[ RadSafe ] Modular nuclear reactor

[HOWARD.LONG at comcast.net]

Thank you, all.
Hyperion website and extensive blogs about it were interesting, but not specific about the self-control.
Human beings have that problem, too.

Apparently, uranium hydride slows the neutrons enough that, like deuterium in CANDU, continuing heat can be produced without monitoring for 5 years. Teller visualized a self-controlled reactor in 1993 but without the engineering detail that has apparently now been worked out. 

Also, lithium coolant was mentioned for a Toshiba reactor, when the last I heard it had liquid sodium planned, (frightening to me because of its volatility chemically).

Could this progress in engineering bring political proress?

 Howard Long 

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Jim Hardeman" <Jim.Hardeman at dnr.state.ga.us> 

> Mike / Eric -- 
> 
> My understanding is that this reactor uses uranium hydride fuel, and that the 
> moderation properties of uranium hydride tend to make the reactor "self 
> controlling". That's about as much info as I could glean. 
> 
> My $0.02 worth ... 
> 
> Jim 
> 
> >>> "Brennan, Mike (DOH)" 11/20/2008 14:39 >>> 
> So, is it producing heat by fission? If so, how does it adjust the 
> neutron flux to maintain a constant power level in the face of burn-up 
> of fuel and build-up of neutron poison fission fragments? How do they 
> deal with the great increase in activity due to the fission fragments 
> having much shorter half-lives than the fuel? What is the working fluid 
> to remove heat from the reactor, and how is the heat turned into 
> electricity? 
> 
> The diagrams on the website are pretty, but short on details that would 
> help evaluate their product. 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On 
> Behalf Of Eric.Goldin at sce.com 
> Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:19 AM 
> To: radsafe at radlab.nl 
> Subject: [ RadSafe ] Modular nuclear reactor 
> 
> Howard Long asked about the modular reactor suitable for about 20,000 
> homes. The company is Hyperion and they have rights to produce a 
> reactor type developed a Los Alamos. I'm still not exactly sure what 
> the technology entails (low enrichment, no water coolant....) but go to 
> their website and they have press releases claiming they have 10 orders. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Hyperion Fast Facts 
> Small -1.5 meters across, approx size of a residential ?hot tub? 
> 
> Produces 70 MWt or 25 MWe, enough to power 20,000 average American homes 
> or the equivalent 
> 
> Buried underground out of sight and harm?s way 
> 
> Transportable by train, ship, truck 
> 
> Sealed module, never opened on site 
> 
> Enough power for 5+ years 
> 
> After 5 years, removed & refueled at original factory 
> 
> Uniquely safe, self-moderating using a natural chemical reaction 
> discovered 50 years ago 
> 
> No mechanical parts in the core to malfunction 
> 
> Water not used as coolant; cannot go ?supercritical? or get too hot 
> 
> No greenhouse gases or global warming emissions 
> 
> Think: Large Battery! 
> 
> 
> Eric M. Goldin 
> 
> _______________________________________________ 
> You are currently subscribed to the RadSafe mailing list 
> 
> Before posting a message to RadSafe be sure to have read and understood 
> the RadSafe rules. These can be found at: 
> http://radlab.nl/radsafe/radsaferules.html 
> 
> For information on how to subscribe or unsubscribe and other settings 
> visit: http://radlab.nl/radsafe/ 
> _______________________________________________ 
> You are currently subscribed to the RadSafe mailing list 
> 
> Before posting a message to RadSafe be sure to have read and understood the 
> RadSafe rules. These can be found at: http://radlab.nl/radsafe/radsaferules.html 
> 
> For information on how to subscribe or unsubscribe and other settings visit: 
> http://radlab.nl/radsafe/ 
> _______________________________________________ 
> You are currently subscribed to the RadSafe mailing list 
> 
> Before posting a message to RadSafe be sure to have read and understood the 
> RadSafe rules. These can be found at: http://radlab.nl/radsafe/radsaferules.html 
> 
> For information on how to subscribe or unsubscribe and other settings visit: 
> http://radlab.nl/radsafe/