I believe the pebble bed does not use liquid coolant. I am not sure though. I believe the medium of heat transfer is through highly pressurized helium gas, heated up to 900. The ambient core temperature is around 1200 degrees during normal operation. I believe spacing and moderation of the Graphite stack means that the maximum temperature of the heap is around 1600. The passive safety comes from the pebbles remaining fully structurally sound and stable at that temperature and the fuel on the inside remaining stable at that temperature too.
Anyway, I'm no engineer, but thats what i've been able to gather so far. I'm sure if you crushed enough pebbles or introduced the wrong gas at the wrong temperature, you could have problems (and then just scattering the heap should save your a$$) , but under most concievable situations outside of deliberate sabotage, the reactor is walk-away safe.
Davin L.
Current Events » in reply to I simply DO NOT BELIEVE IT.
re: I simply DO NOT BELIEVE IT.
The whole thread (54 posts)
- China to make commerical use of the graphite ball reactor
- Here is a link on this.
- Like all nuclear power technology, it will NOT be economically viable.
- David
- Don't know where you get that idea.
- Breeder reactors and nuclear energy economics
- re: nuclear energy economics, and eating France's dust
- France's reactors are operated at a huge loss, made up by subsidies.
- re: nuclear energy economics, and eating France's dust
- my only concern
- It's my understanding...
- re: my only concern
- Then there is the safety problem with all graphite moderated reactors.
- re: graphite moderated reactors.
- I simply DO NOT BELIEVE IT.
- re: I simply DO NOT BELIEVE IT.
- I STILL DO NOT BELIEVE IT.
- News flash, David: Reality doesn't give a damn WHAT you BELIEVE!!
- Well, okay, believe what you want
- "Its not absurd to believe that simple radiant heat loss could cool the pile." Into WHERE?
- I STILL DO NOT BELIEVE IT.
- re: I simply DO NOT BELIEVE IT.
- I simply DO NOT BELIEVE IT.
- re: graphite moderated reactors.
- Thanks for the info (n/t)
- Then there is the safety problem with all graphite moderated reactors.
- Breeder reactors and nuclear energy economics
- Cheap energy is one of the most important parts of being a super power