Recent Comments:
Toshiba's building a "Micro Nuclear" reactor for your garage? {Engadget}
Dec 20th 2007 7:31AM "...some sort of nuclear level reaction..."
There are two: fission and fusion. This would use fission. It would absolutely use the same exact fuel used in all US commercial reactors (U-238 enriched up to 5 w/o U-235) and would be licensed and regulated by the NRC. The difference between that and existing plants is zero. If the NRC finds the design to be acceptible in regards to the health and safety of the public then there would be no reason not to grant a license.
There have been some abstract designs employed throughout history both in the US and abroad. While most have been shut down, that doesn't mean the technology didn't work.
Toshiba's building a "Micro Nuclear" reactor for your garage? {Engadget}
Dec 19th 2007 4:32PM Pretty much everything you said is untrue. While Japan does have an NRC euqivalent (the exact acronym escapes me), they would have zero jurisdiction in the U.S. where any "Special Nuclear Material" is handled. That is, the NRC only tracks the use of nuclear material in commercial applications. The DOE controls all other applications (i.e. the nuclear navy). The reactor would have to go through the same application process as any other new design, such as GEs ESBWR, Westinghouse's AP1000, and AREVAs EPR.
Additionally, the "nuclear batteries" you're referring to are actually just a bunch of unstable isotopes gathered into a canister and the heat generated from their decay is used for energy.
Toshiba's building a "Micro Nuclear" reactor for your garage? {Engadget}
Dec 19th 2007 1:06PM Have you even considered the effects of some one stealing nuclear fuel (after it's been in the reactor for any amount of time)? Think of it as assured death within a matter of hours, if not less. The only way to safely handle it is either under 30+ feet of water using remote tools or in a lead-line concrete shipping cask which required the use of a large crane and semi truck. While it makes people sleep well at night to know there are men walking around safeguarding our nuclear industry, it's completely unrealistic to think that a group of individuals could safely steal nuclear fuel.
Toshiba's building a "Micro Nuclear" reactor for your garage? {Engadget}
Dec 19th 2007 12:24PM ...additionally, the limit for commercial reactor fuel enrichment is 5%. I don't ever forsee that changing.
Toshiba's building a "Micro Nuclear" reactor for your garage? {Engadget}
Dec 19th 2007 12:21PM The picture used is actually Toshiba's "SSS" reactor prototype. A small town in Alaska is currently pursuing getting it to replace it diesel-electric generators. The design is likely identical, just scaled down. The idea is to bury it and remotely monitor the reactor. The coolant will likely be liquid sodium in order to operate at high thermal efficiencies. Speaking for the SSS, it is designed, as I last saw, to operate for 30-40 years untouched (i.e. no refueling). The reality is that no nuclear reactor is maintenance-free. Valves leak. Pumps fail. It's just the nature of mechanical wear. A new-construction reactor would likely require significantly less attention than the existing 103 reactors in the US, however, the NRC would never...EVER...grant a license, let alone a construction permit, for a reactor designed for remote operation.
Panasonic releases two PT-A HD projectors {Engadget}
Oct 23rd 2007 4:27AM Me thinks they mean the PT-AE2000E, the 200 was released 4 years ago.
Denon intros two new high end Blu-ray players {Engadget}
Oct 17th 2007 11:58AM That's $2,857.01 and $1,964.19 USD, respectively; whether rich or poor, an incredible waste of money.
Lamborghini Reventon boasts configurable displays {Engadget}
Sep 11th 2007 3:39PM hey...i have one of those. they're alright.
The hundred gadget giveaway: round 31 {Engadget}
Sep 11th 2007 3:31PM i have commented with a comment on this comment board.
The hundred gadget giveaway: round 28 {Engadget}
Sep 10th 2007 6:12PM I work at a nuclear power plant.
