The mounting crisis in nuclear energy

The demand for new nuclear power reactors in the United States was declining even before the Three Mile Island accident. Since then, no new orders have been placed, 37 have been withdrawn and the construction of 15 other partly completed reactors has been postponed indefinitely. One reason is economic viability. Nuclear power also suffers from technological problems. Most problems have occurred with the steam generators. Common problems for a PWR include corrosion denting, physical wear, sludge corrosion and thermal shock. For a BWR they include cracks in small diameter pipes and leaks in the holding tank. Another reactor component being investigated is the reactor pressure vessel whose walls become progressively weaker and more brittle