Description
Capstone Project I/AES‐787
Guidelines for Capstone Project II Proposal
The aim of this document is to provide you with guidelines on how you will write a proposal for Capstone Project II.
1.0 What is a proposal?
A proposal is document whose primary purpose is to outline the topic you intend to spend your time researching during Capstone II. It also includes how you plan to manage your time.
By its nature, a proposal is flexible. Even though you will try your best to follow your proposal, you can make changes if it is necessary and justifiable.
2.0 Choice of topic
The topic needs to represent some Operating Experience (OE) in the nuclear industry. You can either select one major incident or a group of related smaller OEs. If you decide on the latter, you need to explain how these OEs are related. For example, they could have taken place at the same site, relevant to similar systems or components, developed in a similar manner, etc.
Plan for your Capstone Project II to be (strictly) 5000‐5000 words long, not including front and back matter.
3.0 Parts of the proposal
3.1 Introduction/background: A brief background and an explanation of the significance of the OE you chose. Information you include here must be properly cited and referenced just like in a regular report.
3.2 Objectives of your report: A list of the objectives you will attempt to achieve in your Capstone II report. As usual, objectives should start with an action verb (e.g. list, discuss, analyze, etc.). Since this is a proposal, the objectives are tentative. You can make changes to them during the first week of the Capstone II semester.
3.3 A timeline: Your proposal needs to include a timeline (preferably a Gantt chart) showing the activities you will undertake throughout the Capstone II semester. Just like the objectives, the chart represents a projected plan and can be changed if necessary. Your project timeline must be consistent with the Capstone II syllabus.
4.0 Organization of the proposal
Your proposal must follow the layout described here.
4.1 Cover page: includes your proposal title, your name and ID, department (Advanced Energy Engineering Technology Department) and supervisor.
4.2 Proposal Content: as described above, this is where you include your intro/background, objectives and timeline.
4.3 References: A standard references page for any information you may cite in your proposal.
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Explanation & Answer
Attached.
Running head: CAPSTONE PROJECT II-NUCLEAR WASTE
Capstone Project II-Nuclear Waste
Name
Tutor
Course
Institution
Date
1
CAPSTONE PROJECT II-NUCLEAR WASTE
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Introduction
It is now more than 70 year since the atomic age began and ever since the use of nuclear
power has fascinated and terrified the world at equal measure. It is good to imagine the rate of
efficiency in nuclear plants and the fact that there is no much waste although there are still
concerns about the risks it has on the general public. Nuclear waste is deadly and there are living
examples of what came come if a person is exposed. There are many incidences that people have
been in contact with nuclear waste due to either poor nuclear waste management or genuine
accidents (Bryan, 2014). The second half of the 20th century was characterized by increased use
of nuclear power. Currently, there are more than 450 nuclear plants that are certified and
operational around the world. This is what has increased concern about the risks associated with
the dumping of nuclear waste and how best it can be managed. There are policies that govern the
whole process of handling nuclear waste but some people have in the past tried to use it for
malicious purposes. This is what raises the concern of what can be done with nuclear waste
considering that it has emerged that it is possible to recycle. The essence of this paper is to
discuss nuclear waste starting from its recycling, disposal, and its use.
Nuclear reactors produce a lot of waste and this waste is used in has raised many
concerns because of its harmful nature (Stražišar, 2017). Historically there have been incidences
where nuclear waste has resulted to loss of life due to poor management. My research will cover
several topics that are related to nuclear waste and how it can be managed. This is waste is not
harmful if it’s handled as per the stipulated policies. I would want to understand what nuclear
waste is, how well it should be managed, and above all what are the alternatives including
recycling and many other uses. I will also research on how nuclear waste is generated or
produced and its nature, how safe it can be stored and the possible treatment options, and its use
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in generating energy. The good thing about nuclear waste is that it is not produced in large
quantities like other types of waste. Its management is very costly considering that it has to be
handled in a special way (Kunreuther, Desvouges, & Slovic, 2018).
Nuclear waste is those materials that remain after nuclear fuel has been used. This is real
sense is not waste by just luck of a better word it is referred to as waste. It is not waste because it
can be used for over 10 years without depleting. Research shows that nuclear waste is 95% rich
of its original energy and this actually after 3 years of being in use. Nuclear waste is usually in
the same form it was before it was used but after chemical reactions have occurred the contents
are not the same.
In actual practice, the fuel that has been spent is in practice not unshielded but instead, it's
kept underwater which is considered to be an excellent shield until the radiation decays t
acceptable levels. This is usually done in large storage tanks build with concrete. There are other
options that are recommended by a specialist but in the real sense but the final disposal is done
after some years. This final storage can be done in deep geologic storage or the best way it to
recycle. I will be looking into how much waste is generated by a single nuclear reactor or plant
and if disposal policies are followed to the standard. Since nuclear waste is generated in small
amounts, it is very easy to dispose of it.
The composition of nuclear waste
It is not that all reactors produce the same waste but each reactor produces its own waste
depending on what exactly was fed to the reactor. The period or how long the materials remained
in the reactor is also a determinant of what its waste will contain. The most common content in a
nuclear reactor is Uranium since it is only 5% used. Uranium is not used to depletion irrespective
of how long the materials remain in the reactor. Although there are ways to recycle this uranium
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instead of disposing of it, it is also not possible to completely use it all. Uranium from one
reactor can be used in another more advanced reactor as fuel and still work as fresh uranium.
This is actually why it is considered to be a rich source of energy. Americium, Neptunium, and
Curium are some of the long-living nuclides that many reactors find it difficult to store for a long
time. These nuclides require to be stored for more than 100,000 years for them to be less harmful
to both the environment and people. These nuclides can be used in some fast reactors as fuel
although there is a risk of living us with fission product.
What to do with nuclear waste
Many countries including the United States stores nuclear waste under water which is
also spent as fuel pools which are located near nuclear plants. There are also some countries that
give licenses to reactor plants to store nuclear waste underground. I will spend some time on this
topic trying to understand if this storage method is safe or not as well as the arguments as to why
it is discouraged. Even countries that store nuclear waste underground do not do that in places
that are accessible people but rather on test sites which are highly restricted. The risk of storing
nuclear waste underground is that at a time the ground opens due to natural forces and can cause
a lot of arms. I will research on the best ways to store nuclear waste as well as what each method
requires.
Managing used fuel
This is the concern from everyone including authorities and nuclear plant management.
One thing that you should understand is that used nuclear fuel is usually very hot and
radioactive. There is so much involved in handling these materials and not just storage only.
Handling these hot materials in very challenging since it also poses a serious threat to reactor
workers who have to maintain high safety standards. After the materials are used and removed
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from th...
