Comments on: Mini Nuclear Plants – for real? http://crossroadswest.wordpress.com/2008/11/10/mini-nuclear-plants-for-real/ Working to help transform San Francisco's industrial neighborhoods into healthier communities Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:09:24 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Marty http://crossroadswest.wordpress.com/2008/11/10/mini-nuclear-plants-for-real/#comment-8 Marty Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:38:14 +0000 http://crossroadswest.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-8 Nuclear power plants are outside of my sphere of knowledge. What I do know is that conventional nuclear power plants manufacture power by running fluid (usually water) through the reactor. The resulting superheated fluid drives a turbine and the motion of the turbine is used to produce electrical power. Typically, the turbine and electricity generating systems are very large. Apparently, the new miniature reactors will use some other method to produce electricity. Sorry that I can't be more help. In any case, large established power companies (like Con Edison) will likely oppose the miniature reactors at first because the miniature reactors run contrary to their business model, i.e., a small number of large centralized power plants. If use of miniature reactors becomes widespread, a number of problems will have to be worked out, including: 1) Shortcutting of environmental impact studies prior to installation of a miniature reactor . Currently, it takes at least several years and 100's of millions of $ to get the EPA and NRC to license a reactor. 2) Establishment of procedures/protocols for transport and disposal of spent nuclear materials. 3) Reduction of hostility to nuclear power by a relatively large sector of Americans. On the positive side, easily available nuclear fuels could conceivably free America of the need to use fossil fuels for a number of centuries. In the long, long run however, we need to be thinking about renewable power (solar, wind, geo-thermal, etc.). Nuclear power plants are outside of my sphere of knowledge. What I do know is that conventional nuclear power plants manufacture power by running fluid (usually water) through the reactor. The resulting superheated fluid drives a turbine and the motion of the turbine is used to produce electrical power. Typically, the turbine and electricity generating systems are very large. Apparently, the new miniature reactors will use some other method to produce electricity. Sorry that I can’t be more help.

In any case, large established power companies (like Con Edison) will likely oppose the miniature reactors at first because the miniature reactors run contrary to their business model, i.e., a small number of large centralized power plants.

If use of miniature reactors becomes widespread, a number of problems will have to be worked out, including:

1) Shortcutting of environmental impact studies prior to installation of a miniature reactor . Currently, it takes at least several years and 100’s of millions of $ to get the EPA and NRC to license a reactor.

2) Establishment of procedures/protocols for transport and disposal of spent nuclear materials.

3) Reduction of hostility to nuclear power by a relatively large sector of Americans.

On the positive side, easily available nuclear fuels could conceivably free America of the need to use fossil fuels for a number of centuries. In the long, long run however, we need to be thinking about renewable power (solar, wind, geo-thermal, etc.).

]]> By: Coye http://crossroadswest.wordpress.com/2008/11/10/mini-nuclear-plants-for-real/#comment-6 Coye Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:40:54 +0000 http://crossroadswest.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-6 Obviously we need “cradle to grave” legislation for all fuels and all materials…..thereby forcing the issue of going to solar materials and solar fuels. Obviously we need “cradle to grave” legislation for all fuels and all materials…..thereby forcing the issue of going to solar materials and solar fuels.

]]> By: zrans http://crossroadswest.wordpress.com/2008/11/10/mini-nuclear-plants-for-real/#comment-5 zrans Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:40:18 +0000 http://crossroadswest.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-5 Not to mention the heat. And the need for a really good seal. I guess you caught the story of E-Waste. Not to mention the heat. And the need for a really good seal. I guess you caught the story of E-Waste.

]]> By: Coye http://crossroadswest.wordpress.com/2008/11/10/mini-nuclear-plants-for-real/#comment-4 Coye Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:39:26 +0000 http://crossroadswest.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-4 What about the waste? I have not heard of a nuke without production of nuclear waste that voids that option as far as I’m concerned. What about the waste? I have not heard of a nuke without production of nuclear waste that voids that option as far as I’m concerned.

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