Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Cheap Natural Gas Unplugs U.S. Nuclear-Power Revival
The Wall Street Journal ^ | March 15, 2012 | REBECCA SMITH

Posted on 03/15/2012 7:41:42 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-25 last
To: Steely Tom
I agree, definitely. Fission reactors are a mature technology now, with all of the groundwork laid out by our predecessors. The only things we can improve are cycle efficiency, and going back to fuel reprocessing and breeder reactors, along with the possibilty of using thorium as as fuel feedstock for a new generation of plants.
21 posted on 03/18/2012 6:27:27 PM PDT by factoryrat (We are the producers, the creators. Grow it, mine it, build it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: cpdiii
The situation in Japan was based on worst case scenario being trumped by an even worse case that nobody could have for-seen scenario. All of their emergency systems worked as expected, until they were submerged under seawater. The plants were designed for a 50 year event, and were damaged by a 100 year event. It sucks that it happened, but it has been learning experience for the NRC, and the power companies. Fermi II south of Detroit is of the same GE design and manufacture as the reactors at Fukashima. Should we shut that plant down because of this? No, you wouldn't because the geography and risks involved are very different.
22 posted on 03/18/2012 6:45:38 PM PDT by factoryrat (We are the producers, the creators. Grow it, mine it, build it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: factoryrat
The situation in Japan was based on worst case scenario being trumped by an even worse case that nobody could have foreseen scenario. All of their emergency systems worked as expected, until they were submerged under seawater. The plants were designed for a 50 year event, and were damaged by a 100 year event.

I stand by my statement of "piss poor design," for that particular location. There are historical records of Tsunamis of this magnitude hitting that area of Japan.

The life span of a reactor is normally 30 to 40 years until decommissioning. That makes it about 60 to 80 percent probability of experiencing a 50 year event. It makes it a 30 to 40 percent probability of of experiencing a 100 year event for which it IS NOT DESIGNED TO SAFELY ENDURE That was piss poor engineering. I sure as hell would not get on an airplane if it had a 30 or 40 percent chance of crashing.

The design of that plant would be perfectly acceptable in other areas that are not subject to massive earthquakes and or Tsunamis.

The part that really makes me angry is this has probably killed off New Nuclear Power plants in the United States. I am a very active proponent of Nuclear Power. The disaster in Japan did not need to happen.

23 posted on 03/18/2012 7:58:38 PM PDT by cpdiii (Deckhand, Roughneck, Mud Man, Geologist, Pilot, Pharmacist. THE CONSTITUTION IS WORTH DYING FOR!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: cpdiii

The GE design was not a piss poor design. Four US reactors that are currently in operation are of that design. The location of the Japanese reactors had more to do with their failure than the plant design itself. That was a poor choice of location by the Japanese, which given their engineering prowess, was possibly governed more by business and government pressure, rather than sound engineering practices. As far as nuclear power being dead here, four new reactors are slated to be built at existing sites, to add to generating capacity, with more to follow. As far as plant life goes, most of the plants operating in the US are running on extensions to their licenses, having been so over-engineered to begin with that they can easily extend their lives by at least 20 years.


24 posted on 03/20/2012 7:15:26 PM PDT by factoryrat (We are the producers, the creators. Grow it, mine it, build it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: factoryrat
The GE design was not a piss poor design. Four US reactors that are currently in operation are of that design.

You are very correct and you stated it properly as being piss poor for that particular location. That is what I also meant but did not put it properly.

25 posted on 03/20/2012 8:22:15 PM PDT by cpdiii (Deckhand, Roughneck, Mud Man, Geologist, Pilot, Pharmacist. THE CONSTITUTION IS WORTH DYING FOR!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-25 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson