A Concept for Subcritical Nuclear Electricity Production with Control of the Fuel - the “olive frame” Single-piece Core, a Simple Hydropump

Abstract

Fabricating an hydropump using nuclear power permits electricity production at community level. The subcritical nature allows a simple design. The core is built with as little pieces as possible (if possible a single ovoid core, that could be compared morphologically to a giant de-stoned olive, made of a single tungsten carbide frame, and, in addition, the tube for channeling the water that shall be inserted through the “olive” and welded so as to close the “olive” hermetically) and relies on, typically, helium for heat transfer; it is conceived with the purpose of being welded with the fuel in and let for heat production without reopening for several years until the whole machine is shelved after consumption of most of the fuel; in principle that design allows very limited staffing (or none at all, under electronic supervision at a distance). The increased diffusion of nuclear energy would be possible, with for instance community recollection of alpha-emitting nanoparticulates from draft water to recycle the pollution in electricity production for small communities (with fission possibly not even involved - solely alpha decay energy), with the idea that security services would, simply, regularly check the cores to make sure there is no “window” of any kind on the cores.