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> conflation of nuclear energy with nuclear weapons "Conflation" means (or at least implies) that one thing has been mistaken for the other. Nuclear reactors

> conflation of nuclear energy with nuclear weapons "Conflation" means (or at least implies) that one thing has been mistaken for the other. Nuclear reactors have been entwined with nuclear weapons production since the very beginning. The British MAGNOX reactors were designed (and used) to produce warheads as well as energy. Iran is under sanctions partly because it's feared they'll use any reactor they build to make warheads.

Accujack 4y ago
>"Conflation" means (or at least implies) that one thing has been mistaken for the other. Yes, and the word is being used correctly here. >Nuclear reactors have been entwined with nuclear weapons production since the very beginning. No, they have not. While it's possible to get civilian power plants to produce (breed) nuclear materials, they aren't designed for it. Almost all weapons production at places like Savannah River and Hanford was done with purpose specific plants that created plutonium and U-235 by design. Iran is under sanctions not because it's feared they'll use power plants to make warheads but because they are working on enriching nuclear fuel to a level useful for weapons. IE, they're taking the same stuff that powers power plants and trying to concentrate it so they can make a weapon.
- denton-scratch 4y ago
  > Almost all weapons production at places like Savannah River and Hanford was done with purpose specific plants that created plutonium and U-235 by design. That's as may be. But Wikipedia says that the "civilian" Magnox reactors were indeed used to manufacture Plutonium: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnox
  - Accujack 4y ago
    There aren't any of that design operating any more, and no more will be built, so they're not a proliferation issue. That particular design could be used that way (and was by the UK) which is a major reason no more will be built.

Accujack 4y ago

>"Conflation" means (or at least implies) that one thing has been mistaken for the other. Yes, and the word is being used correctly here. >Nuclear reactors have been entwined with nuclear weapons production since the very beginning. No, they have not. While it's possible to get civilian power plants to produce (breed) nuclear materials, they aren't designed for it. Almost all weapons production at places like Savannah River and Hanford was done with purpose specific plants that created plutonium and U-235 by design. Iran is under sanctions not because it's feared they'll use power plants to make warheads but because they are working on enriching nuclear fuel to a level useful for weapons. IE, they're taking the same stuff that powers power plants and trying to concentrate it so they can make a weapon.

denton-scratch 4y ago
> Almost all weapons production at places like Savannah River and Hanford was done with purpose specific plants that created plutonium and U-235 by design. That's as may be. But Wikipedia says that the "civilian" Magnox reactors were indeed used to manufacture Plutonium: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnox
- Accujack 4y ago
  There aren't any of that design operating any more, and no more will be built, so they're not a proliferation issue. That particular design could be used that way (and was by the UK) which is a major reason no more will be built.