Nuclear power - Revision history

RichardWSmith: Fixed link

2024-09-20T17:47:43Z

Fixed link

RichardWSmith: Added link.

2024-09-20T17:45:46Z

Added link.

RichardWSmith: /* Operations */

2024-09-20T17:43:31Z

Operations

RichardWSmith: Reorganization, fuel before being in reactor is low radiation, and made formatting more in line with rest of site.

2024-09-20T17:42:56Z

Reorganization, fuel before being in reactor is low radiation, and made formatting more in line with rest of site.

RichardWSmith: Private concerns may choose other power to avoid paperwork. Reorganized section slightly.

2024-09-20T17:40:02Z

Private concerns may choose other power to avoid paperwork. Reorganized section slightly.

RichardWSmith: Noted that Pl is not a natural fuel.

2024-09-20T17:36:24Z

Noted that Pl is not a natural fuel.

RichardWSmith: /* Available energies in radioactive materials */

2024-09-20T17:35:15Z

Available energies in radioactive materials

RichardWSmith: Trying a different way to make a tab

2024-09-20T17:34:45Z

Trying a different way to make a tab

RichardWSmith: Made sentence clearer.

2024-09-20T16:58:44Z

Made sentence clearer.

RichardWSmith: /* Available energies in radioactive materials */

2024-09-20T16:56:54Z

Available energies in radioactive materials

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 ==Usage in space==
-Nuclear power can serve as an energy source for the propulsion of space vehicles.  [[Nuclear Electric Propulsion]], [[Nuclear Thermal Propulsion]], [[Fusion propulsion]] are some possibilities.
+Nuclear power can serve as an energy source for the propulsion of space vehicles.  [[Nuclear Electric Propulsion]], [[Nuclear Thermal Propulsion]], & [[Fusion Propulsion]] are some possibilities.
 ==References==

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 ==Usage in space==
-Nuclear power can serve as an energy source for the propulsion of space vehicles.  [[Nuclear Electric Propulsion]] or [[Nuclear Thermal Propulsion]] are the two main possibilities.
+Nuclear power can serve as an energy source for the propulsion of space vehicles.  [[Nuclear Electric Propulsion]], [[Nuclear Thermal Propulsion]], [[Fusion propulsion]] are some possibilities.
 ==References==

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 Nuclear reactors require fuel that eventually needs to be replaced.  Generation 4 designs for small nuclear reactor often include fuel for ten to twenty years of operation, operating as a form of nuclear battery.  Nuclear reactors often operate at high temperatures and have secondary systems that are subject to wear.  Most existing designs require well trained operators and considerable support staff for maintenance.  Reactors designed for Space and Mars will need to have mostly hands off operations.
-Reactors produce heat, that is converted at an efficiency of 25 to 40% depending on the design.  (This may be improved up to 60% on Mars given how cold the cold sink is, using higher temperature 4G reactors, and / or using super critical CO2 Branson cycles turbines.)The rest of the heat needs to be removed and dissipated into the environment using radiators.  These add mass to the system as well as potential leak points.
+Reactors produce heat, that is converted at an efficiency of 25 to 40% depending on the design.  (This may be improved up to 60% on Mars given how cold the cold sink is, using higher temperature 4G reactors, and / or using super critical CO2 Branson cycles turbines.) The rest of the heat needs to be removed and dissipated into the environment using radiators.  These add mass to the system as well as potential leak points.
 The nuclear fuel is a very small part of the entire reactor power producing system.  Most of the mass is in the containment, piping, generators and radiators.

