สำนักงานราชบัณฑิตยสภา

โครงการโรงไฟฟ้าพลังงานนิวเคลียร์ในประเทศไทย 32 The Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand Volume 40 Number 1 January-March 2015 Abstract Nuclear Power Plant Projects in Thailand Somchai Wongwises Associate Fellow of the Academy of Science, The Royal Society, Thailand Fluid Mechanics, Thermal Engineering and Multiphase Flow Research Laboratory (FUTURE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangmod, Bangkok 10140, Thailand Parinya Pongsoi Fluid Mechanics, Thermal Engineering and Multiphase Flow Research Laboratory (FUTURE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangmod, Bangkok 10140, Thailand Energy has been necessary for human beings from early settlements to the present time, and it is increasingly important with globalization. The ongoing search for energy to meet humans’ needs puts nuclear power at the top of the list of options considered for generating electricity. Therefore, a nuclear power plant, which uses a nuclear reactor as the source of thermal energy to generate pollution- free electrical current, was initiated to delay global warming. Many countries see the importance and advantages of nuclear power plants, and Thailand is one of the countries planning nuclear power plant projects (NPP) to be built by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). These projects have been improved, and the latest Power Development Plan 2012-2030 (PDP 2010 rev3 ) states that by 2026-2027 Thailand will build nuclear power plants with total electrical productivity of about 2,000 megawatts. The plants will generate commercial electricity for domestic consumption in line with plans to increase productivity in the near future in preparation for Thai economic growth and its participation in the Asean Economic Community (AEC). These efforts will result from investments in domestic and international industrial businesses in order to impress foreign countries with Thailand’s energy security. However, Thai people are still worried about the impacts or disadvantages of nuclear power plants. Therefore, providing knowledge and understanding about the necessity of these plants is significantly and urgently required. Keywords : nuclear energy, nuclear power plant, Thailand