[jaime1959]

Intriguing science. Of course, the anti-nuke nuts and fossil fuel industry will oppose it nonetheless

[hang 'em]

In contrast, Dr Filippone's new design works by splitting the far more numerous uranium-238 atoms inside fuel rods. Such atoms are very picky. To get them to split, you have to hit them with a neutron going at exactly the right speed...

Anyone know exactly what energy this is (in MeV)?

[Rain-maker]

Theory is one thing, a working model is another. We shall see...

[genefromjersey]

It is intruiging !
I kind of wonder what happens if the water supply gets messed up in some way. Does the reactor just stop working, or does it go ballistic ???

[nightdriver]

"But to prove that it will work he has to demonstrate a self-sustaining reaction in uranium-238."

This is the rub. U238 doesn't fission, according to my references, it is a great absorber of "fast" newtrons, hence a good shielding material.

If the conditions are just right, the U238 becomes a U239 isotope and CAN, with the right conditions, become Pu239, Plutonium, which fissions quite well.

I doubt that this guy will ever demonstrate a self-sustaining reaction with the uranium left over in spent fuel. There are too many fission fragments in spent fuel acting as impurities that mess up the process.

[aSkeptic]

I assume this design could use natural uranium.. Does this mean that the expensive and dangerous process of enrichment can be obmited?

What about the other cruddy waste products?

How does this compare with a breeder reactor (which has been explained to me as being able to "recycle" fuel)?

Any chance this guy will get to construct a prototype?

This guy could become as famous as Fermi if it works out. (or as infamous as Pon/Fleschermen if it doesn't)

[js1138]

Considering how many bright people would have to have missed this opportunity, I'd say it sounds as likely as perpetual motion. But to a government, 2 mil is a lotto ticket. Could lead to something useful.