Hyperion Unbound - MicroNukes
Danny | 10.11.2008 12:17 | Energy Crisis
A new range of small nuclear generators are being developed by corporations to provide local or even domestic power. The Observer published an article on this yesterday - without mention of the 'security detail' that Hyperion's website predicts will keep it safe.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/09/miniature-nuclear-reactors-los-alamos
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/09/miniature-nuclear-reactors-los-alamos
Indepth arguments in favour of more renewable and less nuclear power have led us correctly to highlight the advantages of microgeneration but these apply to locally generated nuclear power as well.. I would often joke that if people wanted nuclear power then let them have a micro-nuclear generator in their own home and let them keep the waste there too. I was being ironic as I didn't think anyone would be stupid enough. The russians have proposed a programme of sending nuclear generators on ships to third world countries to provide energy but the US scheme is crazier, and more difficult to stop. It isn't just a state plan, it is a commercial technology.
"Who would have thought that the benefits of generating electricity from huge nuclear power plants could ever be provided in a small, compact, energy module that can be transported by truck, rail or ship to remote locations wherever reliable electricity and heat for communities and industry is needed? Now it is! Introducing the Hyperion Power Module (HPG)
Small enough to be transported on a ship, truck or train, Hyperion power modules are about the size of a "hot tub" — approximately 1.5 meters wide. Out of sight and safe from nefarious threats, Hyperion power modules are buried far underground and guarded by a security detail. Like a power battery, Hyperion modules have no moving parts to wear down, and are delivered factory sealed. They are never opened on site. Even if one were compromised, the material inside would not be appropriate for proliferation purposes. Further, due to the unique, yet proven science upon which this new technology is based, it is impossible for the module to go supercritical, “melt down” or create any type of emergency situation. If opened, the very small amount of fuel that is enclosed would immediately cool. The waste produced after five years of operation is approximately the size of a softball and is a good candidate for fuel recycling.
Perfect for moderately-sized projects, Hyperion produces only 25 MWe — enough to provide electricity for about 20,000 average American sized homes or its industrial equivalent. Ganged or teamed together, the modules can produce even more consistent energy for larger projects.
The Hyperion team is committed to helping make the clean and safe benefits of nuclear power — benefits that could assist in solving the worst of our planet’s problems — available in even the most remote locations.
"
http://www.hyperionpowergeneration.com/
And it isn't just the US and the Russians, Toshiba are also ready to produce a 200kw mini-nuke for your kitchen or garden shed that also makes you happy. "Future happiness through nuclear power. And Toshiba Technology makes it possible". I wonder how many customers they have in Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
Hyperion was a titan who castrated his father and was flung with his brother Prometheus into the pit of Tartaros, a void located beneath the foundations of all, where earth, sea and sky have their roots. Hyperion is also the name of a sci-fi novel where the earth is destroyed and mankind faces armageddon.
"Who would have thought that the benefits of generating electricity from huge nuclear power plants could ever be provided in a small, compact, energy module that can be transported by truck, rail or ship to remote locations wherever reliable electricity and heat for communities and industry is needed? Now it is! Introducing the Hyperion Power Module (HPG)
Small enough to be transported on a ship, truck or train, Hyperion power modules are about the size of a "hot tub" — approximately 1.5 meters wide. Out of sight and safe from nefarious threats, Hyperion power modules are buried far underground and guarded by a security detail. Like a power battery, Hyperion modules have no moving parts to wear down, and are delivered factory sealed. They are never opened on site. Even if one were compromised, the material inside would not be appropriate for proliferation purposes. Further, due to the unique, yet proven science upon which this new technology is based, it is impossible for the module to go supercritical, “melt down” or create any type of emergency situation. If opened, the very small amount of fuel that is enclosed would immediately cool. The waste produced after five years of operation is approximately the size of a softball and is a good candidate for fuel recycling.
Perfect for moderately-sized projects, Hyperion produces only 25 MWe — enough to provide electricity for about 20,000 average American sized homes or its industrial equivalent. Ganged or teamed together, the modules can produce even more consistent energy for larger projects.
