Why 'nuclear batteries' offer a new approach to carbon-free energy

https://techxplore.com ^ | 25 JUNE 2021 | by David L. Chandler, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

[Red Badger]

Gonna need a bigger flashlight!......................

[Alas Babylon!]

Yes sir, was gonna say.

If the innards are radioactive and can harm people, then some terrorist group like Al Qaeda or ISIS, er, white supremacists, could take it apart and scatter them about...

[Nateman]

...And as for security, at most sites, we envision that these would be located below grade.

Below ground? Just what element is this thing using anyway?

[Red Badger]

Unobtanium....................

[marktwain]

I do not think you can stop this.

Perfect for the developing word. Perfect for remote locations.

Even if the US says “no way” lots of places where this could be tremendously beneficial.

[fightin kentuckian]

Overall I really like the idea and concept. But I do have a couple of questions. How big a city/town will 10 megawats support? Is the price per megawat the same as with a big traditional reactor?

If the price is the same or less, that’s even better.

[I-ambush]

The military needs something like this I f they carry through with plans for electric vehicles.

[Parmy]

If there’s no carbon, what will the trees eat?

[TexasGator]

“If there’s no carbon, what will the trees eat?”

Trees eat glucose.

[TexasGator]

“The military needs something like this I f they carry through with plans for electric vehicles.”

Back in 1977 I wrote a college paper on nuclear ‘battery’ powered car.

[Renfrew]

“I don’t see them in any place where they could be vulnerable to sabotage.”

Or a drunk truck driver crashing into them. Nuclear has amazing possibilities, but I’m not eager for a chuck of uranium to be at the end of my street anytime soon.

[teeman8r]

so, a lot more little nuclear things to go wrong is better than a few larger nuclear things to go wrong.

thanks MIT.

[BenLurkin]

"If my village doesn't have electricity then the next town over won't either, by golly!"

[Dead Corpse]

[PerConPat]

It also has a very robust containment structure surrounding it to protect against any release of radiation.

Just wondering what "radiation" they are referring to... Ionizing and/or fission product release-contamination?

[wally_bert]

Roger.

Move out.

[TexasGator]

“but I’m not eager for a chuck of uranium to be at the end of my street anytime soon.”

No uranium.

[TexasGator]

https://www.nae.edu/255810/A-Strategy

[Parmy]

"Plants make their own food called glucose. To make glucose, plants use photosynthesis, which means "building with light." In photosynthesis, green chlorophyll molecules inside the chloroplasts help capture the Sun's energy."

Trees make the glucose, but they need the carbon to do that.

[TexasGator]

True. Most people are taught photosynthesis in school but grow up unaware that plants respire.