(A.K.A. Non-Original Rants)
–Co-opting good stuff from all over the ‘Net and maybe some original thoughts—ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission just certified its first small modular reactor. You know, the ‘carbon free’ energy that the world is needing. The application was put in to the NRC in 2016.
Of course it’s going to take seven years for the plant to come online.
But it’s a start.
It's essentially the same as existing reactors, just smaller. So it will have the same problems as existing reactors, just on a smaller scale. We still haven't solved the problem of keeping reactors from melting down when they lose power to the cooling system or what to do with the nuclear waste that can no longer power the reactor but is HIGHLY dangerous for MILLENIA. Plus smaller reactors won't get the level of security big ones get. That will make them targets for terrorists and wackos looking for material to make dirty bombs. There are numerous issues that need to be solved regarding nuclear power that aren't being solved.
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Dan,From what I've read, the water is recirculated and so can run without pumps. I'll admit there are better designs that are being held up, but we cannot rely on solar and wind and ultimately both of those 'green energy' sources are going to end up more environmentally unfriendly than any small plant. I understand your concerns but I think that the benefits will most definitely outweigh the risks.
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LOL! Water doesn't move by itself. It has to use gravity or be pumped. Lose power, no pumps. No pumps, you get a meltdown. And once the coolant is not it has to go somewhere to get rid of that heat. Same problems….no new solution.
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The issues about safety have been resolved and dealt with in numerous papers and books.
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Dan–I don't think one of these will be a mini Three Mile Island or Chernobyl. As Avraham says, a lot of the safety issues have been resolved.
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It's essentially the same as existing reactors, just smaller. So it will have the same problems as existing reactors, just on a smaller scale. We still haven't solved the problem of keeping reactors from melting down when they lose power to the cooling system or what to do with the nuclear waste that can no longer power the reactor but is HIGHLY dangerous for MILLENIA. Plus smaller reactors won't get the level of security big ones get. That will make them targets for terrorists and wackos looking for material to make dirty bombs. There are numerous issues that need to be solved regarding nuclear power that aren't being solved.
LikeLike
Dan,From what I've read, the water is recirculated and so can run without pumps. I'll admit there are better designs that are being held up, but we cannot rely on solar and wind and ultimately both of those 'green energy' sources are going to end up more environmentally unfriendly than any small plant. I understand your concerns but I think that the benefits will most definitely outweigh the risks.
LikeLike
LOL! Water doesn't move by itself. It has to use gravity or be pumped. Lose power, no pumps. No pumps, you get a meltdown. And once the coolant is not it has to go somewhere to get rid of that heat. Same problems….no new solution.
LikeLike
The issues about safety have been resolved and dealt with in numerous papers and books.
LikeLike
Dan–I don't think one of these will be a mini Three Mile Island or Chernobyl. As Avraham says, a lot of the safety issues have been resolved.
LikeLike
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