Fast Breeder Reactors so if i have the theory of this right, the reactor creates more fuels as it goes along and it does this by turning non-fissile uranium-238 into Fissionable plutonium-239.
according to the above article the target ratio is 1.4 so .4 more fuel out as in - eventually. there is no guarantee that that target will be reached - then again it could be surpassed.
this would certainly increase the useable amount of fuel in the world. but by how much i wonder - more on this later.
however there are grave safety concerns:
the coolants - heat transfer mechanisms at the moment are pleasant substances such as Mercury and more dangerously:
"Liquid sodium is used as the coolant and heat-transfer medium in the LMFBR reactor. That immediately raised the question of safety since sodium metal is an extremely reactive chemical and burns on contact with air or water (sometimes explosively on contact with water). It is true that the liquid sodium must be protected from contact with air or water at all times, kept in a sealed system. "
it does sound like a mad scientists playkit!
im admittedly a layman but use of liquid sodium, something which has a violent reaction to two of the most common things in the world sounds like a recipie for disaster. not everywhere - not all at once. especially as the plants age, problems creep in. I understand that gases are being looked at as a substitute but that conjures the nebulous phantom of radioactive gases being released.
also the fuel needs to be re-processed in order for it to be useable. there are a myriad dangers inherent in moving such toxic materials, accidents, terrorism, faulty construction of transportation devices.
as for when it gets to a reporcessing plant ... please see my references to sellafield above.
im not sure the benifits outweigh such risks. im not sure we should be leaving the toxic results as an inheritance for our descendents.
im not sure the investement and effort needed will be worth the results. given the amount of safety precautions that will have to be developed and put in place, and kept in prime working order for numerous plants entire lifetimes im not so sure its worth the effort.
Ken, why such insistence on nuclear power? why so quick do dismiss legitimate safety concerns as irrational fears?
