[ RadSafe ] Safety Issues Linger as Nuclear Reactors Shrink in Size

[Maury Siskel]

Using NP units from decommissioned subs and other vessels for civilian 
applications (both routine and emergency) has long been a source of 
wonder to me. Is this a true safety issue or is it mostly stereotyped fears?
Best,
Maury&Dog [MaurySiskel  maurysis at peoplepc.com]
====================

Brennan, Mike (DOH) wrote:

>I've talked with men who served on the Seawolf when she had the liquid
>sodium cooled reactor.  They joked that the Auxiliary Primary Coolant
>Leak Alarm was sonar reporting rhythmic explosions from the amidships.  
>
>One thing I did like from the article is the company that wants to build
>reactors sized so they can replace the boiler in a coal-fired power
>plant, and use the rest of the infrastructure.  I don't think I will bet
>on them being able to convince everyone that it is OK, but I wish them
>well.    
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
>[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Glenn R.
>Marshall
>Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 10:03 AM
>To: Doug Huffman; radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
>Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Safety Issues Linger as Nuclear Reactors Shrink
>in Size
>
>Liquid sodium and water don't play well together
>
> 
>Glenn Marshall, CHP, RRPT
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
>[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Doug Huffman
>Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 12:58 PM
>To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
>Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Safety Issues Linger as Nuclear Reactors Shrink
>in Size
>
>On 3/19/2010 11:42, Brennan, Mike (DOH) wrote:
>  
>
>>I am a fan of the idea of smaller, modular reactors, but I have to
>>    
>>
>agree
>  
>
>>with the environmentalists who are not impressed with liquid metal
>>cooled reactors.  They have great characteristics, and made the Alfa
>>class submarines a nightmare (I was on Active Duty when the Alfa first
>>came out, and there was much discontent when it became clear that they
>>could go faster and deeper than our torpedoes.)  However, any reactor
>>that only gets to shut down once, whether it has been running decades
>>    
>>
>or
>  
>
>>weeks, has a real downside.
>>
>>    
>>
>
>USS Seawolf SSN-575 was commissioned in 1957 with a liquid-sodium plant 
>and converted to light water S2W two years later due to lessons learned 
>then and now forgotten?
>  
>