Nuclear waste is radioactive, so why isn't it viable as an energy source?
I mean, its literally emitting energy, right? Thats the problem?
Is there really not a way of, at the very least, passively absorbing this? Even better.. can we not accelerate this release?
Thanks for your time.
>>6589990
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breeder_reactor
>>6589993
So... why are we burying viable breeder fuel in the desert?
>>6590006
Because the only thing politicians know about nuclear power, is that uranium comes in, and useless radioactive stuff comes out, with occasional meltdowns
fuel reprocessing, france does it and 80% of their energy comes from nuclear power even though they have very little natural resources, and they even export energy, whereas the middle east imports energy despite their vast natural resources
>>6589993
Wrong link fagot.
>>6590006
Because breeder reactors make plutonium, and that freaks people worried about dudes building nukes right the fuck out.
This thread is so terribly misinformed it hurts to read it. OP is yet to receive a proper answer.
I think this page does a nice job of explaining it: http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph241/tilghman1/
Over a 2000 day period you can generate roughly 0.067% of the energy produced in the reactor at the same time using decay heat. It simply isn't enough to warrant the extra infrastructure, risk and effort. You'd be better off trying to marginally increase your reactor efficiency.
I suppose it's a decent source of heat for external locations but the thing is you can't control it and you're still dealing with a big mess that spits out high energy gamma's. I wouldn't take the risk.
Hello, I happen to know something about this:
Its not economical and it could be weaponized.
Those are the two main reasons why people dont use the waste.
>>6589990
>Nuclear waste is radioactive, so why isn't it viable as an energy source?
It is.
But because "nuclear is so dangerous that we can't allow anyone to develop new safe and fuel efficient reactors!" Is stagnating things.
>>6590072
>always ends up like this in practice.
How come a PROTOTYPE reactor can be used as an example for what ALWAYS happens?
You're either an ignorant idiot or a willful idiot.
>>6590096
Feel free to show a counterexample.
>>6590006
because many countries have tried to making working breeder reactors for like 60 years, none have succeeded or even come close.
its just a fucking pain in the ass