The Hyperion team is committed to helping make the clean and safe benefits of nuclear power — benefits that could assist in solving the worst of our planet’s problems — available in even the most remote locations.
"
http://www.hyperionpowergeneration.com/ And it isn't just the US and the Russians, Toshiba are also ready to produce a 200kw mini-nuke for your kitchen or garden shed that also makes you happy. "Future happiness through nuclear power. And Toshiba Technology makes it possible". I wonder how many customers they have in Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
Hyperion was a titan who castrated his father and was flung with his brother Prometheus into the pit of Tartaros, a void located beneath the foundations of all, where earth, sea and sky have their roots. Hyperion is also the name of a sci-fi novel where the earth is destroyed and mankind faces armageddon.
Danny
Additions
66 to 300000
10.11.2008 17:06
Hyperion claim to have pre-sold six reactors to TES. TES are a Czech infrastructure company based in Třebíč who have only subcontracted on two domestic nuclear reactors run by state-owned by CEZ. Worringly, the top Czech news story today is that police have charged 32 CEZ employees with blackmail after some gangster tactics, and that another prosecution of CEZ executives for fraud has just been shelved. There is no mention of Hyperion in the Czech press.
One of the plants is reportedly destined for Romania but Romania's National Committee for Nuclear Control's officials declared that they have no idea of the project, according to Romanian news agency NewsIn.
All the news stories quote John Deal, chief executive of Hyperion 'Our goal is to generate electricity for 10 cents a watt anywhere in the world' . He presumably meant 10 cents a kilowatt - it isn't reassuring that the CEO makes such a basic error. He did point out that the unit is transportable, not portable. "Once you put it in the ground, it's there for its life because it's hot. It's about a meter-and-a-half across and about 2 meters tall, which is very small. "
At present there are only 66 TRIGA reactors worldwide, including one in Romania, but Deal is planning to ship 4000 of his first product and estimates there is a market for 300,000 of them.
http://www.techrockies.com/story/0017490.html
The initial orders are from the tax havens of the super-rich and from oil and gas companies. Companies seem keen to bury nuclear reactors in oil and gas fields in war zones, which has great disaster-movie potential. "In certain very difficult terrains, or in places where there are people who like to shoot at tankers, delivery costs can be 100 times as much as the basic cost of the fuel."
http://nextbigfuture.com/2008/11/update-on-hyperion-power-generation.html
http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/14/hyperion-power-generation-announces-first-customer-letter-of-intent/
http://www.nuscalepower.com/
Nuscale Power are a second US company preparing to produce and sell reactors. They claim to have "developed a small nuclear power system that is safe, modular and scalable", although they are currently hiring a "Severe Accident Analyst".
One of the plants is reportedly destined for Romania but Romania's National Committee for Nuclear Control's officials declared that they have no idea of the project, according to Romanian news agency NewsIn.
All the news stories quote John Deal, chief executive of Hyperion 'Our goal is to generate electricity for 10 cents a watt anywhere in the world' . He presumably meant 10 cents a kilowatt - it isn't reassuring that the CEO makes such a basic error. He did point out that the unit is transportable, not portable. "Once you put it in the ground, it's there for its life because it's hot. It's about a meter-and-a-half across and about 2 meters tall, which is very small. "
At present there are only 66 TRIGA reactors worldwide, including one in Romania, but Deal is planning to ship 4000 of his first product and estimates there is a market for 300,000 of them.
http://www.techrockies.com/story/0017490.html The initial orders are from the tax havens of the super-rich and from oil and gas companies. Companies seem keen to bury nuclear reactors in oil and gas fields in war zones, which has great disaster-movie potential. "In certain very difficult terrains, or in places where there are people who like to shoot at tankers, delivery costs can be 100 times as much as the basic cost of the fuel."
http://nextbigfuture.com/2008/11/update-on-hyperion-power-generation.html http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/14/hyperion-power-generation-announces-first-customer-letter-of-intent/ http://www.nuscalepower.com/ Nuscale Power are a second US company preparing to produce and sell reactors. They claim to have "developed a small nuclear power system that is safe, modular and scalable", although they are currently hiring a "Severe Accident Analyst".
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