▲ 168 ▼ AI data centers may soon be powered by retired US Navy nuclear reactors from aircraft carriers and submarines (www.tomshardware.com) submitted 7 months ago by BrikoX@lemmy.zip [M] to c/technology@lemmy.zip 51 comments fedilink hide all child comments This is a much cheaper and faster way to get nuclear power.
[–] potatopotato@sh.itjust.works 27 points 7 months ago (2 children) Ah yes, let's give rich people weapons grade uranium (what these compact reactors run on) permalink fedilink source hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] BussyCat@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months 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 permalink fedilink source parent [–] Transform2942@lemmy.ml 1 point 7 months ago (1 child) Just FYI reactor grade uranium is generally enriched below 5% whereas weapons grade is enriched to ~85% permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] potatopotato@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago (2 children) 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. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Transform2942@lemmy.ml 1 point 7 months ago Huh didn't know that, thanks permalink fedilink source parent [–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 1 point 7 months 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. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] BussyCat@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months 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 permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Transform2942@lemmy.ml 1 point 7 months ago (1 child) Just FYI reactor grade uranium is generally enriched below 5% whereas weapons grade is enriched to ~85% permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] potatopotato@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago (2 children) 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. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Transform2942@lemmy.ml 1 point 7 months ago Huh didn't know that, thanks permalink fedilink source parent [–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 1 point 7 months 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. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] potatopotato@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago (2 children) 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. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Transform2942@lemmy.ml 1 point 7 months ago Huh didn't know that, thanks permalink fedilink source parent [–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 1 point 7 months 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. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Transform2942@lemmy.ml 1 point 7 months ago Huh didn't know that, thanks permalink fedilink source parent
[–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 1 point 7 months 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. permalink fedilink source parent