Nuclear reactor cores, like submarines use

[kenbo0422]

Actually the seawater does help with cooling.  It is used in the secondary system.  The shielding I referred to is correct as well.  H2O, having 2 Hydrogens, is perfect for shielding neutrons.  They tend to bounce back, like billiard balls react when they hit.  It is also the reason you can reach a 'steady state' in a reactor.  As the temp. goes up the Hydrogen atoms are spread out farther, thus less reflection back into the core.  Then temp goes down a little causing more reflection until the fluctuations level out.  When the rods are pulled farther, a new 'steady state' condition will hunt and level out.  The Russian liquid metal reactors don't have this nice little assistant.

[Bruce A. Perreault]

kenbo0422,

True, water is a shield but it is a poor shield as compared
to using uranium. So... why don't sub occupants find
their hair falling out??

? ? ? ? ? ? ? -Bruce P.

[kenbo0422]

Well, the reactor and the entire primary system is enclosed in a separate compartment shielded by lead and plastic(another hydrogen rich material).  Believe it or not, the exposure in a sub is less than the radiation you get standing out in the bright sunlight...  either that or my dosimeter was broke   

[rstander777]

It can't be that difficult to design a nuclear power plant. Did you guys know that in 1960 they had nuclear pacemakers. They stopped it because "terrorrists" could use it to build a bomb. It had a titanium shield or something similar. Planted them into newborn babies. Perfectly safe....go figure...

[BattyCoda]

wtf is safe toxic radiation storage? to me there is no such thing...if it radiates it can kill
dont believe it? try heating 1 part copper or silver or gold or platinum with 3 parts sodium at 600 degrees and i`ll be at your gravesite in a month GUARANTEED