3 ms·
There are actual micronuclear reactors though, which is why I was initially hopeful lol: https://westinghousenuclear.com/energy-systems/evinci-microreactor/ ht
by pmarreck 2y ago
There are actual micronuclear reactors though, which is why I was initially hopeful lol:
https://westinghousenuclear.com/energy-systems/evinci-microreactor/ https://westinghousenuclear.com/energy-systems/evinci-micror...
Other names to google: NuScale VOYGR™ Micro (77MW scalable), Oklo Aurora (1.5MW), Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) (5MW thermal, 1.5MW electric), Rolls-Royce SMR (470 MW), HolosGen HolosQuad (3-13 MW), X-energy Xe-100 (80 MW)
- JumpCrisscross 2y agoThis seems closer to an RTG [1]. Legality aside, could one design a desktop RTG with a practical power output? Say with an open-cycle boiling-water design, to keep things simple. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_ge...
- AnotherGoodName 2y agoI’d go with closed cycle Stirling engines. Even better efficiency than open water boiling. The general rtg use cases care less about efficiency than long term reliability though so that’s why they use thermocouples. But it would be reasonably trivial to use a Stirling engine instead (unless you’re going to extreme environments where mechanical parts no longer work well)
- martin293 2y agoDon't RTGs generate power constantly? That would make them impossible to use for a casual customer.
- JumpCrisscross 2y agoSuch a convenient space heater wouldn't ya know?
- martin293 2y agoPossibly. I'm not sure what you would do with it in the summer though. Even Arctic and Antarctica have pretty big seasonal temperature variations.
- pmarreck 2y ago1) Sell the power back to the power company (granted, at the wholesale price) 2) Use the heat given off to generate more power
- pixelesque 2y agoI'm not sure it is: from that Wiki page, it sounds like RTGs can't quickly ramp up/down power generation or turn off, which that Westinghouse page says can be done.
- AnotherGoodName 2y agoThey make heat constantly. You’re free to convert that heat to electricity or not at your leisure though. It’s no different to choosing not to draw power from a solar panel in the sun. Not a problem.
- rgmerk 2y agoYou probably could, but aside from the black helicopters showing up at your door, the fuel wouldn't exactly be cheap to purchase.
- Loggias 2y ago[dead]