4 ms·
> For example, there are leaks of tiny amounts of tritium at some fission plants and people lose their minds. If a fusion reactor loses power, fusion ceases.
by GeekyBear 4y ago
> For example, there are leaks of tiny amounts of tritium at some fission plants and people lose their minds.
If a fusion reactor loses power, fusion ceases. The reactor shuts down.
If a fission reactor loses power, fission continues. A reactor that cannot be cooled melts down.
I don't think people will be as wary when fail safe reactor designs come off the drawing board and are in use long enough to have their own track record.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2016/08/02/158134/fail-safe-nuclear-power/ https://www.technologyreview.com/2016/08/02/158134/fail-safe...
- lven 4y agoThis is not true. Fission reactors have to deal with decay heat, not fission reactions when cooling is lost. This can be managed. Fusion reactors also have decay heat. In new reactors like the Micro Modular Reactor, it's actually less decay heat than a fusion power plant. Please please read my post :https://lvenneri.com/blog/ConFusion#financial-risk-of-powerplant-loss https://lvenneri.com/blog/ConFusion#financial-risk-of-powerp...