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Environment & Energy

OKIsItJustMe

(21,647 posts)

6. As I said, complex systems are prone to failure

Reply to moniss (Reply #5)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 11:16 AM

Aug 15

However, consider the fundamental difference between Reactor 2 at Three Mile Island.and a "Pebble-Bed Reactor.”

At Three Mile Island, the reaction was meant to be moderated by a combination of “control rods” and circulating water. When the water stopped circulating, stopped cooling the reactor, it overheated.

In the Pebble-Bed reactor, instead of having “control rods” the fuel is encased in spheres of graphite. The reactor is cooled by gas. If the gas stops circulating, it will get very hot, but it will not "melt down."

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An Economic Argument That the Three Mile Island Meltdown Cost the US 14 Trillion Dollars [View all] NNadir Aug 14 OP

As soon as the nuclear power industry can moniss Aug 14 #1

What other energy technology "never can fail" ? eppur_se_muova Aug 14 #2

If my solar or wind installations go bad it's not going to moniss Aug 14 #3

That's because it already has. hunter Aug 15 #9

This of course, is a nonsense statement. The disgusting solar and wind industries have destroyed vast stretches... NNadir Aug 16 #10

Only the ignorant who support moniss Aug 16 #12

It's amusing to hear an antinuke speak of ignorance. Trying to educate one about say, the energy density of uranium... NNadir Aug 16 #13

All the stats and numbers you could possibly moniss Aug 16 #14

One question I would ask is, what do you mean by "never can fail." OKIsItJustMe Aug 14 #4

It is a truism in engineering that moniss Aug 15 #5

As I said, complex systems are prone to failure OKIsItJustMe Aug 15 #6

My point is a general one about systems failures moniss Aug 15 #7

I understand your concerns OKIsItJustMe Aug 15 #8

I think that the authors of the paper referenced have demonstrated an ethical argument that clearly escapes the... NNadir Aug 16 #11

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