I've been wondering for a while now why they don't use the residual heat coming from the fuel to run either a thermocouple or a Stirling engine to run pumps to keep the core cool when they loose external power.
Does anyone here know?
Is it just that you can't put the components in a place that will work?
Does the reactors residual decay heat not give enough power for it to be effective?
A question about nuclear reactors and backup power
theoretically, nuclear plants are able to use low-quality steam from waste heat to power their low pressure turbines, thus providing local power needs.
I've never heard of it actually being done, though.
However, Fukushima Daiichi's trouble was not lack of power so much as the flooded power rooms, which basically shorted out all electrical distribution.
I've never heard of it actually being done, though.
However, Fukushima Daiichi's trouble was not lack of power so much as the flooded power rooms, which basically shorted out all electrical distribution.
Wandering Kernel of Happiness