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There are always a lot of interesting research projects brought up about what to do with the nuclear waste in the future. But never anything cost effective actu

by Ma8ee 6y ago

There are always a lot of interesting research projects brought up about what to do with the nuclear waste in the future. But never anything cost effective actually in production yet, and it's not like they haven't hade some decades to get them going. If we can cite <future technolog> as our solution, I suggest that we go with fusion reactors directly. The main barriers for building new nuclear plants are that they aren't cost effective, so no one wants to invest in them. I'm certain they could be built cheaper without regulations about safety and funds for long term storage of waste. But I don't think we want to go there. (Your second link directs me to a documentary about Bill Gates. How is that relevant?)

pfdietz 6y ago
There is a straightforward, economical, and practical approach to dealing with spent fuel: sealing it in dry storage casks. This is cheap, good for at least some centuries, and forecloses no future options for its disposition. Why do anything else now?
- Ma8ee 6y ago
  No, it’s not good for some centuries. Corrosion and other processes that aren’t fully understood how they are affected by radiation make it hard to make any leakproof containers that will last even one century. Also, above ground storage is vulnerable both to changing climate as well as changing political circumstances. Finally, even if all of the above was overcome, it’s just a way to push the problem to future generations. I’d be quite upset if our generation would have to deal with a hundred thousand tons of radioactive waste in old corroding containers without getting anything for it.
  - manfredo 6y ago
    Even a leaking container is not a concern with a cask buried 500 meters underground in a place with no aquifer. Where did this uranium come from before it was used as fuel?
aksss 6y ago
The Gates Foundation is one of the leading US investors in new nuclear tech right now. That documentary gets into the details of what they're working on and the hurdles they have in bringing new tech online. For a quick digestible bit of Gates on nuclear, watch the following. The documentary explores a lot more about the reactors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1EB1zsxW0k&t=1124 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1EB1zsxW0k&t=1124

by Ma8ee 6y ago

pfdietz 6y ago

There is a straightforward, economical, and practical approach to dealing with spent fuel: sealing it in dry storage casks. This is cheap, good for at least some centuries, and forecloses no future options for its disposition. Why do anything else now?

Ma8ee 6y ago
No, it’s not good for some centuries. Corrosion and other processes that aren’t fully understood how they are affected by radiation make it hard to make any leakproof containers that will last even one century. Also, above ground storage is vulnerable both to changing climate as well as changing political circumstances. Finally, even if all of the above was overcome, it’s just a way to push the problem to future generations. I’d be quite upset if our generation would have to deal with a hundred thousand tons of radioactive waste in old corroding containers without getting anything for it.
- manfredo 6y ago
  Even a leaking container is not a concern with a cask buried 500 meters underground in a place with no aquifer. Where did this uranium come from before it was used as fuel?

aksss 6y ago

The Gates Foundation is one of the leading US investors in new nuclear tech right now. That documentary gets into the details of what they're working on and the hurdles they have in bringing new tech online. For a quick digestible bit of Gates on nuclear, watch the following. The documentary explores a lot more about the reactors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1EB1zsxW0k&t=1124 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1EB1zsxW0k&t=1124