knowledge_base/nuclear_knowledge_base.json

{
  "nuclear_physics": {
    "fission": {
      "description": "Nuclear fission is a reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei.",
      "key_concepts": [
        "Chain reaction",
        "Critical mass",
        "Neutron multiplication factor",
        "Prompt neutrons vs delayed neutrons"
      ],
      "applications": [
        "Nuclear power generation",
        "Nuclear weapons",
        "Medical isotopes"
      ],
      "equations": [
        "E = mc²",
        "k_eff = (neutrons produced) / (neutrons absorbed or leaked)"
      ]
    },
    "fusion": {
      "description": "Nuclear fusion is a reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei combine to form one or more different atomic nuclei.",
      "key_concepts": [
        "Plasma confinement",
        "Coulomb barrier",
        "Reaction rate",
        "Triple product (nTτ)"
      ],
      "applications": [
        "Future power generation",
        "Hydrogen bombs",
        "Stellar processes"
      ],
      "challenges": [
        "Achieving sustained fusion reaction",
        "Plasma instability",
        "Tritium breeding",
        "Materials damage"
      ]
    },
    "neutron_physics": {
      "description": "Study of neutron behavior in nuclear systems.",
      "topics": [
        "Neutron transport",
        "Cross-sections",
        "Moderation",
        "Absorption",
        "Scattering"
      ]
    }
  },
  "reactor_engineering": {
    "gen2_reactors": {
      "description": "Second generation reactors (1970s-1990s)",
      "types": [
        "PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor)",
        "BWR (Boiling Water Reactor)",
        "CANDU"
      ],
      "characteristics": {
        "thermal_power": "1000-1500 MWth",
        "efficiency": "33-35%",
        "lifetime": "40 years (extended to 60-80)"
      }
    },
    "gen3_reactors": {
      "description": "Third generation reactors (1990s-present)",
      "types": [
        "AP1000",
        "EPR",
        "ESBWR",
        "ACR-1000"
      ],
      "improvements": [
        "Enhanced safety systems",
        "Passive safety features",
        "Reduced construction time",
        "Higher efficiency (38-40%)"
      ]
    },
    "gen4_reactors": {
      "description": "Fourth generation reactors (future)",
      "types": [
        "Sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFR)",
        "Molten salt reactors (MSR)",
        "Very high temperature reactors (VHTR)",
        "Supercritical water reactors (SCWR)"
      ],
      "advantages": [
        "Improved safety",
        "Reduced waste",
        "Better fuel utilization",
        "Process heat applications"
      ]
    },
    "smr_microreactors": {
      "description": "Small Modular Reactors and Microreactors",
      "characteristics": {
        "power_output": "10-300 MWe",
        "applications": [
          "Remote locations",
          "Industrial heat",
          "Desalination",
          "Hydrogen production",
          "District heating"
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "safety_management": {
    "defense_in_depth": {
      "description": "Multi-layered safety approach",
      "levels": [
        "Prevention of abnormal operation",
        "Control of abnormal operation",
        "Mitigation of accident consequences",
        "Containment of radioactive material"
      ]
    },
    "waste_management": {
      "description": "Nuclear waste handling and disposal",
      "categories": [
        "Low-level waste (LLW)",
        "Intermediate-level waste (ILW)",
        "High-level waste (HLW)"
      ],
      "solutions": [
        "Deep geological repositories",
        "Transmutation",
        "Partitioning and transmutation (P&T)",
        "Interim storage"
      ]
    },
    "non_proliferation": {
      "description": "Preventing misuse of nuclear materials",
      "mechanisms": [
        "IAEA safeguards",
        "Export controls",
        "Fuel bank concepts",
        "Spent fuel repositories"
      ]
    }
  },
  "economics": {
    "lcoe": {
      "description": "Levelized Cost of Electricity",
      "components": [
        "Capital costs",
        "Operations & maintenance",
        "Fuel costs",
        "Decommissioning costs",
        "Financing costs"
      ],
      "nuclear_lcoe": "60-100 USD/MWh (depending on region and reactor type)"
    },
    "ppa_contracts": {
      "description": "Power Purchase Agreements",
      "types": [
        "Fixed-price PPA",
        "Escalating PPA",
        "Indexed PPA"
      ]
    },
    "tokenization": {
      "description": "Converting energy assets into blockchain tokens",
      "applications": [
        "Uranium tokenization",
        "Energy credit trading",
        "Fractional ownership",
        "Decentralized energy markets"
      ]
    }
  },
  "modern_applications": {
    "ai_data_centers": {
      "description": "Nuclear power for AI computing infrastructure",
      "advantages": [
        "High reliability for 24/7 operation",
        "Low carbon footprint",
        "Predictable costs",
        "On-site generation"
      ],
      "examples": [
        "Google-NuScale partnership",
        "Microsoft-SMR exploration"
      ]
    },
    "desalination": {
      "description": "Using nuclear heat for water desalination",
      "technologies": [
        "Multi-effect distillation (MED)",
        "Reverse osmosis (RO)",
        "Thermal desalination"
      ]
    },
    "hydrogen_production": {
      "description": "Nuclear-powered hydrogen generation",
      "methods": [
        "Electrolysis with nuclear electricity",
        "Thermochemical water splitting",
        "High-temperature steam electrolysis"
      ]
    },
    "load_following": {
      "description": "Flexible nuclear power generation",
      "benefits": [
        "Grid stability",
        "Renewable integration",
        "Reduced curtailment",
        "Improved economics"
      ]
    }
  }
}