Holy Cow! Russian world-first: A floating nuclear plant!!

[Charade]

WTH? Bad bad bad idea!!!

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13316942/?GT1=8211

 

[rayelias]

I'm the least qualified person to discuss this, so here I go...

These are my immediate thoughts:

(1) If, in the event of a meltdown, I would think surrounded by water would be the best place. In a last-ditch effort, you could always sink it to cool the reactor and stop a meltdown. From what I understand, they currently submerge the rods in water to cool them. When that system fails, that's when you get a meltdown (ala TMI & Chernobyl). If that system fails on a boat, sink the whole thing. Meltdown avoided.

(2) Don't know if it's a problem over there, but it takes away the NIMBY issue.

(3) The more Russia (China, and France) can rely on Nuclear energy, the better. They already have nuke weapons, so we don't have to worry about a new nuclear state. The less dependant on oil they are (1) it's cheaper for everyone (2) it takes money out of the unstable middle-east (3) they would be less likely to fight us on middle-east policy

(4) If it does work, it's a technology that can be tried here, after the Russians have tested and fine-tuned it. If it doesn't work, it's all on them. Either way, we can learn from their experience.

 

[golfgal]

There are nuclear powered submarines all over the world.

My first thought though was "well, when this one blows up they can just sink it instead of having to clean it up". I think it is a horrible idea. I am not a fan of nuclear energy to begin with, just too risky in my opinion.

 

[JimboInLimbo]

I'm the least qualified person to discuss this, so here I go...

These are my immediate thoughts:

(1) If, in the event of a meltdown, I would think surrounded by water would be the best place. In a last-ditch effort, you could always sink it to cool the reactor and stop a meltdown. From what I understand, they currently submerge the rods in water to cool them. When that system fails, that's when you get a meltdown (ala TMI & Chernobyl). If that system fails on a boat, sink the whole thing. Meltdown avoided.
(2) Don't know if it's a problem over there, but it takes away the NIMBY issue.

(3) The more Russia (China, and France) can rely on Nuclear energy, the better. They already have nuke weapons, so we don't have to worry about a new nuclear state. The less dependant on oil they are (1) it's cheaper for everyone (2) it takes money out of the unstable middle-east (3) they would be less likely to fight us on middle-east policy

(4) If it does work, it's a technology that can be tried here, after the Russians have tested and fine-tuned it. If it doesn't work, it's all on them. Either way, we can learn from their experience.

This was my first thought as well.