Posted on 08/26/2006 3:04:56 AM PDT by maquiladora
Why do some countries still use heavy water reactors when there are light water ones? Are heavy ones the only ones which produce nuclear weapon material? If so, isn't this a hint to those people who believe that Iran is peaceful?
Why do some countries still use heavy water reactors when there are light water ones? Are heavy one the only ones which produce nuclear weapon material? If so, isn't this a hint to those people who believe that Iran is peaceful?
Hey at least they're willing to begin "serious negotiations". /s
LOL. Then why did he say Israel should be removed from the map? Sounds like a threat to me.
yeah, since the whole country is shakier than an ayatollah with dt's.
It's their Oblivion...
Here's hoping for another annoucement by the US and Isreal that the plant is now out of operation. Permanently.
The US should begin discussions on arming the Chetchnians (Russia's mortal enemy) and South Korea and Japan (China's mortal enemy) with nuclear technology.
See how Russia and China like the idea of having THEIR enemies armed with nukes.
Heavy-water reactors can run with unenriched uranium (which Iran has in spades). Light-water reactors require moderately-enriched uranium (of course, it's not all that hard to go from moderately-enriched to highly-enriched when the IAEA wants you to have nukes under the table).
Are heavy ones the only ones which produce nuclear weapon material?
No, but because there is more U-238 in unenriched uranium, heavy-water reactors produce more plutonium (specifically Pu-239, the bomb-making isotope) than light-water reactors.
For the information about nuclear reactors, much appreciated.
Three possible reasons:
1) A heavy water reactor running on U-235 can "go critical" with natural (aka "un-enriched" uranium), and produce power and plutonium.
2) A heavy water reactor fueled with a mix of enriched U-235 and thorium will "breed" U-233 from the thorium (the U-233 is also fissionable, and can then be used to fuel for "burner" reactors). This technology is being developed by India.
3) A heavy water reactor fueled with enriched U-235 plus U-238 will breed plutonium in larger amounts.
All three have peaceful uses---but #3 points HEAVILY to the production of plutonium for use in fission explosives.
Excellent point. While we are at it let's give our allies nukes. I'm sure countries like Poland, Thailand and Australia could use a few. Somehow I don't think China will try to invade Thailand if they had the bomb and the means to launch them. And Rusiia will not sleep too soundly if Poland had them, even if they are not enemies.
LOL. And Iran should make sure the signs for the plant are written in English so our leftie MSM will photograph it to prove their peaceful aims.
No, heavy water reactors allow the use of unenriched uranium in the fuel cycle, and easy recycling of reprocessed spent fuel. Do a web search for the 'CANDU' reactor design.
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