# CAN enriched uranium be used to make power? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 22, 2007, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-enriched-uranium-be-used-to-make-power/393241 "2007-02-22T16:57:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-enriched-uranium-be-used-to-make-power/393241/1 "2007-02-22T16:57:49Z")
The Iranians claim that they are pursuing enriched uranium for peaceful purposes. While I doubt that is why they are, is it possible? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-enriched-uranium-be-used-to-make-power/393241/2 "2007-02-22T17:08:07Z")
Weapons grade Uranium can be used in a [Fast Neutron Reactor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_neutron_reactor). Low enriched Uranium can be used in a [Light Water Reactor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_water_reactor) Slightly enriched Uranium can be used in [Heavy Water Reactor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_water_reactor) ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-enriched-uranium-be-used-to-make-power/393241/3 "2007-02-22T17:11:07Z")
Yep, [enriched uranium](http://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cycle-fac/ur-enrichment.html) is used in nuclear power plants. \* However, I seriously doubt that nuclear power is the only reason Iran is pursuing the program. Slee - I see I was beaten to the link… ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-enriched-uranium-be-used-to-make-power/393241/4 "2007-02-22T17:42:13Z")
Is there an advantage, output wise, of wanting a Fast Neutron Reactor, over the others? In other words, if Iran just wants nuclear reactors for electrical power generation, wouldn’t the Light or Heavy Water Reactors be just as good? They seem to already be at this stage, why push ahead? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-enriched-uranium-be-used-to-make-power/393241/5 "2007-02-22T20:50:13Z")
[QUOTE=mlees] Is there an advantage, output wise, of wanting a Fast Neutron Reactor, over the others? In other words, if Iran just wants nuclear reactors for electrical power generation, wouldn’t the Light or Heavy Water Reactors be just as good? They seem to already be at this stage, why push ahead? [/QUOTE] Exactly my thought. Can they make the “Aw shucks, we want to make a better reactor” argument with a straight face? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-enriched-uranium-be-used-to-make-power/393241/6 "2007-02-22T21:06:20Z")
The trouble with a heavy water reactor is that it produces Plutonium as a by product. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-enriched-uranium-be-used-to-make-power/393241/7 "2007-02-22T21:13:43Z")
Big deal. I’m sure that they have no use for all that plutonium anyway. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-enriched-uranium-be-used-to-make-power/393241/8 "2007-02-22T22:10:10Z")
[QUOTE=Tapioca Dextrin] The trouble with a heavy water reactor is that it produces Plutonium as a by product. [/QUOTE] So, is Iran saying that they want Fast Breeder Reactors to be able to use this plutonium byproduct of their heavy water reactors? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-enriched-uranium-be-used-to-make-power/393241/9 "2007-02-26T00:54:37Z")
[QUOTE=NurseCarmen] Exactly my thought. Can they make the “Aw shucks, we want to make a better reactor” argument with a straight face? [/QUOTE] Yes they can argue that they are after only peaceful uses. No you can not likely prove otherwise. Your evidence will be circumstantial . However Bushes threshold for proof is very very low.