In the past, there have been few options for isolated areas to generate electricity. For small, out of the way towns and large industrial complexes located off the beaten path, combustion generators powered by natural gas or diesel have been the only choice.
But recently, the engineers at Toshiba have presented a new option, miniature nuclear reactors. Small potatoes when compared to their 1,500 MW cousins, these tiny 50 MW units would still be able to supply power to as many as 40,000 homes in areas far from the existing power grid.
With no need to refuel and no need for the expensive power lines required to deliver energy over long distances, these small nuclear reactors offer an environmentally friendly, cost effective, and above all reliable means to power these remote areas with little to no environmental footprint.
But these are not your Grandfather’s fission reactors. These units are self contained and use liquid Lithium-6 as a moderator instead of the Control Rods used by the larger reactors we are used to. For those of you who are new to the technology, in this case a moderator is a substance with a neutron affinity or ‘appetite’ for neutrons. They regulate the rate of fission in the same way regulating oxygen controls the rate at which a fire burns. No air, no fire – no neutrons, no fission. The fail safe design of these reactors causes the unit to automatically flood with Lithium-6 during a transient in order to “snuff out” the reaction by depriving it of the neutrons needed to continue fission.
Obviously, any new technology will have to endure the fears and lack of understanding by the under-informed. However, since 9/11 and the dramatic rise in oil prices, public opinion is finally warming to a technology that has been unjustly loathed for decades. With this waning fear and opposition to clean, safe nuclear power, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is expected to consider this type of reactor sometime within the next ten years.
~Man Overboard
17 Comments
Considering it will take America some time to approve and implement such a device as you mentioned, is it going be used in other countries sooner?
The truly amazing thing is this technology was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy at thier Idaho Falls research facility. Toshiba was granted a license to practice the technology by the D.O.E. along with another U.S. firm named Hyperion based in New Mexico.
Undoubtedly Europe and Asia will adopt this technology first.
Their political climate is much more favorable to Nuclear Energy than that of the US.
Keep in mind, the Nuclear Industry has been stagnant in America for 30 years now. This climate will not change overnight, but it will change.
Would you say this small reactor stands to generate significant revenue for Toshiba? In other words, is this miniature reactor the first of its kind?
Nice article. Thanks.
Eugene
Like reactors in nuclear subs and icebreakers! McCain says they are safe! We need these for all major hospitals, defense installations, critical factories, and government offices, in case of terrorist attacks! They should be installed throughout our system for civil emergencies. With many of them ready to go or up and operating, in case of civil unrest, revolt or other catastrophes we can maintain order and help. Instead of pising away our fortunes saving the goddamn bastards on wall street, why don’t we mandate a better life support system for us by buying and installing these units everywhere! We Americans may be a little backwards about some things but this is an obvious winner! I hope our allies, the Europeans see this as a good thing and go whole hog on it. Can we charge our plug in vehicles and get cheap transportation from these power plants as well? Will they fill the gaps when our solar and wind systems need help? With little of no transmission losses, do they actually run cheaper? Are these like the “Slow Poke” reactors McGill University in Canada developed and installed throughout Quebec? Can these plants help Ontario overcome its power shortage problems? Why can’t we build and develop small miracles like this in the states of Canada, are we simply too fucking hypnotized by the powers that be to see the light? God help us! When the dust settles we will see that the solutions to our monetary dilemma were always their right in front of our eyes, and we simply didn’t “pull the Plug” Wake Up America, Last Call, Last Call!
Awesome! We could get this approved in Arizona faster then we could get right of way for massive generation lines. I want it in my garage!
Great post!
signed: A Bastard Of Wall Street
I just don’t get it. You say little to no environmental footprint? What about the radioactive waste left after the fuel is spent? Is that stuff harmless? Seriously, why would you want to mislead a public that is totally naive with outright lies? When every country on earth starts using this miracle technology, the byproduct is going to pile up pretty quickly. Don’t be so irresponsible, and if you can’t help yourself when it comes to lying to everyone, maybe you should stay out of the publishing racket. The world does not need any added assurances of our premature extinction.
Joseph,
In no way is this article an attempt to mislead or lie to anyone.
On the contrary, I have the utmost respect for the waste and I am well aware of what it can do.
But the waste is absolutely manageable as the French have demonstrated. Spent fuel recycling and the Yucca Mountain Repository are more than able to handle the byproducts. Not to mention the scientific and medical benefits these materials have the potential for.
The small environmental footprint I refer to is the fact that Nuclear energy does not release one single iota of greenhouse gasses. Given the threat of climate change, it is a wonder the public remains intentionally negligent of this.
Obviously precautions must be taken. The United states has a 30 year track record of successfully managing the technology without one single fatality or injury to the public.
Eugene, Uncle B, and Ray,
Your support and positive outlook on the potential these reactors hold is further proof of my hypothesis that the public is slowly but surely warming to the idea of safe nuclear energy. It is good to know that at least some in this world are willing to overcome the fear long enough to examine the scientific merit.
Jack,
As far as I know, the radioactivity of the fuel is obviously going to be decreased after it has been recycled, but what I’m unclear about is how much radioactivity is left when it can’t be recycled anymore? Can we recycle it to the point where it is so free of radioactivity that we wouldn’t need to go through the process of opening many “Yucca” geological sites around the world?
Andrew,
Only time can reduce radioactivity, a LONG time in the case of spent fuel.
But what you can do is curb the rate at which you produce additional radioactive waste. That is done by reusing the waste you have already produced.
The truth there is we are sitting on a vast energy reserve in the form of the spent fuel from decades of nuclear plant operation. That reserve could be tapped and reprocessed but instead of a potential asset we make it a liability through poor energy policy.
How long will one of these units last/work? I mean if they last 5 years thats ok I guess but 20 years would be amazing.
Also any word on ideal costs?
Mr. Offer
A legitimate name warrants a legitimate response to otherwise legitimate questions.
The renaissance is already under way. We are overloaded with work at Babcock and Wilcox-Nuclear Operations Group-Mt. Vernon, IN. We have almost doubled our workforce in the past 2 years and we have to buy more machines to handle the work that is coming in. I can tell you that they are very safe and pretty much fail proof. Since three mile island they have implemented controls to eliminate such accidents and the fuel used in the Advanced Boiler Reactors dissapates heat so quickly that if all controls failed it would not melt down. There is also a plant of our that takes the waste and mixes it with molten glass to the point that it could never be used. Once mixed it is put into containers and stored hundreds of feet underground behind 4ft. thick lead walls. In addition, the fuel used in nuclear weapons from the cold war is being spun down as we speak to produce reactor fuel. From what i’ve learned, One nuclear warhead has the capacity to power approximately 20 reactors for 25 years. I think this Toshiba miniature reactors is a great idea. It would enable more companies to purchase them. Vectren Energy in our area is building another natural gas plant because they decided the nuclear option was too expensive. A less expensive design would be perfect for companies like this.
Mech,
Good to hear! Keep up the good work. The politics will come around and when it does, there will be more than enough work to go around.
Addtionally, Hyperion’s version is a 20MW system, while they have not delivered one yet, a Czech company TES placed the first order for 6 units with another possible 6 later. At the asking price of $25 million each Hyperion reports you’ll have to get in line as the waiting list is now 6 years long. The first unit is due to be operational in 2013, asuming of course we don’t all perish in 2012.
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