其定义
A gigawatt reactor's annual fuel load is roughly 25 tonnes of enriched uranium — about the volume of a small van, replacing millions of tonnes of coal.
材料清单
放大规模 →数量为 per GW of capacity参考区间
| 材料 | 低 | 高 | 单位 | 基准 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper 关键 | 1,000 | 2,000 | t | Generator, transformers and plant wiring |
| Nickel 关键 | 500.0 | 1,500 | t | Steam generators and alloy components |
| Uranium Depends on enrichment level and tails assay; the loaded fuel is far less. | 150.0 | 250.0 | t | Natural uranium needed per year of operation |
| Zirconium 关键 | 20.00 | 40.00 | t | Cladding tubes and structural grids |
| Boron 关键 | 5.00 | 20.00 | t | Control rods and coolant chemistry |
| Hafnium 关键 | 0.5 | 3.00 | t | Control rods |
Indicative range compiled from published technology studies and chemistry; verify against a manufacturer specification before use. 标注为"微量"的行表示该物料含量极低，无法以质量形式有效表达——其制约因素在于纯度或供应商数量，而非吨位。
替代方案
替代是材料领域最被低估的力量。当某种金属价格高涨或在政治上难以获取时，工程师便会绕开它进行设计——整座矿山的需求可能因此消失殆尽。
Alkaline Electrolyser
The century-old design: steel, nickel and potassium hydroxide, with no precious metals at all.
HVDC Transmission Cable
High-voltage direct-current cable, the technology used to move power hundreds of kilometres with low loss.
PEM Electrolyser
Splits water using a polymer membrane, platinum and iridium — fast-responding but catalyst-hungry.
Three-Way Catalytic Converter
The ceramic honeycomb in an exhaust that converts three pollutants at once, coated in platinum-group metals.