tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25995363.post5898071130601392345..comments2023-06-20T01:49:29.525-07:00Comments on Blogging About the Unthinkable: Что такое АТЭЦ?Sovietologisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099598091505738702noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25995363.post-68969207985592735542008-07-13T14:28:00.000-07:002008-07-13T14:28:00.000-07:00I am a bit late to this discussion, but the US Arm...I am a bit late to this discussion, but the US Army operated several reactors in remote areas that were specifically designed to provide both district heating and electricity.<BR/><BR/>These reactors were constructed and operated under the ice in PM-2A at Camp Century Greenland, the PM-1 at Sundance Wyoming, the PM-3A at McMurdo Station in Antarctica and and SM-1A at Fort Greenly in Alaska. In addition, the Army also operated a 10 MWe floating power plant on the Sturgis, a converted Liberty ship that was docked in the Panama Canal Zone for more than 10 years. <BR/><BR/>There is no technical reason at all that fission heat cannot be applied in small, cogeneration units just as readily as combustion heat. In fact, since fission reactors do not produce any noxious, smoky discharges, they are more appropriate for close location with other industry.Rod Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03652375336090790205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25995363.post-53634323261058388702008-06-13T20:23:00.000-07:002008-06-13T20:23:00.000-07:00I think the cancellation of these projects was the...I think the cancellation of these projects was the result of late-1980s doubts about nuclear power and the economic implosion of the USSR. It sounds like Odessa was much further along, but its location in Ukraine had forestalled any discussion of reviving the project until recently. I think that the 1000 MWe scale the Soviets were working on was too large. Smaller PBMR or MSR designs would be better-suited to this task, in my view.Sovietologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09099598091505738702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25995363.post-84587480041348222902008-06-13T18:29:00.000-07:002008-06-13T18:29:00.000-07:00Nuclear district heating is a great idea and one t...Nuclear district heating is a great idea and one that has been given little attention in the West. It is particularly suitable for Northern communities that must import oil from great distances, and that already have networks installed.<BR/><BR/>In the 1970's AECL designed a version of their SLOWPOKE reactors that would have been ideal for small district heating applications. Due to its unique design the SLOWPOKE type reactors are inherently safe and as such does not require a complex SCRAM system or twenty-four hour staffing, in fact it is the only design in the world licensed for unattended operation. The economics of a district-heating system based on SLOWPOKE-3 technology were estimated to be competitive with that of conventional fossil fuels even at the time.<BR/><BR/>Indifference and poor marketing killed the SLOWPOKE. Eventually the the Chinese reverse engineered it and have sold several of their knock-offs, called the Miniature Neutron Source Reactor, around the world.<BR/><BR/>The Soviets were on the right track and if the had any problems with reliability, it was probably due more to the condition of the equipment and the network, than in any inherent issues with the concept itself.DV8 2XLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14595060432772287143noreply@blogger.com