Shale oil has received so much attention from oil producers, investors and so many other influential people. Is this all really worth it? Indeed, the oiling professionals are right when they state that shale oil can solve the energy issue. And this same shale oil can serve as the solution to another problem; the waste which is produced by nuclear power plants.
Clay rich and sedimentary rocks are characterized by unique properties that make them ideal for storing fuel as claimed by a recent research. According to the study, there is over 77,000 tons of nuclear fuel stored in above-ground facilities, and this fuel will exhibit dangers for several thousands of years to come.
The head researcher told the press that surface storage has to be maintained and kept secured so that their risks can be controlled. He added that natural disasters can destabilize or activate these nuclear storage facilities.
Since 2008, the government has stopped working on the development of a storage site which will be capable of storing nuclear waste for a prolonged period. According to the study, work on this project should commence once more and given priority over other developments. This is really important because nuclear fuel produces heat and radiation, even when its useful lifetime is over.
Nuclear power plants operate from the steam which is generated by the heat emitted when nuclear substances like plutonium and uranium decay. In a temporary storage facility, water absorbs this radiation and heat. Once the fuel has cooled down, it is transferred to a dry storage facility in which concrete and steel block radiation. This is also not a permanent solution.
However, shale oil can now lead to the development of a permanent solution. Some projects have already been initiated in this regard and are aimed at utilizing solar repositories for storing nuclear waste. Nuclear fuel will have to be transported into the deep layers of the earth where shale oil lies amidst clay rich rocks. This will be a permanent measure and there will be no dangers exhibited.
Rocks which lie deep below the earth are ideal for nuclear waste because they are almost impermeable. Water does not pass through them, which makes them a really good choice. In storage facilities above the ground, water exposes the most risks and deep below the ground, it cannot reach nuclear water because of the impermeability of the rocks.
Source: www.sciencedaily.com
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