Personal reactor not quite ready for prime time
For me, the personal nuclear reactor represents ultimate in energy independence. I was excited to read the news that Toshiba had decided to throw their hat in the ring next to small independent companies like Adams Atomic Engines. Give me a home reactor and I’ll be ready to sign up for an electric car like the one I posted about Friday. For that matter, give me a portable reactor!
Sadly, some people decided to check the math and there seems to be a small problem with the amount of heat that needs to be dissipated. Hmmm, am I missing something here? Isn’t the heat that needs to be dissipated just a source for more energy? Exactly what is “waste heat” when it comes to power generation? Turbines have very high thermodynamic efficiency so it should be possible to transform virtually ALL of the heat generated by the reactor to electricity.
