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Plutonium production

  • 02-09-2011 02:22PM
    #1
    Be like Nutella
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,830 ✭✭✭


    I'm learning about Nuclear weapons, history, stockpiles, reduction thereof at the moment.

    I get that you need a reactor to produce nuclear weapons...what I can't get a grip on is...how long does it take a reactor to produce enough Plutonium for a country to make a standard nuclear weapon? I know there are different types of reactors...

    A facility called HANFORD (8 reactors) in the US produced most Plutonium for their stockpile which peaked at 70,000 nukes in 1986.... it was operational for approix 30/35 years and produced 63 Tons of Plutonium.

    China has approx 10 Nuclear powerplants but plans for about 100 more... I want to know what type of reactor produces how much plutonium in how much time?

    Anyone know anything about this?....I thought physics/chemistry guys would be good for this


Comments

  • #2
    Professor_Fink
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 861 ✭✭✭Professor_Fink


    There is an excellent Google tech talk on this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdRSl7Dc88&feature=player_embedded

    It is specifically about the North Korean programs, but gives a very good overview of the technical issues involved, and the limiting factors, including timescales.


  • #3
    Be like Nutella
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,830 ✭✭✭Be like Nutella


    Cheers for that Vid man
    that dude rocks...knows everything about everything... has his head screwed on right as well...glad somebody like that has been dealing with those North Korean Loonbags...leaders that is...Not too pleased when he says Yeah so India and Pakistan could go at it in like the next 5/10 years and Pakistan would be the one to push the button coz they're conventional army is kak...didn't like that bit.


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