3 ms·
> That you’re even discussing graphite moderated (?!!) makes this pretty clear. And why would this be? Is graphite expensive? No it isn't. Also, we created
by hunterpayne 11mo ago
> That you’re even discussing graphite moderated (?!!) makes this pretty clear.
And why would this be? Is graphite expensive? No it isn't. Also, we created a working one of these designed in the 1960's without computers. You seriously think this is hard compared to other types of engineering we do today?
A LFTR can also do things that a PWR or BWR can't and has several major advantages. But since it uses pencil lead apparently we can't even try it.
- lazide 11mo agoBecause it has dangerous behavior in real reactors due to the void co-efficient behavior, to the point of… being the cause of the largest nuclear disaster in recorded history?
- rdtsc 11mo agoNot OP but he maybe referring to the new gas cooled gen 4 reactors not Soviet RBMKs. The ones I heard are working with sealed beads of uranium, encased in porous carbon, then some other layers, including some carbide (silicon?). The porosity of carbon absorbs gases but they ultimately stay sealed. The whole thing is helium cooled.
- lazide 11mo agoThe issue with those is the pellets end up not as well sealed as thought or promised (many, many leaks historically), so then you have other problems.
- rdtsc 11mo agoYeah. I was listening to David Ruzic's video [1] about them getting one of those reactors on campus and when he showed the structure of beads, that's the first thing that popped in my head - at that size how are they going to ensure every single bead has an intact surface. [1] https://www.youtube.com/@illinoisenergyprof6878/videos https://www.youtube.com/@illinoisenergyprof6878/videos