Uranium Pebbles May Light the Way

kristy_christie writes "According to Wired News, South Africa's state-run utility giant Eskom and its international partners want to build the world's first commercial 'pebble bed' reactor, which, instead of using fuel rods, 'is packed with tennis ball-size graphite "pebbles," each containing thousands of tiny uranium dioxide particles'. To developers, the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor promises a rebirth of nuclear energy. Proponents insist that the reactor's design features make it 'meltdown-proof' and 'walk-away safe'."

Oh yea...

[FrostedWheat]

Proponents insist that the reactor's design features make it 'meltdown-proof' and 'walk-away safe'."

Said a Mr.J.Simpson.

Re:I predict....

[Anonymous Coward]

While the density of the uranium in the pellets would not be high enough to produce the temperatures needed to ignite the graphite or cause a meltdown, the density of the craniums of slashdotters is close to infinite...

I want this technology for my car

[Powercntrl]

Seriously. I hate buying gas. Would be nice not to have to buy gas again - ever.

Oh sure, what happens if I get into an accident? Well, that's why you build the reactor compartment the same way as an airplane's black box, if that can survive a plane crash, a car crash should be a walk in the park.

There's a problem with terroists getting uranium and making dirty bombs you say? Not a problem either! Just outlaw radiation suits so anyone that opens the reactor is instantly nuked like a frozen chicken pot pie. Of course, that means no more tinkering with your car, but would you really miss it if you never had to buy gas again?

I want my nuclear car, damnit.

Where to get Uranium pebbles...

[Bazman]

Sellafield Beach, Cumbria, UK, obviously.

Just go here [iop.org].

Re:I want this technology for my car

[Pompatus]

Well, since the reactor compartment will be built out of the same material as an airplane's black box, I demand that my nuclear car can fly.

Uranium Pebbles

[lateralus]

"Uranium Pebbles" Sounds like a great name for a breakfast cereal. Makes your teeth glow!

Sounds like rice to me

[Xeger]

Direct quotes from the PBMR web page:

"This turbine forms part of the High-pressure Turbo...Next, the helium flows through the Low-pressure Turbine, which is part of the Low-pressure Turbo Unit...The helium is then cooled in the inter-cooler. "

In other words: they're going to build a twin-turbo nuclear reactor with an intercooler.

I didn't see any mention of chrome exhaust tips, cupholders, cruise control or racing stripes, but how far behind can these things possibly be? That's gonna be one decked out nuclear reactor...I wonder what kind of stereo system they'll put into it?

Perhaps for the opening ceremony I'll fly to Africa and plant a "Type R" decal on the side of the reactor building.

Re:Chernobyl was stupid

[Pii]

Ice cubes in beer?

Philistine.

Re:Partly true...

[mikerich]

For what it's worth, you can get your piece of reactor-grade uranium at United Nuclear. The interesting part is that it's slightly LESS radioactive than the natural chunk of uranium ore I've got in my bedroom.

That's because the chunk of ore will be far from pure uranium, it will contain traces of the decay products - such as polonium, radium and radon, all of which have shorter half lives (and are hence more radioactive).

Glad to hear that you're taking basic safety precautions though.

Best wishes,
Mike.

Re:Partly true...

[cheesybagel]

"The 72 pounds referred to would kill every human being on earth, if well distributed."

And I could kill every human being on Earth by choking them in the ocean. So?

Re:Chernobyl was stupid

[Anonymous Coward]

What kind of demented pervert puts ice in their beer? That some people choose to taint perfectly good whisky with that stuff is bad enough.