Path: csiph.com!weretis.net!feeder9.news.weretis.net!news.nk.ca!rocksolid2!i2pn2.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail From: D Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc Subject: Re: Remember "Bit-Slice" Chips ? Date: Sat, 14 Dec 2024 11:31:01 +0100 Organization: i2pn2 (i2pn.org) Message-ID: <951ea8ab-74d9-9d47-a1a7-9143340fc421@example.net> References: <9eb45192-e996-fa3d-b002-c02798bb2b7a@example.net> <7Gq5P.102876$7FA3.79818@fx13.iad> <5d39f504-e3f6-3830-a9fc-fc79cf7fc557@example.net> <992330af-c771-9db3-7d20-deb5e0cb882d@example.net> <7896d790-e533-a390-b024-abc1edcd1c15@example.net> <253549be-ac18-daa7-6b9a-a3b41e3e91e7@example.net> <54acad70-d817-060f-5378-304258c3a1f0@example.net> <675b4ab4@news.ausics.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Injection-Info: i2pn2.org; logging-data="2795404"; mail-complaints-to="usenet@i2pn2.org"; posting-account="w/4CleFT0XZ6XfSuRJzIySLIA6ECskkHxKUAYDZM66M"; X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 4.0.0 In-Reply-To: Xref: csiph.com comp.os.linux.misc:62360 On Fri, 13 Dec 2024, The Natural Philosopher wrote: > On 12/12/2024 20:42, Computer Nerd Kev wrote: >> D wrote: >>> On Thu, 12 Dec 2024, The Natural Philosopher wrote: >>> >>>> But by the mid 1970s they had become competitive with the rise in fuel >>>> prices, and today's level of computer systems and long range networking >>>> would >>>> probably result in just a couple of people to manage any routine issues >>>> on >>>> the power plant and satellite comms back to the nuclear power plant >>>> builder >>>> to tell them what to do if anything went outside operational norms >>> >>> I wonder if they could use the model from some SMR startup for ships? A >>> reactor >>> that is preloaded and welded shut. >> >> Yes, and the reactor model for ships is basically the model for SMR >> start-ups, except with the vague idea that they're suddenly going >> to be much cheaper somehow (I'll believe it when they "hit the >> shelves"). >> > > Its not a vague idea, its a completely sound business model > > Over 85% of the cots of a new conventional reactor is in getting it certified > to be safe at every single stage of the construction. Capital lies idle ad > does the workforce in half finished constructions waiting to be signed off > fort the next stage, and woe betide you if some trivial aspect of it isn't to > the specification - you need to re-certify it all over again. > SMRs cut the Gordian knot, By making the reactors in a factory to identical > specifications and having them small enough to trailer them to the site, 90% > of the certification is only done once. For as many units as you care to > make. > > Also, below a certain size, the scale effect swings towards you: the reactor > does not need active cooling to dissipate the decay heat after a SCRAM > shutdown. So no Fukushima or 3MI accident is possible. Convection is enough > to do the job. > > The only downside to SMRs is that at smaller sizes they need more highly > enriched uranium (or Plutonium/Uranium mixes) to get to critical. The supply > chain for that is not yet established at scale. > > Most of the designs that seem likely to reach production first are simply > scaled down pressurised water reactors, as used in nuclear submarines etc. > with probably extra shelding and safety to meet commercial safety standards. Just saw this: "China to build first-ever thorium molten salt nuclear power station in Gobi Desert" https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-06/china-building-thorium-nuclear-power-station-gobi/104304468 Will be interesting to see if they will succeed!