Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Glen Carlson on 20/04/2011 21:30:02

Title: Can a nuclear reactor not produce dangerous waste?
Post by: Glen Carlson on 20/04/2011 21:30:02

Glen Carlson  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hello Chris.
 
I heard somewhere that the Chinese were working on a nuclear power generator that did not use plutonium and had no dangerous waste byproducts.

Sounds too good to be true. Does such a beast exist? And if so how does it work or how would it work if it did work?
 
Cheerz, Glen.

What do you think?

Title: Can a nuclear reactor not produce dangerous waste?
Post by: Bored chemist on 21/04/2011 14:26:52

I think any nuclear reaction that produces energy will release at least some of that energy in the form of short wavelength EM radiation- effectively gamma rays. High energy gamma rays can knock neutrons out of materials by a process called spallation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spallation_Neutron_Source

Neutrons hitting other materials can be absorbed to produce radioactive isotopes of those materials.
I'm not saying it's impossible to generate nuclear power without generating radioactive waste, but I can't see how you could hope to get round this problem.

Title: Can a nuclear reactor not produce dangerous waste?
Post by: yor_on on 21/04/2011 15:10:50

No such thing exist, and if it was plausible the west would have explored it already. That is if the Chinese haven't found a new way of producing 'energy'. Then maybe they are the cause of all those saucers flying around too?

And where are the cups?