tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post6587939281630818595..comments2024-03-28T20:50:49.311-07:00Comments on CONTRARY BRIN: Podcasts, birthdays, science(!) & looking back at authorityDavid Brinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-55258033990215378582010-07-04T22:37:20.523-07:002010-07-04T22:37:20.523-07:00"The successor Superphenix full-sized reactor..."The successor Superphenix full-sized reactor was shut down specifically because of problems with the sodium coolant system."<br /><br />Again, you are partially correct, but are omitted key details of the story. As many of the problems with Superphenix were as much political as technical. My point with EBR-II and Phenix is to demonstrate the technology is feasible. Scaling them up is inevitably going to have engineering issues, and these would most likely get worked through once sufficient construction and operational experience is gained.<br /><br />As far as the other technologies, I'm unconvinced that the same practical issues of operation will not emerge. As with light-water reactors, these issues are likely solvable, but will require industry experience to effectively anticipate and mange them.<br /><br />So yeah, you can state that you would rather see certain technologies developed, but I would insist that the grass is always greener regardless of which new technology you pick. Any new technology is going to have unanticipated issues that are likely solvable, but will indeed create growing pains.BCRionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955960949670858365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-27182563776082803572010-07-04T17:54:54.072-07:002010-07-04T17:54:54.072-07:00To blame Obama for the industry whores that George...To blame Obama for the industry whores that George Bush appointed to the Mineral Management Service, seems odd.<br /><br />Still, I accept he deserves some blame. He should have appointed a special prosecutor his 1st day in office and unleashed a purge of such traitors.<br /><br />Please look up on Wiki "regulatory capture" and name an agency in which the GOP did not do that to us. Name one.<br /><br />On to my next posting.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-49952883742521600262010-07-04T17:42:36.657-07:002010-07-04T17:42:36.657-07:00When environmentalists voted in Obama, maybe they ...When environmentalists voted in Obama, maybe they should have looked back on authority then. Unless they like watching the Gulf become polluted under their Messiah.Ymarsakarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-10363885445938210752010-07-04T15:44:47.189-07:002010-07-04T15:44:47.189-07:00"That said, there have indeed been successes ..."That said, there have indeed been successes (see EBR-II and Phenix) that demonstrate the viability and safety of the technology"<br /><br />Phenix was a small prototype.<br /><br />The successor Superphenix full-sized reactor was shut down specifically because of problems with the sodium coolant system. <br /><br />There are Thorium reactor designs that don't use liquid metal coolants, there are other alternatives to current reactor technology like the Traveling Wave Reactor.<br /><br />I'd rather see those technoogies developed.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739671401151990700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-33077787330224431862010-07-04T09:29:47.549-07:002010-07-04T09:29:47.549-07:00"...liquid metal cooling systems have been th..."...liquid metal cooling systems have been the Achilles heel of virtually every attempt to create breeder reactors."<br /><br />Ian, no offense, but this statement is a bit misleading. While one could argue technical correctness, there are additional complications that need to be stated to give an accurate picture.<br /><br />Indeed, it is possible to point to specific, high profile incidents at Fermi-1 and Monju where there was some design flaw (which, in 20/20 hindsight, would have been easy to fix in design stage) because of the liquid sodium coolant. Add to the fact that liquid sodium cooled reactors are still in R&D stage and have not had the same level of operating experience as Light Water Reactors; issues like this are inevitable as they are with any complex engineering project. That said, there have indeed been successes (see EBR-II and Phenix) that demonstrate the viability and safety of the technology. In the end, you only need one design that works well; the others that do not will not get deployed en masse and only serve as reminders as to what not do.<br /><br />A more thorough reading of history of fast-breeder reactor programs shows that the primary cause of shutdowns have largely been for political reasons (see IFR and Superfenix). The main reason the technology has not been pursued is economics. So much infrastructure is already devoted to LWRs creating a hurdle. Also, uranium-235 is still cheap enough to obtain, that it is incredibly difficult to make a business case for a FBR.<br /><br />As for thorium, these days the designs have the molten salt not as the coolant so much as much as the fuel itself. Th/U-233 is dissolved in the molten salt and the mix is continuously cycled and chemically processed throughout the operation of the reactor. The thorium cycle offers some advantages, but, like anything, has a few drawbacks.BCRionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955960949670858365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-29144138575067329282010-07-04T04:08:34.209-07:002010-07-04T04:08:34.209-07:00While I'm throwing out odd ideas, has anyone e...While I'm throwing out odd ideas, has anyone every tried breeding Malaria resistant strains of the main malaria-carrying Mosquito species?Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739671401151990700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-68303632680475378292010-07-04T04:05:09.727-07:002010-07-04T04:05:09.727-07:00So, would it be possible to simply discharge carbo...So, would it be possible to simply discharge carbon dioxide enriched exhaust gases from submerged pipes or simply spray water through the gases and then discharge it back into the ocean?<br /><br />You'd effectively be trading a reduction in atmospheric emissions for an increase in ocean acidification. <br /><br />(Then too if you used a separate, covered water tank you might be able to raise the carbon dioxide level to saturation levels then deal with it by other means.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739671401151990700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-81225572545955538192010-07-03T13:33:02.438-07:002010-07-03T13:33:02.438-07:00Small question here: Has anyone else noticed that ...Small question here: Has anyone else noticed that Obama's "lack of leadership" tendencies is in fact his behaving as the President of the United States is <i>supposed to act</i> under the Constitution? We've had a long line of Presidents that overreach their power. Obama however is insisting Congress put together laws for him to sign. Or in other words, he wants Congress to <i>do its Constitutionally mandated job</i>. <br /><br />Go figure.<br /><br />Robert A. Howard, <a href="http://www.tangents.us" rel="nofollow">Tangents Reviews</a>Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-87050452192667947552010-07-03T06:40:51.562-07:002010-07-03T06:40:51.562-07:00Ian, fast breeders don't have to be cooled wit...Ian, fast breeders don't have to be cooled with liquid metal, helium could work also. Shouldn't be seeing much of that too soon, lots of ex-bomb material to go through before we need to use thorium.Tim H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-72624499626541779022010-07-02T22:57:23.727-07:002010-07-02T22:57:23.727-07:00Tony,
I asked the same question a week or two bac...Tony,<br /><br />I asked the same question a week or two back.<br /><br />At a minimum, since the absorptive capacity varies with temperature you could use the diurnal cycle to produce at least slightly CO2 enriched air as the input to sequestration.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739671401151990700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-59115020009742179722010-07-02T22:36:56.742-07:002010-07-02T22:36:56.742-07:00A bit of brainstorming: is it easier to scrub seaw...A bit of brainstorming: is it easier to scrub seawater of its CO2 content?<br /><br />I am impressed with some of the design features of the <a href="http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00002567/" rel="nofollow">Ikaros</a>:<br /><br />- wireless cameras jettisoned to view the sail deployments from afar (although I would have thought a tether might have come in useful later)<br /><br />- liquid crystal panels on each sail to alter the reflective properties, thereby providing trim control<br /><br />hawkin: the art of bringing wounded falcons back home.Tony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-77663542973499638152010-07-02T14:59:06.145-07:002010-07-02T14:59:06.145-07:00On another note, a detailed study of the likely im...On another note, a detailed study of the likely impact of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is a worry.<br /><br />Because most of the anthropogenic carbon dioxide emitted is actually dissolved in the oceans, removing a ton of Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere results in roughly 500 KG of Carbon dioxide outgassing from the ocean.<br /><br />Combine that with the non-CO2 greenhouse gases and it's going to be immensely difficult to prevent climate change by atmospheric scrubbing.<br /><br />Along with other forms of geo-engineering sequestration may serve a useful role in delaying the worst impacts of AGW, giving us more time to reduce our carbon emissions and to prepare for the change but the bottom line is we do have to cut emissions.<br /><br />http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/07/scrubbing-co2-from-atmosphere-centuries-long-commitment.phpIanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739671401151990700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-82360766065606706722010-07-02T14:51:22.522-07:002010-07-02T14:51:22.522-07:00As far as Thorium reactors go, liquid metal coolin...As far as Thorium reactors go, liquid metal cooling systems have been the Achilles heel of virtually every attempt to create breeder reactors.<br /><br />If Thorium reactors require liquid Fluorine cooling that makes me much more pessimistic about their prospects.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739671401151990700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-53301912682358769872010-07-02T12:42:55.185-07:002010-07-02T12:42:55.185-07:00I tend to skim posts. So I likely missed your earl...I tend to skim posts. So I likely missed your earlier "Sergey" bit before Brin, and misread your post as saying Dr. Brin was mentioned in Obama's speech.<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-15693096499784975792010-07-02T12:34:43.423-07:002010-07-02T12:34:43.423-07:00Rob H.
