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A comment on UPower (YC S14) Is Building Nuclear Batteries. Parent comment

Re:UPower (YC S14) Is Building Nuclear Batteries by jackgavigan on Tuesday August 19, 2014 @08:58AM (#8197031)
> ... the reactor actually eliminates waste instead of just using it for fuel as some thermal types do (eg some startups seen in the media). Without fast neutrons, a reactor cannot burn the longest-lived parts of waste.

What's your source of fast neutrons?

Also, is it accurate to describe your product as a nuclear battery? The TechCrunch article refers to it generating heat (as opposed to electricity), so is "nuclear reactor" a more accurate description?

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Re:UPower (YC S14) Is Building Nuclear Batteries by donttrustatoms on Tuesday August 19, 2014 @01:18PM (#8198557)
fission. :) it can run several fuels as described in article.

Battery seemed to have stuck. it's not my favorite. I would say generator. battery apparently seems more innocuous.

Battery also feels accurate because the reactor will be more or less "plug and play" like a really, really, really long lasting battery that produces the same amount of power. It can also be used in "packs" like a battery.

Fundamentally, nuclear, just like coal or anything else is a source of heat. With different secondary packages, you can produce electricity or cogenerate steam.

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