Sterling has picked up on a "hot" little number today
http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Resonant_Nuclear_Reactor
"Resonant Nuclear Reactor - Stimulates U-238 by the use of a
resonant electrical circuit. The secondary circuit has a very high
"Q" factor and is used only for stimulating the nuclear reaction.
The primary circuit is used to tap useful power from the system. "
"In this case (far from optimal), there is 12.5g of fuel present,
and the output power is about 11.2 watts. The secondary circuit is
somewhat mis-tuned to prevent a runaway reaction"
IF this were accurate (doubtful) and given the average house
requires about 2kw continuous electrical power on average (over 24
hours) then only 2-3 kg of natural U, mas o menos, would power
the house, presumably for a long time. Half life is in the
multi-billion year range.
You would need batteries to store the night-time production - but
hey all that lead in the batteries, judiciously placed, provides
the necessary shielding. Plus you bury it under your garage.
Lets say they are off by an order of magnitude, and you really
need 25 kg. How much will that cost?
Well first off, If you live in a brick house... brick being made
from shale and shale having a high natural U content - then you
probably already have that 25 kg - but somewhat more widely
dispersed than necessary but more importantly "legal" ... and this
gives you some idea of what electricity too cheap to meter is all
about.
Jones