The only way your comment makes sense is ...Rob H. <br /><br />The only way your comment makes sense is if you ignored the "Sergey" in my post above.<br /><br />The reason I mentioned it is that David gets a kick out of having the same last name as Sergey.<br /><br />Imagine that: two famous, intelligent, imaginative Brins who are apparently not related. If their name were Smith, that wouldn't be so rare.lcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-14196878302172325272010-07-02T12:03:07.155-07:002010-07-02T12:03:07.155-07:00"...he mentioned Sergey Brin, who helped crea...<i>"...he mentioned Sergey Brin, who helped create Google. Dr. Brin may have done a lot, but he didn't create Google"</i><br /><br />I dunno. Have you ever seen them in the same room together?<br /><br />TEACH THE CONTROVERSY!!!rewinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14008105385364113371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-49392423146592871662010-07-02T10:55:39.439-07:002010-07-02T10:55:39.439-07:00It seems to me that the bouncy-ball-wheely thing i...It seems to me that the bouncy-ball-wheely thing isn't so much a refutation of Feynman, but a confirmation:<br /><br />><i> When the paddles had the same kind of surface on each side, there was no net rotation — the machine <b>swung back and forth evenly</b>, van der Meer and colleagues found. But when they coated one side of each paddle with duct tape, the vanes spun in one direction. The beads lost more energy when they hit the softer duct-taped side of the vanes, causing the system to rotate in one direction.</i><br /><br />(emphasis mine; did they not even build the one-way "ratchet" part?)<br /><br />They didn't really build a Feynman ratchet, they built a Crookes radiometer!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15030764857062052822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-39432558453910928122010-07-02T10:50:47.097-07:002010-07-02T10:50:47.097-07:00Actually, he mentioned Sergey Brin, who helped cre...Actually, he mentioned Sergey Brin, who helped create Google. Dr. Brin may have done a lot, but he didn't create Google. ^^ (That, and his first name isn't Sergey.)<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-20532277931213917182010-07-02T10:43:59.756-07:002010-07-02T10:43:59.756-07:00The President mentioned Brin in his speech -- Serg...The President mentioned Brin in his speech -- Sergey<br /><br />http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/07/01/<br />transcript-of-obamas-immigration-speech/<br /><br />(around the 12th paragraph)<br /><br /><br />porchd -- how we'd like to spend the summerlcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-9504145910355120552010-07-02T08:46:58.461-07:002010-07-02T08:46:58.461-07:00Thanks for the mention of thorium, David! It cert...Thanks for the mention of thorium, David! It certainly has the potential to supply the entire planet with Western-level energy for the indefinite future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-80229770227206166452010-07-02T05:39:41.954-07:002010-07-02T05:39:41.954-07:00So could the bouncing bead device be scaled down t...So could the bouncing bead device be scaled down to produce usable energy from Brownian motion?Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739671401151990700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-63484247861758040982010-07-02T05:14:04.757-07:002010-07-02T05:14:04.757-07:00"# If charged by the current coal-heavy elect..."# If charged by the current coal-heavy electrical mix displayed in the table above, EVs would double the nitrogen oxide emissions of Euro III gasoline vehicles.<br /># EVs will not reduce carbon dioxide emissions in China unless coal technologies are improved upon or a shift towards cleaner power generation occurs in the future."<br /><br />Good thing, Chinese laws are directed at achieving exactly that.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739671401151990700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-77425153921655502932010-07-02T02:19:45.332-07:002010-07-02T02:19:45.332-07:00I think it is Jared Diamond who said that the prob...I think it is Jared Diamond who said that the problem is not feeding 9 billion people, but giving them a Western level standard of living.<br /><br />That would require the resource consumption equivalent of 72 billion people.<br /><br />We will have to greatly redefine what prosperity is - alongside with major technological advances - if we want to give each of those 9 billion people a fair chance at adequate standards of living. <br /><br />Also, the polar meltdown seems nearer everyday. Arctic sea ice is melting at unprecedented speed, and is currently over half a million km2 smaller than it was in June 2007 - and 2007 ran up the worst melt at 40% below the 30-year satellite average extent.<br /><br />If this rate of melt keeps up, we could have an ice-free summer Arctic before 2013. A schocking 50 years ahead of IPCC's worst predictions.<br /><br />One the sea ice is gone, summer temperatures will shot up, as there won't be any more ice to absorb extra heat. From then on its mere speculation. Heightened thawing of permafrost with subsequent releases of methane and Co2 seems fairly probable. <br /><br />We might already be past a pretty serious tipping point. And nobody seems to care.Hypnoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01409179274970587232noreply@blogger.com