I think nuclear may have the least environmental impact, even over solar and wind. The only fumes generated are ultrapure steam from all I know on the topic.

What about the spent fuel?

__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

In the old reactors the rods would last for 2 to 2.5 years. I'm pretty sure that can be improved. Plus the amount of space that the spent rods take up when "disposed" of is very, very small. The only problem with it is that it should be guarded so that no one does anything stupid with it.

Most spent material is transported by rail, and exposure to areas nearby during transport isn't even noticeable. You might build up a few truckloads over several decades, especially if storage and plant efficiency are improved.

The truckloads of things that one may see going in and out of plants are likely the supplies to keep the generators maintained, water purification systems maintained, etc. The trucks that haul out the spent rods are very few compared with the trucks meeting the infrastructural needs of the plant.

"Fly me to the moon"


or... just shoot it off into the sun

What if the rocket crashes near Davenport, FL?

__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

... um, there sure are a lot of trucks hauling stuff from the reactors near me...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Well at least they are hauling them away from you, not to you. Do all those spent rods still go to Nevada?

__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

Deep in an old mine that will take many centuries to be filled up, if ever. Keep in mind that we may very well find a use for the spent rods later, say like low level heating of a contained (isolated) water supply... I don't know. Surely we can use that stuff for something if we put our minds to it.

It could be another 5-7 years. What seems legit to us would be the upcoming Jetta hybrid starting at 21-23k. From the VW forums and other places the Golf hybrid diesel is nearly a myth that people put hype into. For all we know it may never see the U.S.

It just ocurred to me that train engines operate kind of like this, don't they? I think I read somewhere that locomotives actually are propelled by electric motors and the diesel engine powers a generator that runs the DC motors. Does anybody know if this is the case? It doesn't sound as though it would be efficient, but what do I know?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

That is called a series hybrid, no physical link between the engine and wheels. The Prius and the VW hybrid are parallel hybrids, the engine is mechanically linked to the wheels through a transmission.

A parallel hybrid would be extremely efficient. The Diesel engine is most efficient at a stable speeds, like generators, which is what happens in series hybrids. What kicks me is the technology to do it in cars has been around for 50 years in locomotives, WHY can't anyone produce one? GM's Chevy Volt is a series hybrid and it wont be out for a few years at the least.

One might imagine the size of the drivetrain required to put 3000 hp to the wheels...and there would probably be pretty big losses. At full load, electric motors are very efficient. I won't speculate as to which system is more efficient...but I can say it'd be far easier to repair the diesel-electric hybrid.

Interesting read:

http://travel.howstuffworks.com/diesel-locomotive.htm

__________________
1982 240D, sold 9/17/2008
1987 300D TurboW124.133 - 603.960, 722.317 - Smoke Silver Metallic / Medium Red (702/177), acquired 8/15/2009
262,715 and counting

Yes that is the case. Most of the ferries in this state as well.

__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

Diesel locomotives are highly optimized. They have many, many onboard computers to monitor just about everything. The economics dictates this. They squeeze every bit of reliability and economy out of those engines.

What I'd like to see is somebody with a robust design for a continuously variable transmission stick that to a small, efficient diesel engine. With a fast acting computer, you could have optimum acceleration when you want it, and optimum efficiency when you're cruising...

__________________
1982 240D, sold 9/17/2008
1987 300D TurboW124.133 - 603.960, 722.317 - Smoke Silver Metallic / Medium Red (702/177), acquired 8/15/2009
262,715 and counting

Yes, that is amazing. I always assumed that locomotives would be about as efficient as they could possibly be just because of the economics of the shipping industry.

So, you're saying the Volt is a series hybrid?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles