Finally, a modular nuclear (fission) reactor

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Dennis P Brown
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Finally, a modular nuclear (fission) reactor

Post by Dennis P Brown »

Apparently, the NRC has approved a company to try and build a series of small modular nuclear fission reactors (of course, no people would be controlling the unit) for local power needs capable of supplying a small city. I seriously wonder if they can make them in a cost effective manner - i.e. real cost vs. projected - but very much hope it does work. The lower total start up cost and if they can get anywhere metering cost compared to standard kilowatt-hour costs for regular power would make this a real game changer to say the least.

See: https://techxplore.com/news/2020-09-fir ... actor.html
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Richard Hull
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Re: Finally, a modular nuclear (fission) reactor

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These are the future of real viable energy in small local rural areas to remove losses in power transmission over the vast distances to major municipal power stations allowing them more useful, local capacity and lower losses and costs. Fission is yesterday, today and into the foreseeable future through the bulk of the 21st century, surely. power needs grow constantly. Renewables will never begin to cut it until low cost, vast
real super power storage capability kills the need for real, working reserve standby power to be lit 24-7 for when the renewable inevitably crap out. (night, dead calm, etc.) I noted with some delight that in the "Planet of the Humans", the power companies "fessed-up" when pressed....."Oh yes, we do have a lot of renewables and are going green, but we do need to keep the fires lit 24-7 to back those renewables up in an instant" "You just don't quick start a coal or oil or gas fired plant up when needed".

California's recent rolling brownouts and blackouts are proof that they have no real usable reserve capacity in their rush to go green. Feel-good stuff doesn't feel so good with no air conditioning, no Tv and no way to charge you new God (smart phones). You can't even fire up that venerable old clunky desk top. A microscopic number of homes have expensive solar installed with some limited storage. They had the bread to do this and are mostly good assuming limited blackouts and fine clear days over the period.

The images and science depicted in "Planet of the Humans" is plain and cold, We need far less humans living with far less that at present. Just try and discuss the methods to achieve that goal to the average guy. Even the bulk of the "Greenies" would balk and choke a bit with forced limiting of population and losing much of their daily living standards with rationed power. They think going green will solve it all and the good ship lolly-pop will sale on as smooth as ever as the planet is raped with the removal of the vast quantity of the toxics involved into the biosphere to achieve some semblance of true green or, more likely, a very, very olive DRAB.

Richard Hull
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
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Bob Reite
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Re: Finally, a modular nuclear (fission) reactor

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You can't start up a coal fired plant quickly, but gas turbine plants can be. That's what is useful for filling in the gaps of wind power. The modular fission reactors still seem only suitable for base load.
The more reactive the materials, the more spectacular the failures.
The testing isn't over until the prototype is destroyed.
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Richard Hull
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Re: Finally, a modular nuclear (fission) reactor

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Yes, Base load, indeed! That is what feeds the bull dog 24-7-365.....No let up. fission is the solution and smaller modular systems can take a lot of loss out of needlessly long xmission lines.

Richard Hull
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
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