Articles
Radiation Dose
Chart Wondering what those radiation numbers mean on
TV? What is your actual risk and danger from radioactive
fallout? Check out this chart from XKCD.
The
Radioactive Orchestra Making Music With Radiation ,
posted by KSUinformation (YouTube link) Nuclear radiation
can make catchy music.
Radiation
Network shows current radiation levels in North
America, updated every minute.
Black Gold, Hot Gold,
by Marshall Douglas Smith (2001). Is it really true that
the fuel for nuclear reactors can be recycled, and that
Europe has no "nuclear waste" problem? And that the current
scare about nuclear waste is due to the Oil Industry? This
article was convincing enough to convert Ralph Rene, a
life-long foe of nuclear power!
The
Great Global Warming Swindle (BBC Video
Documentary,2007)Was the whole global warming scare a
counter-strike by the Nuclear industry to fight back
against the Oil industry? Or was it just a Big Government
play to crush the power of the Coal Miners unions by
boosting Nuclear? Watch this video and decide for yourself.
But read "Black Gold, Hot Gold" first!
NUKALERT 24/7 Radiation
Monitor and Alarm is a geiger counter that WORKS really
well. It can even survive a nuclear blast. And it is VERY
reasonably priced. . Set your mind at ease by KNOWING what
is going on around you. Don't worry about invisible nuclear
beasties.
Toshiba 4S Nuclear Reactor There were stories about a
Toshiba nuclear reactor small (and cheap) enough to power a
city block. Sadly, this isn't true. It is a nice idea being
able to helicopter such power generators into remote
communities. However, Toshiba is designing a very small,
safe, efficient reactor, the 4S. 4S stands for Super-Small,
Safe, Simple. It looks like a great product!
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Blog
February 17
Feature: Small modular nuclear reactors - the future of
energy?, by David Szondy.
Via.
"This year is a historic one for nuclear power, with
the first reactors winning U.S. government approval for
construction since 1978. Some have seen the green
lighting of two Westinghouse AP1000 reactors to be built
in Georgia as the start of a revival of nuclear power in
the West, but this may be a false dawn because of the
problems besetting conventional reactors. It may be that
when a new boom in nuclear power comes, it won't be led
by giant gigawatt installations, but by batteries of
small modular reactors (SMRs) with very different
principles from those of previous generations. However,
while it's a technology of great diversity and potential,
many obstacles stand in its path. This article takes an
in-depth look at the many forms of SMRs, their
advantages, and the challenges they must overcome."
Interesting article. Did you know that Russian
light-houses are powered by RTFs? (Radio-thermal
generators) The radio thermal generator is a type of
nuclear reactor that uses natural radioactive decay to
power a simple thermoelectric generator. It can produce at
most, two kilowatts.
There are a lot of different Small Modular Reactors in
production, use, and development. The future is very bright
and exciting for safe and cheap nuclear power. My favorite,
the salt reactor, is discussed:
In this type of SMR, the coolant and the fuel are one
in the same. The coolant is a mixture of lithium and
beryllium fluoride salts. In this is dissolved a fuel,
which can be enriched uranium, thorium or U-233. This
molten salt solution passes at relatively low pressure
and a temperature of 1,300 degrees F (700 degrees C)
through a graphite moderator core. As the fuel burns, the
waste products are removed from the solution and fresh
fuel is added.
One of the commenters had this to say:
VoiceofReason - February 16, 2012 @ 08:21 am
PST
One thing you didn't mention about Flibe's molten salt
reactor is that it runs at atmospheric pressure
(basically). That is a huge improvement in safety. Also,
there is no hydrogen buildup possible or any other
combustibles so explosions leading to the dispersion of
radioactive particles is eliminated.
Since the fuel is in a molten salt, if the core did
rupture, the salt would leak out and solidify (possibly
even plugging the hole and stopping the leak).
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