A personal-size nuclear reactor (ad from 1957)

VAsparky

The ultimate toy - and it fits in your garage:
coldwar-c4i.net/EW-1957-01-28/059.html

Unfortunately it only puts out 5 watts. Too bad they didn't make a model that could be used for home heating. I'd buy one

Leonard

I remember reading an older magazine that said in future we would all have a small reactor in cellar for home heating. How many techs would be up to clean that.?

DanHolohan

It could be here soon:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2017/03/16/nuscales-small-modular-nuclear-reactor-keeps-moving-forward/amp/

kcopp

Or your car....

DanHolohan

Yeah!

Jamie Hall

I remember those days well... no carbon emissions, no smog... then people with no background or science got scared, and now where are we?

Solid_Fuel_Man

Mr. Fusion!

Honestly, I dont think a micro nuclear reactor which would be a packaged unit and self contained is too far out of reach.

Question is, would it be even close to being cost effective?

sunlight33

In the old days developers at Army said they could make a nuclear hand grenade if there was anyone dumb enough to throw it.

ChrisJ

Jamie Hall said:

I remember those days well... no carbon emissions, no smog... then people with no background or science got scared, and now where are we?

Jamie,
Previously I was perfectly ok with you having a reactor because you're far from me.

After your boiler almost buying the farm, I think I'm now going to have to respectfully say it's in everyone's best interest if you don't have a fission reactor.

nibs

Have no problem with atomic energy, after all the world relies on the rather large reactor in the sky.
Have a huge problem with silly waste disposal schemes and sloppy commercial reactor maintenance and design.
Once knew an electrician who worked at one of the large nuclear generators, his tales of the terrible maintenance and safety work-arounds was frightening. One would hope that this has changed in the 20 years since we were neighbors, but I fear not.

sunlight33

Many years ago I was interviewed for a job to maintain the nuclear reactor for a Navy testing site, the place was pretty secure as you could have imagined, tall fences and guards with lots of dogs. After the interview I got to chat with some of the people on a more personal level, so I raised health concern. I don't remember exactly what was said but the impression I got was that the place was not very balls-friendly. I was young back then so eventually I turned it down, the pay wasn't great either and some night shifts were mandatory.

Jamie Hall

Was that over at Rainbow? That was an odd place -- a mix of Navy nukes and civilians. The Navy nukes had no problem with it -- but then, the Navy has been running reactors for 60 years now... but then, their philosophy from the beginning has been do it right the first time, and every time, or you'll find yourself skippering a row boat at Jones Beach... in February.

sunlight33

It was at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, located in a pretty depressing region in NY, that was back then. The thought that you are alone in the control room at 3am then you suddenly got the urge to push that red button, something only existed in science fiction or cartoon, could be a reality over there, definitely not a job for someone lacking self-discipline.

Sal Santamaura

Anyone who finds this thread entertaining and hasn't seen the latest episode of Young Sheldon would do well to keep an eye out for when it's rerun.

nibs

My neighbor was at San Onofre.

Leon82

> @sunlight33 said:
> In the old days developers at Army said they could make a nuclear hand grenade if there was anyone dumb enough to throw it.

They did make a prototype nuclear rifle/cannon. The firing crew was stuck inside the blast radius

Gordy

Wiley coyote stuff......