rat
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Posts: 839 
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Post by rat on Nov 28, 2014 10:20:03 GMT
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Post by Adriano The Fabulous Fennec on Nov 28, 2014 10:21:15 GMT
Yeah, rat, what do I have to understand ?
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Post by Adriano The Fabulous Fennec on Nov 28, 2014 10:21:30 GMT
That it is not possible for Minerva to have one ?
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rat
Faction 1
Posts: 839
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Post by rat on Nov 28, 2014 10:40:42 GMT
Yep.
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Post by Adriano The Fabulous Fennec on Nov 28, 2014 11:04:24 GMT
Okay x)
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mg
New Member
Posts: 27
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Post by mg on Jan 19, 2016 4:57:06 GMT
Does the taboo against nuclear power involve cleaning nuclear waste? There is a category of reactors that use nuclear waste as fuel. They are called "waste burners" because they can run on spent fuel from conventional reactors and convert it to waste that only lasts a century or two, instead of 10,000 years for normal waste. In addition, there are designs that physically can't go into meltdown. For example, "molten salt reactors" dissolve the fuel in a solution of unpressurized fluoride salts. If the reactor is abandoned, the salt cools and solidifies inside the reactor until a nuclear technician melts it again. Conveniently, these two types of reactor can be combined into a molten-salt wast-burner. It would convert radioactive waste into a less durable form that can't be used for weapons.  |
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rat
Faction 1
Posts: 839
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Post by rat on Jan 19, 2016 5:19:27 GMT
Russian term for these reactors - "closed circuit reactors."
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Post by Admin on Jan 19, 2016 16:45:32 GMT
Ooh, Glaucus could probable be convinced to fund research that both produces energy AND cleans up nuclear waste. You should write it up more, MG.  |
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mg
New Member
Posts: 27
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Post by mg on Jan 20, 2016 6:01:25 GMT
I think we may need forward plot progress before more nuclear reactor research becomes relevant. To quote from the "Lore" tab:
"I now understand why nuclear research stopped. I do not understand why Glaucus has never undertaken any research on nuclear energy. I can’t even find reference to any projects to clean up residual radiation in the environment, yet it is almost common knowledge that one of Minerva’s first missions was to clean the air and water around the base of radioactive particles to permit farming. Instead, I find a suspicious absence of any entry mentioning nuclear energy. Interesting. I shall have to investigate this further."
The obvious explanation is that Glaucus is already aware of safe nuclear power options, but deliberately avoids keeping any record of it. If I had to choose someone to ask about top-secret research, Thalia Gordon would be first on my list. Jane would be second, because she's already suspicious of Commander Kubek's tight security and it would be easy to manipulate her into espionage.
Regardless of politics and secrets, the reactor is relatively simple. It requires nuclear waste, which is abundant, and thorium, which is "abundant". Because few current reactors depend on this, there has been no large effort to find deposits of thorium. It's common in small amounts, but difficult to extract unless concentrated. The best source of thorium is probably the southeastern coast of India, but there may be closer sources in Russia. Current demand is satisfied because thorium is a byproduct of rare-earth metal extraction from monazite sand, which is also a viable source of helium and other valuable elements.
Glaucus may have their own motives for avoiding the topic of nuclear power, despite the fact Minervan territory is rich in radioactive minerals. Therefore, the most stealthy solution is to support increased mining efforts. The advanced technology used to keep Minerva secure requires rare-earth elements for sensitive electronics. Because Minerva is under attack recently, locating many potential sources is a wise use of time and money. Mine production may need to be increased to replace destroyed equipment.
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Feb 11, 2016 19:34:32 GMT
Feb 11, 2016 19:34:32 GMT
