<More thoughts on Prudhoe Bay The Oil Drum DrumBeat: August 9, 2006>

337 comments on Is Nuclear Power a Viable Option for Our Energy Needs?

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AlanfromBigEasy on August 8, 2006 - 7:17pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
The high grade steel (and copper) of old nukes would be ideal for certain parts of wind turbines, geothermal power plants and hydro power plants (all with limited human contact).

What to do with the zirconium though ? (Nuke fuel rods are often built of zirconium from memory).

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DIYer on August 8, 2006 - 11:05pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
The neat thing about zirconium is that it is still just zirconium afterward. It doesn't tend to absorb neutrons, and that's why they use tubing made from it to contain the fuel elements.
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Engineer-Poet on August 8, 2006 - 11:38pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Convert to zirconium oxide and use for SOFC membranes.
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337 comments on Is Nuclear Power a Viable Option for Our Energy Needs?

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