davidsrsb
pfm Member
Possible, but not very easy or practical. Plutonium is easy to separate chemically and forms the bizarre compressible alloy with gallium, which allows very compact bomb cores
Where do you stand on nuclear power (fission)?
- Thread starter Sue Pertwee-Tyr
- Start date
gary1064
pfm Member
Some interesting data on the UKs use of nuclear power here:
https://assets.publishing.service.g...file/789655/Nuclear_electricity_in_the_UK.pdf
Would be interesting to see what the forecasted requirement for electricity is, especially if/when there's a major shift to electric vehicles.
https://assets.publishing.service.g...file/789655/Nuclear_electricity_in_the_UK.pdf
Would be interesting to see what the forecasted requirement for electricity is, especially if/when there's a major shift to electric vehicles.
They did build one at Trawsfynnyd, it used water from a lake for cooling. That's probably closed by now, but it does demonstrate that if you have enough space and a big lake you can avoid the sea.
It may do. The decommissioning of a local malt kiln took 30 years. On that basis 100 years for a nuclear reactor isn't that much of a deal. How long is it going to take to put a new roof on Notre Dame? I'm 52, I'm prepared to bet that there will be scaffolding up there after I'm dead.
Ali T
pfm Member
An article I read recently estimated the cost of supplying the world's energy requirement with 100% renewable energy at around 130 trillion. Cost of the same with nuclear is around 15 trillion.
If governments followed logic instead of opinions, a lot more money would be put into fusion research - it's been chronically underfunded for years. World energy requirements could then be supplied for a fraction of the cost of renewables.
If governments followed logic instead of opinions, a lot more money would be put into fusion research - it's been chronically underfunded for years. World energy requirements could then be supplied for a fraction of the cost of renewables.
russel
./_dazed_and_confused
It’s technically difficult whatever method is used, uranium is very difficult to separate, easy to make a device, plutonium is easy to separate very difficult to make a device. Plutonium is alloyed with gallium because it’s unstable and becomes friable in its pure form after a few months, the compressibility doesn’t change much.
Sue Pertwee-Tyr
Accuphase all the way down
Tidal is promising, but expensive, and the corrosive seawater tends to destroy the plant after not very many years. Lagoons are probably less ecologically harmful than barrages, but barrages have more generating potential. So not without its challenges.
Sue Pertwee-Tyr
Accuphase all the way down
I prefer to focus on areas of agreement than dwell on differences!Big difference between his 'is the way forward' and your 'should be the way forward'....
I think that means you disagree actually?
richardg
Admonishtrator
I prefer to focus on areas of agreement than dwell on differences!
Swamp Thing
Remainiac Terrorist
In addition to the tech and corrosive seawater issues, you need quite a large tidal range to make a go of it, so you have enough throughput at enough force for long enough to create decent power. And the few places this is possible (mostly west coast) all seem to be areas of outstanding natural beauty. Except Liverpool. So they might go for a lagoon or a barrage.
Swamp Thing
Remainiac Terrorist
The Severn is up to 15m, Solway Firth 8m, Mersey Estuary 10m.
Bob McC
Living the life of Riley
You cannot be serious!
Impressive. Boston today was 5.3m. High tide was half an hour ago. I'm going for a look. Gets me out, I'll take the bike out too.
clifftaylor
Absolutely retired!
If you mean the popular right wing Brit news comic, yes.
Sue Pertwee-Tyr
Accuphase all the way down
It not like that would make it any more toxic, is it?
Sue Pertwee-Tyr
Accuphase all the way down
The key word being ‘prefer’. But where there are no areas of agreement, that’s not easy. And some people don’t really encourage the extra effort it would take.
Swamp Thing
Remainiac Terrorist
Highest ever tidal range in Boston is just over 4m. (max-min) = range on any given day.
There are some guys who want to build a lagoon on the Humber to create a permanent high water for riverside property in Hull, increase the size of ships that visit Hull port, re-route the A63/A1033 along the side of the lagoon and away from the city to improve road access to the port. Even they said that power generation couldn't be justified as part of the project.