundamentals of nuclear science and engineering, this book presents the basic nuclear science needed to understand and quantify an extensive range of nuclear phenomena.

New to the Second Edition—

Providing extensive coverage of physics, nuclear science, and nuclear technology of all types, this up-to-date second edition of Fundamentals of Nuclear Science and Engineering is a key reference for any physicists or engineer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A perfect introduction
Fundamentals of Nuclear Science and Engineering is a perfect introduction to the field. It starts gently enough so that anyone with a basic high school understanding of chemistry and physics can easily pick up the quantitative and qualitative ideas behind the operations of subatomic particles. The graphics are an appropriate companion to the text and the indices and appendices are extremely useful for performing calculations. The only potential downside would regard the end of chapter problems tending towards a "plug and chug" nature.

Simplifying nuclear physics and engineering
This book is pure fun to read... easy to follow, clearly written, and full of cool graphs. It invokes the engineer, physicist, and statistician in you all at once. If for nothing else but having fun, you should get a copy and read it.

But wish it wasn't so expensive. ... Read more

Product Description
SynopsisWith growing concerns over environmental issues and global energy consumption, there is increasing interest in nuclear power generation, despite its diminished role in the West over the last few decades. Many of those involved with nuclear power and environmental agencies see controlled expansion of nuclear plants as the most environmentally friendly way of meeting growing energy demands. This book examines the future of nuclear power in the contexts of economics, environmental sustainability and security of electricity supplies. A range of future technologies is considered, illustrating the technical challenges and opportunities facing nuclear power.

This semi-technical overview of modern technologies aims to meet the growing interest from scientists, environmentalists and governments in the potential expansion of nuclear power. Various countries are starting to announce plans for new nuclear plants, either to replace those being decommissioned or to provide additional power. Many commentators regard this renaissance as just beginning.

Nuclear Renaissance is a timely appraisal of present nuclear power programme policy and technology, with a look to future expansion and new research directions. It will be essential reading for physicists, engineers, policy-makers, researchers, energy analysts and graduate students in energy sciences, engineering and public policy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Superb Overview of Nuclear Power as of 2003
This book is slightly marred by a somewhat fuzzy Afterword and reuse of identical language when the same information is repeated in different sections leading to a jarring sense of deja vue for one reading it cover-to-cover (As I did).

However it is a wonderful, highly readable, generally excelently observed, world overview/annotated bibliography of nuclear technologies -- providing in one volume valuable perspective, awesome research, and pointers to more definitive treatments for nearly every item discussed.

Essential for any decent library
Every university library in the UK and USA should have a copy of this; and every college teaching any kind of technology and society qualification.
Bill is not shy of stating his own opinions, but this never has any detrimental effect on the objectivity of the content. He really does not like the accounting distinction between a waste and an asset; particularly where plutonium is concerned, as this makes no difference to what you would actually do with the stuff. He is quite aware that it makes a big difference to the balance sheet of British Energy, but as he says, since this company was effectively destroyed by low electricity prices, it has to be bailed out by the UK government anyway. The term "actinide management" in the American dominated G-IV report also comes in for some criticism as a pointless euphemism for what eveyone knows is fuel reproessing.

Another political issue is that discussions of legacy nuclear waste are separated from discussions of waste from future programmes. Bill ably makes the point that optimising these two issues in isolation is likely to lead to a non-optimal overall programme.

The book is salted with intriguing asides: such as that the oil industries are much better at understanding risk and managing multi-decade projects, whereas todays electricity companies have problems imagining the future only one year ahead. Therefore the logical companies to develop fission reactors in the next 40 years are the existing oil and gas companies, not electricity producers. These companies also have the skills to use nuclear heat for chemical processing and not just electricity production.

There are additional points made that you would not find (certainly not easily) in any original reports: the issue of training and the availability of experienced nuclear engineers in the UK; the difficulty of finding independent nuclear waste disposal experts who have not at some time had a grant or contract from NIREX to study the issues. The "polluter pays" principle may seem obviously attractive, but Bill shows that it has awkward and counter-productive effects within the particular organisational structures we find ourselves inheriting in the UK. Similarly the "intergenerational equity" principle actually leads to exactly the opposite behaviour from that which one might want.

A technology policy point which is better articulated by Bill than anywhere else I have seen is in the view of risk: the public can prefer a techniology which the technical experts regard as not only dangerous, but professionally unethical. The public in many countries prefers risk to be borne by informed volunteers (employees, typically) whereas engineers tend to believe that it is preferable to structure risks so that the overall mininum number of people are affected. Thus many people prefer the option of "partioning and transmuting" fuel wastes to reduce the impact on future generations, even if the extensive new chemical processing required will almost inevitably lead to industrial accidents involving workers at the chemical plant. This is all disussed in the context of detailed expositions of the technologies of nuclear waste burners.

Light is also shed on philosophical distinctions: technical experts are generally logical whereas a sense of "natural order" is more common in environmental campaigners. Thus the two groups can come to opposite conclusions on the question of whether it is legal to dig up and then rebury some ore exactly as it was. Those "motivated by considerations of natural law" might regard it as absurd to criminalise that, whereas a legalistic mindset might take the opposite view.