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 ==Operations==
-Nuclear reactors require fuel that eventually needs to be replaced.  Generation 4 designs for small nuclear reactor often include fuel for ten to twenty years of operation, operating as a form of nuclear battery.  Nuclear reactors often operate at high temperatures and have secondary systems that are subject to wear.  Most existing designs require well trained operators and considerable support staff for maintenance.  Reactors designed for Space and Mars will need to have mostly hands off operations.  The transportation of nuclear fuel to Mars should be simple and safe.
+Nuclear reactors require fuel that eventually needs to be replaced.  Generation 4 designs for small nuclear reactor often include fuel for ten to twenty years of operation, operating as a form of nuclear battery.  Nuclear reactors often operate at high temperatures and have secondary systems that are subject to wear.  Most existing designs require well trained operators and considerable support staff for maintenance.  Reactors designed for Space and Mars will need to have mostly hands off operations.
 Reactors produce heat, that is converted at an efficiency of 25 to 40% depending on the design.  (This may be improved up to 60% on Mars given how cold the cold sink is, using higher temperature 4G reactors, and / or using super critical CO2 Branson cycles turbines.)The rest of the heat needs to be removed and dissipated into the environment using radiators.  These add mass to the system as well as potential leak points.
 The nuclear fuel is a very small part of the entire reactor power producing system.  Most of the mass is in the containment, piping, generators and radiators.
 There is significant opposition to nuclear energy in society, which may effect which system is chosen.  Governments may use nuclear power, but private entities may choose to avoid the paperwork / regulations.
-=== '''Available energies in radioactive materials''' ===
+=== Available energies in radioactive materials ===
 The following list shows the energy available from various nuclear materials:

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 ==Operations==
-Nuclear reactors require fuel that eventually needs to be replaced.  Generation 4 designs for small nuclear reactor often include fuel for ten to twenty years of operation, operating as a form of nuclear battery.  Nuclear reactors often operate at high temperatures and have secondary systems that are subject to wear.  Most existing designs require well trained operators and considerable support staff for maintenance.  Reactors designed for Space and Mars will need to have mostly hands off operations.
+Nuclear reactors require fuel that eventually needs to be replaced.  Generation 4 designs for small nuclear reactor often include fuel for ten to twenty years of operation, operating as a form of nuclear battery.  Nuclear reactors often operate at high temperatures and have secondary systems that are subject to wear.  Most existing designs require well trained operators and considerable support staff for maintenance.  Reactors designed for Space and Mars will need to have mostly hands off operations.  The transportation of nuclear fuel to Mars should be simple and safe.
 Reactors produce heat, that is converted at an efficiency of 25 to 40% depending on the design.  (This may be improved up to 60% on Mars given how cold the cold sink is, using higher temperature 4G reactors, and / or using super critical CO2 Branson cycles turbines.)The rest of the heat needs to be removed and dissipated into the environment using radiators.  These add mass to the system as well as potential leak points.
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 The nuclear fuel is a very small part of the entire reactor power producing system.  Most of the mass is in the containment, piping, generators and radiators.
-The transportation of nuclear fuel to Mars should be simple and safe.  However, there is significant opposition to nuclear energy in civil society that needs to be taken into account when a nuclear system is chosen.
+There is significant opposition to nuclear energy in society, which may effect which system is chosen.  Governments may use nuclear power, but private entities may choose to avoid the paperwork / regulations.
 === '''Available energies in radioactive materials''' ===

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 * Uranium: 80 000 GJt/kg
 * Thorium: 79 400 GJt/kg &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp; (Th does not require enrichment.)
-* Plutonium: 2 239 GJt/kg
+* Plutonium: 2 239 GJt/kg&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp; (Pl is not a natural fuel, it must be bred.)
 * Tritium decay: 583 GJt/kg &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp; (Not a normal fuel, Tritium is a free by-product of water absorbing neutrons.)

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 Burn up fraction is the amount of nuclear fuel that is actually consumed in a nuclear reactor.  Most nuclear fuels have low burn up fraction, meaning much of the nuclear energy remains in the fuel after it is used.  Breeder reactors can modify the existing fuel to make more of it available. Note that reactors using liquid fuels do not have to worry about cracking fuel rods, so the fuel can remain in the reactor for much longer period, and will therefore have a far better burn up fraction.
-The production of enriched nuclear fuel required for most designs complicates the case for in-situ production of uranium nuclear fuel.
+The production of enriched uranium nuclear fuel complicates the case for in-situ production of uranium reactors.
 ==Usage On Mars==