Will there be a fission power plant with no moving parts by 2050?
Basic
5
Ṁ552050
45%
chance
1D
1W
1M
ALL
Pb-Te thermoelectrics can achieve an efficiency of 20% with Thot = 875K and Tcold=300K. Thermal neutron fission cross sections are have a strong negative relationship to temperature. Graphite, silicon carbide, and beryllium all remain great thermal conductors and neutron moderators after irradiation at 875-1000K. Based on this it should be possible to make a fission power plant with no moving parts whatsoever. Thereby the entire plant would meet all four of the IAEA's criteria for passive safety: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_nuclear_safety. Resolves YES if such a plant exists before 2050. Minimum 1KWe (so micro-reactors on space probes count).
This question is managed and resolved by Manifold.
Get
1,000
and3.00
Related questions
Related questions
What will be the most numerous type of fusion power plant in 2100?
Will nuclear fusion become a viable energy source before 2050?
65% chance
Will we get fusion reactors before 2031?
32% chance
Will we get fusion reactors before 2035?
44% chance
Will we get fusion reactors before 2040?
61% chance
Will fusion power be commercially available by 2035?
26% chance
Will we have a functioning, energy-producing, nuclear fusion reactor by 2033?
25% chance
Will there be subcritical accelerator-driven fission plants by 2050?
33% chance
Will we get fusion reactors before 2032?
32% chance
Will we get fusion reactors before 2038?
50% chance