New Mars Forums
You are not logged in.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
Announcement
#26 2008-03-09 11:57:15
Offline
#27 2008-04-13 19:02:18
Re: NILFiR
I've had an idea that could make this into a real chain reaction, like U-235 and other types of fission:
Use LiD (lithium deuteride, 7-Li 2-H) as the nuclear fuel. When the nucleus splits to 2 alpha particles, each with an energy of 8 MeV, they will tend to collide with the other Nuclei (In the way of heat transfer). f something hits D with more that 2.45 MeV of energy, it becomes a proton and a free neutron. The only disadvantage is that now there is only one possible nuclear fuel.
-Josh
Offline
#28 2008-04-16 14:12:07
Re: NILFiR
the only difference is that you need a neutron source to begin with.
So, to recap. Energy from fission gets to deuterium (s) if it's more than 2.45 MeV, the 2H splits to a proton and a neutron. Neutrons induce further fissions. Products are protium and Helium 4.
Completely clean 
:!: :arrow: :idea: 
-Josh
Offline
#29 2008-04-16 14:28:06
- Terraformer
- Member
- From: The Fortunate Isles
- Registered: 2007-08-27
- Posts: 3,906
- Website
Re: NILFiR
But how much energy released? The result should be Hydrogen?
What about all those electons?
Plus, where do you intend to mine the H2 from?
Use what is abundant and build to last
Offline
#31 2008-04-19 10:11:50
- Terraformer
- Member
- From: The Fortunate Isles
- Registered: 2007-08-27
- Posts: 3,906
- Website
Re: NILFiR
Question: What would happen to H2 if it was bombarded with Neutrons? Would the Neutrons turn into more H2 or would it turn the H2 into H22?
Use what is abundant and build to last
Offline
#32 2008-04-19 12:05:30
Re: NILFiR
Question: What would happen to H2 if it was bombarded with Neutrons? Would the Neutrons turn into more H2 or would it turn the H2 into H22?
I think you're asking what would happen if Dihydrogen, the diatomic hydrogen molecule made of two protiums, were bombarded with neutrons?
(BTW, from now on, I'm using Pr for protium, D for deuterium, and T for tritium)
Depends on whether it is absorbed or not. Some neutrons will beta decay to Pr, others will be absorbed to make Pr into D. You're thinking breeder reactors? Or neutron retreival?
-Josh
Offline
#33 2008-04-19 14:24:46
- Terraformer
- Member
- From: The Fortunate Isles
- Registered: 2007-08-27
- Posts: 3,906
- Website
Re: NILFiR
I'm thinking 'Could we get Deutrium out of current reactors'.
So, if we had someway of stopping Ns being absorbed. Lot's of Hydrogen for us there.
Anyway, the N would not decay to Pr, it would decay to H. Protium is the Positive H Ion, also known as a Proton (I think that's what Wikipedia said.)
Use what is abundant and build to last
Offline
#34 2008-04-21 07:05:51
Re: NILFiR
I used the term loosely, I guess, but I meant an atom with one proton and any number of electrons.
The answer is yes, because Pr tends to absorb neutrons, that's why they use D2O instead of Pr2O in CANDU reactors (reactors that run on natural uranium), because light water would absorb neutrons and kill the reaction.
-Josh
Offline
#36 2008-04-21 07:34:22
- Terraformer
- Member
- From: The Fortunate Isles
- Registered: 2007-08-27
- Posts: 3,906
- Website
Re: NILFiR
Where does the energy/radiation come from in nuclear waste?
The Plutonium decays down to Uranium, right? Or does Uranium become plutonium and another element?
Use what is abundant and build to last
Offline
#39 2008-04-26 04:45:24
- Terraformer
- Member
- From: The Fortunate Isles
- Registered: 2007-08-27
- Posts: 3,906
- Website
Re: NILFiR
Why not just use the radioactive waste for energy generation? Gamma rays surely could be turned into useful energy?
Use what is abundant and build to last
Offline
#40 2008-04-26 06:11:48
Re: NILFiR
maybe, but it's nasty stuff. It might generate a lot of heat, but Gamma rays are too hard to catch to be useful.
That gives me a thought: For a cheaper RTG, just use pure nuclear waste if the electronics can handle it.
-Josh
Offline