The book offers a complete guide to all the major fission reactor types in use now and planned for the future, and a complete guide to the nuclear fusion options. This is the bulk of the book, but the technical descriptions are informed throughout by an appreciation of what these design distinctions mean in terms of proliferation risks, electricity grid load-following (or not), and the use of nuclear heat to make hydrogen. If you want ot learn more about the several pebble-bed reactor designs, modular reactors, molten-salt liquid nuclear fuels, reburning fuels without reprocessing, thorium fuel implications for waste management, mixed fission/fusion reactors, reactors cooled by liquid lead or reactors producing 1560 C Helium; then this is the book for you.

What is clear is that a number of different reactor types will be required in the future. If the UK and Russian plutonium stockpiles are to be disposed of, then that requires mixed oxide fuel systems; but if wastes are to be retained and transmuted at some future date using accelerator technologies, then the fuel should ideally be something that can be separated out - but in a way that impedes proliferation. The most proliferation-resistant fuels are also those that increase the volume of high level waste

There are absolutely no simple answers: the 100 tonnes of UK Plutonium is not going away (and with every passing year, more Americium accumulates in it, so increasing the disposal problems). However, with this book I have some confidence that we have in one place all the essentially relevant issues from which workable sets of policies can be constructed.

While in the UK we might prefer to buy our nuclear power in the form of electricity from France, if we are to take climate change seriously, then understanding where nuclear power is being used is an essential part of understanding the world of the 21st century.

Addendum: The book is about technologies world-wide, and policies in the developed world, particularly the background to possible new nuclear build in the USA, UK and the rest of Europe. Nevertheless, as Bill says, there is no need for a renaissance in France, Russia, China, South Africa and India where nuclear fission reactor deployment is continuing and expanding. I would like to know more about those programmes today, but perhaps that is another book.

The editing by the IoP leaves some unevenness: some repetition is expected between sections in what will be for most people a reference book. But to be told three times that the UK will have by 2010 an inventory of 100 tonnes of Plutonium, and that this is two-thirds of the world stockpile, is too much repetition (pages 97, 101 and 102).

The three sections of the book: "The Policy Landscape", "Nuclear Fission Technologies", and "Nuclear Fusion Technologies" are each followed by an extensive list of references.
... Read more

Product Description
In a refreshingly light and conversational style, A Case for Nuclear-Generated Electricity provides a unique context for understanding the use of energy in our society and the positive role nuclear power can play in enabling our modern civilization. We need energy to power the technology that supports human civilization. However, continued reliance on coal, oil and natural gas and hoping that green alternatives will magically save the day are by themselves unrealistic long-term solutions.

This book advocates the use of nuclear energy for producing electricity. It speaks to the average American by addressing the current cultural bias against all technology and specifically nuclear technology. It shows technology, energy, and nuclear power in an enlightening context and examines our present energy use and future options.

Heaberlin describes, for the layperson, nuclear science and power reactor engineering to demystify nuclear energy and directly address the key aspects of the public's fears regarding nuclear power and radioactive waste. He discusses the current status of nuclear power and its potential future. His key message is that it is important to allow nuclear energy to play a role in the progress of the human species. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

A Case for Nuclear-Generated Electricity ...or why I think nuclear power is cool and why it is important that you think so too
Excellent book.Everyone should read it.It was just about the best book on the subject I've encountered since I was in school.

No nonsense
Scott Heaberlin has produced a great source of information, not just on nuclear electricity generation, but on the entire energy landscape.Written in a conversational tone, the book is a quick read and keeps you interested.It is somewhat technical, especially in the beginning chapters, however, you cannot expect to have an appreciation or understanding of this topic without getting at least a little technical.Unlike most anti-nukes, he abstains from emotional arguments or clever language, leaving the reader with a clean look at a lot of good data and rock-solid explanations with no intention to deceive.

Highly recommended!
Provides an excellent discussion of the basics of nuclear fission. Then it covers the primary objections
to nuclear power - cost, accident potential, waste storage, and theft of bomb material.He makes a well
thought out case for nuclear, especially since coal is our only other major fuel with sufficient reserves to support
our growing long term need for electric power.

Why We Need Nuclear Power NOW!
With all of the furor about Carbon Dioxide, Ethanol, Solar and Windmill Power,etc., "Nuclear Power" is seldom mentioned.Yet it is the safest and most efficient source of electrical energy.And it does NOT create significant waste and pollution, especially when compared to almost all other sources of energy.The book offers the most balanced and technically accurate assesment of Nuclear Power, and should convince even the most rabid and/or ill informed anti-Nuclear fanatic that it is the best, and probably the ONLY way to go for this century.Our future will indeed be bleak without it. Well written, interesting reading, and very important for the future of our nation and the world.

Bud Weisbrod

When all you have is a hammer...
Well written, often well argued. But it doesn't succeed. Throughout you are hit with bias so blatant that it leaves you shaking your head. Clearly after a lifetime trying to justify this technology, he's not going to back-pedal at all.

