Comments on: Funny Numbers. http://enochthered.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/funny-numbers/ An independent scientist's observations on society, technology, energy, science and the environment. "Modern science has been a voyage into the unknown, with a lesson in humility waiting at every stop. Many passengers would rather have stayed home." - Carl Sagan Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:19:13 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: enochthered http://enochthered.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/funny-numbers/#comment-328 enochthered Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:18:33 +0000 http://enochthered.wordpress.com/?p=88#comment-328 I won't delete the comment - I'll take the opportunity to remind everyone that this kind of peer review is always appreciated, and very valuable. These sort of errors in specifying the units or whatever are easy enough for anybody to make - and really, the best way to defend the integrity of the information is to have it continually open to review and refinement from everyone. Thanks! I won’t delete the comment – I’ll take the opportunity to remind everyone that this kind of peer review is always appreciated, and very valuable.

These sort of errors in specifying the units or whatever are easy enough for anybody to make – and really, the best way to defend the integrity of the information is to have it continually open to review and refinement from everyone.

Thanks!

]]> By: Joffan http://enochthered.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/funny-numbers/#comment-326 Joffan Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:09:50 +0000 http://enochthered.wordpress.com/?p=88#comment-326 You've written "kilograms" in the article twice where you meant "tons". Feel free to delete this comment after you correct, Luke You’ve written “kilograms” in the article twice where you meant “tons”. Feel free to delete this comment after you correct, Luke

]]> By: Brad F http://enochthered.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/funny-numbers/#comment-322 Brad F Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:50:28 +0000 http://enochthered.wordpress.com/?p=88#comment-322 The 200 tons of natural uranium number is about correct. Richard missed a decimal, and should have gotten 140 tons. With 0.2% 235U left in the tails, you get about 200 tons. But the 8000 tonnes per year figure is for U, not U3O8. That's about 9500 tonnes of U3O8, meaning McArthur River is able to supply only 20,000 years of the UK's present electricity consumption. There you go again, exaggerating the benefits of nuclear energy! The 200 tons of natural uranium number is about correct. Richard missed a decimal, and should have gotten 140 tons. With 0.2% 235U left in the tails, you get about 200 tons.

But the 8000 tonnes per year figure is for U, not U3O8. That’s about 9500 tonnes of U3O8, meaning McArthur River is able to supply only 20,000 years of the UK’s present electricity consumption. There you go again, exaggerating the benefits of nuclear energy!

]]> By: Richard Shaw http://enochthered.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/funny-numbers/#comment-321 Richard Shaw Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:19:27 +0000 http://enochthered.wordpress.com/?p=88#comment-321 Your figures are all over the lot. I understand that natural uranium is 0.7%, U-235, and that one, one-gig nuke (typical) uses 20 tons of fuel per year. The fuel is 5%, U-235, either diluted down from 90% weapons grade (US and Russian), or enriched from the 0.7% natural uranium. 5% of 20 tons enriched fuel, is one ton (1000 kg)of U-235, enriched from 1.4 X 1000, or 1400 tons of natural uranium. The amount of ore required to get this much natural uranium is more of a problem to figure. However, two processes, leaching uranium from ore in place, and more recent programs, essentially learning to filter it from the billions of tons of uranium in sea water, reduces the need to move mountains of ore. Your figures are all over the lot. I understand that natural uranium is 0.7%, U-235, and that one, one-gig nuke (typical) uses 20 tons of fuel per year. The fuel is 5%, U-235, either diluted down from 90% weapons grade (US and Russian), or enriched from the 0.7% natural uranium. 5% of 20 tons enriched fuel, is one ton (1000 kg)of U-235, enriched from 1.4 X 1000, or 1400 tons of natural uranium. The amount of ore required to get this much natural uranium is more of a problem to figure. However, two processes, leaching uranium from ore in place, and more recent programs, essentially learning to filter it from the billions of tons of uranium in sea water, reduces the need to move mountains of ore.

]]>