Just FYI reactor grade uranium is generally enriched below 5% whereas weapons grade is enriched to ~85%
potatopotato@sh.itjust.works 2 days ago
Ah yes, let’s give rich people weapons grade uranium (what these compact reactors run on)
Transform2942@lemmy.ml 1 day ago
potatopotato@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
Aircraft carriers don’t use reactor grade, they use HEU for more power out of smaller more compact reactors and less frequent refueling. IIRC 93%+ is common.
humanspiral@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
Yes. The new scam of smr is selling something inferior that hasn’t failed yet, but needs massive enrichment infrastrucure for very high comparative fuel costs… Mostly imported from russia until we build more failures to enrich it.
Transform2942@lemmy.ml 1 day ago
Huh didn’t know that, thanks
BussyCat@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Weapons grade uranium is so expensive and energy intensive to make that I can’t imagine they would ever pay for it and the fuel is at end of life so would need refueling soon.
The navy likely puts a safety margin on the fuel so there is probably some life left in the fuel but I would be very surprised if it lasted more than a year or two which is where I am confused on how this would work