What do you do with the radioactive waste? What do you DO with the radioactive waste? WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE RADIOACTIVE WASTE? Failed to answer, sidestepped, minimised... It ruined an otherwise interesting book.

Nuclear Power - still NOT the answer.
... Read more

Product Description
Nuclear Firsts focuses on the large variety of technical steps taken and the multiple technology options pursued in nuclear power plant development. The book covers both U.S. developments and major developments abroad. ... Read more

Product Description
As traditional fossil fuels are depleted and world demand for power increases, nuclear-generated electricity has a strong future. This volume by a world-renowned scientist should be a must-read for all nuclear power plant personnel. With the widespread deployment of wet-steam turbines at nuclear power plants worldwide, readily available information on operations and maintenance is a critical factor. Wet-Steam Turbines for Nuclear Power Plants presents in-depth information essential for plant operators and managers. This book explains in clear, but detailed language, the design process by the world's leading wet-steam turbine manufacturers. It also gives readers comprehensive instruction on the subtleties of operation and maintenance of these complex components. ... Read more

Product Description
An inside overview of Admiral Hyman Rickover's nuclear propulsion program. The author, an Atomic Energy Commission historian assigned to the admiral's office, spent years observing the program and its controversial leader in action. His insights reflect both his familiarity with the subject and his ability to remain an objective observer. From 1974 to the day Rickover retired in 1982, Francis Duncan had free access to files, documents, and personnel at every level of involvement. As this book clearly shows, he took full advantage of the situation to gain a unigue understanding of exactly how the program operated. The result is a thorough, balanced record of what may well be the navy's and the nation's most important and far-reaching project of the twentieth century. Duncan talked to scores of people who dealt with day-to-day operations, watched men in training and accompanied them to sea, visited civilian and naval installations, and had close contact with Rickover himself. He also interviewed former US presidents, secretaries of the navy, chiefs of naval operations, AEC chairmen, and legislative leaders who kept tabs on the program but were removed from daily activities.While the focus of the book is on the nuclear program not the man, it does provide invaluable information on how Rickover ran the program and the reasons for its success. This definitive study offers a valuable record of a program that continues to play a significant role in the nation's defence. Francis Duncan, a retired historian at the Department of Energy who lives in Bethesda, Maryland is coauthor of "Nuclear Navy, 1946 -1962", and the second volume of a history of the Atomic Energy Commission called "Atomic Shield 1947-1952". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A view into the founding of Nuclear Safety Culture
I have recently been doing some research on ethnographics, trying to better understand how the operating culture of nuclear power plants evolved. I was directed toward biographies of Admiral H.G. Rickover, and I found Duncan's work to be one of the most enjoyable readings on Rickover. Duncan gives an inside view to the Admiral and the history that led to the success of the Nuclear Navy through a historical account. The author's relationship with the Admiral, which was probably closer than many other biographers, shows Rickover a hard-driven centrist leader who stressed technical competence and sought excellence and integrity, as well as a respect and dedication for the high-risk technology. My only criticism would be that other biographies of Rickover dealve more into the Admiral's idiosincracies and somewhat odd expectations -- traits that leave the reader wondering if Rickover was crazy or a genius. I look forward to reading Duncan's new book "Rickover: A Struggle for Excellence" when it is released November 2001. ... Read more

Product Description
Discusses safety and reliability issues. A report from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Paper. ... Read more

Product Description
Nuclear Implosions tells the story of a state government agency's failed attempt in the 1970s to build five large nuclear power stations in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Facing huge cost overruns and long construction delays, the agency completed only one plant and found itself unable to repay a $2.25 billion of municipal bonds. These projects reflect the tangled relationships between American nuclear power and nuclear weaponry, the emerging era of limits, and the nation's troubled attempts to resolve conflicts through complex legal cases. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This is a very well written, concise overview of nuclear power, global warming and our energy crisis for the young student
Nuclear power is a climate friendly source of energy.Electricity is also a form of energy that you probably use every day.You use it when you turn on the television, talk on the phone or turn on a light."Electricity is a form of energy" as is nuclear power.When atoms are split apart to make smaller atoms energy is released.You can't see atoms, but even so they "have huge amounts of energy."There is a great deal of potential energy stored in atoms and when they split they are in motion and have kinetic energy.Nuclear power is produced by creating a controlled chain reaction.

This book talks about different sources of energy, renewable and nonrenewable and where they come from.We have at our disposal fossil fuels, but they are "nonrenewable resources" that cause pollution and contribute to global warming. Nuclear power is a renewable resource and in non-polluting.This book talks about and explains how nuclear power works, the role of nuclear power in our future, the dangers it poses (Chernobyl) and its benefits.

This is a very well written, concise overview of nuclear power, global warming and our energy crisis for the young student.The book is bright, appealing and colorful with numerous photographs.In the back of the book is a glossary, an index and additional recommended book and web site resources.This book would be an excellent choice for the homeschool or classroom shelves. ... Read more