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To: Bean Counter
I love that many new (or recycled) idea coming to the fore. I recently read about modular nuclear power which seems like a great idea too.
38 posted on 02/01/2011 1:44:01 PM PST by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
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To: Straight Vermonter

I read an article last year about a company that is going to market mini-reactors. Essentially, they have a complete liquid sodium power module that comes from the factory ready to go, and they install it into a deep concrete pit. They maintain and operate the nuclear parts for you, and your utility company hooks up your heat exchanger and standard turbine generation sets to it, and off you go.

The concept is instead of building a single 1000MW nuclear plant that costs untold billions to build and operate; you build a bunch of smaller 20MW plants for $50 million apiece. Smaller plants mean you can spread them around closer to where people live. It’s cheaper to lease the sealed nuclear unit than it is to build an enormous reactor containment and infrastructure.

When it needs refueling in 20 years, the company comes in and replaces the old reactor with a new one, and you keep on operating. If you need more capacity, add another unit.

Some good concepts out there if we can ever get past the real hazards in the technology.


40 posted on 02/01/2011 1:50:39 PM PST by Bean Counter (Stout Hearts...)
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