Current Events — HabitableZone

Current Events » in reply to re: re Thank you

re: re
gbaikie — (archived)

"I agree, but can you tell me how that process occurs?
In your opinion, would it be right to say that the “matter” is a form of potential energy?"

Well, most of matter in this universe is "potential energy" as far nuclear reaction is concerned, but this matter you referring to is easier than most to convert into energy. Actually since Hydrogen is most abundance element in the universe and Earth has a fair amount of free oxygen [and btw oxygen is also very abundance in the universe] there is a lot potential energy in terms of chemical reactions.
It would interesting to compare the energy potential of fissionable matter on Earth with the total potential energy from the chemical reaction involving the 20% of our atmosphere which is oxygen [whether it's reacting to Hydrogen, Carbon, or numerous other elements]. Now to compared this, one would have define what is minable fissionable ore [I.E ore which within a couple miles of Earth's surface, say assume you aren't going mine in the open ocean, the allowable minable percentage of the ore, and perhaps not in mining in area such Antarctic, or other areas in which insufficient geologic surveying has been done.]

"The irradiated fuel in this waste pool is up to a million times more radioactive than when initially placed into the reactor"

But this doesn't mean much to me. If I said, some of the material has "up to" 1/millionth of the half life, is this quantifying anything for you?

Then you say:
"Yes, the nuclear power reactor is in a state of cotrolled chain reaction. Since radioactivity represents energy, then the spent fuel can be considered as more energetic than the new fuel."

See above. You can't say this since you have provided nothing which allows you to make this statement. But generally speaking if "spent" fuel was million times more energetic, you wouldn't call it spent. Yes, I know you can reprocess nuclear fuel and I know you can make fuel via the use of neutrons.

"The follow up question is: How does this increased energy disappear from the environment?"

Yes, but you working from a false premise.
This is not unusual, the environmental wackos do this all the time.

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