# Insoluble engineering problems **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 2, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insoluble-engineering-problems/541646 "2010-06-02T15:17:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insoluble-engineering-problems/541646/81 "2010-06-06T20:58:57Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Regarding Chernobyl-I understand that the reactor indeed, had a region of instability..but the main cause of the disaster was that ALL of the emergency safety systems had been turned off (because a test was being conducted). Other than that, RMBK design was pretty conservative, and the graphite core had a huge safety margin (in terms of overheating). > The really sad thing was that had the test been conducted during a daytime shift, the accident most likley would not have occurred, because the experts were on hand. > Still, as accidents go, Chernobyl was pretty bad. I don;t think most countries would do as bad a job as was done at Chernobyl. But if we make what is considered a safe nuclear power plant in this country, others less responsible may follow suit. I thought the Pebble Bed reactors talked about here were based on fuels with a much lower chance of igniting from the heat than the graphite used at Chernobyl. Some of the problems with nuclear are in the same category of other sources. Economics demand large power plants, that are inherently more dangerous than small ones. This has been a problem with oil, gas, and coal already. One advantage the Navy has had in maintaining a stellar safety record is the small size of most of their reactors. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insoluble-engineering-problems/541646/82 "2010-06-06T21:51:15Z")
**ed** go open a debate thread on nuclear power in GD where you can explain the complete lack of irradiated dead frenchmen. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insoluble-engineering-problems/541646/83 "2010-06-07T00:06:24Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > **ed** go open a debate thread on nuclear power in GD where you can explain the complete lack of irradiated dead frenchmen. I was going to go in different directions with that one, but too many sounded complimentary to the French. Anyway, I’m tired of arguing this silly point because I’m not anti-nuke. I’m pro common sense and avoiding catastrophe. I’ll say simply enough, France has done a great job with nuclear energy. The US and other countries are not France though. By the way, in fairness, let’s include the Maginot Line and the War with Greenpeace in if we’re going to evaluate France’s success/failure rate. I’m just curious Grey, you sound rational, why are you so eager to see nuclear power plants built? Or are you just arguing the point about inherent safety? ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insoluble-engineering-problems/541646/84 "2010-06-07T02:16:59Z")
> [@ed malin](#): > > I was going to go in different directions with that one, but too many sounded complimentary to the French. Anyway, I’m tired of arguing this silly point because I’m not anti-nuke. I’m pro common sense and avoiding catastrophe. I’ll say simply enough, France has done a great job with nuclear energy. The US and other countries are not France though. > By the way, in fairness, let’s include the Maginot Line and the War with Greenpeace in if we’re going to evaluate France’s success/failure rate. > I’m just curious Grey, you sound rational, why are you so eager to see nuclear power plants built? Or are you just arguing the point about inherent safety? **ed** I’ve reported my post so a mod may opt to simply move the thread to GD. Now, I’m _not_ about to satisfy you with some paltry posting of expertize in nuclear power. I will point out that we’ve gone and provided 2 independent organizations with differing cultures that managed to use nuclear power without catastrophic failure. I fail to see how providing a 3rd would help nail down your tumbleweed like goal posts. Nuclear power is energy dense, available now, and has been used successfully around the world. Even better, pollutants are localized vs. fossil fuels’ global impact. Only a fool would decline to use nuclear, and only a fool would think that nuclear power is the sole solution. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insoluble-engineering-problems/541646/85 "2010-06-07T02:34:55Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > Only a fool would decline to use nuclear, and only a fool would think that nuclear power is the sole solution. We are in agreement then. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insoluble-engineering-problems/541646/86 "2010-06-07T04:58:22Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > **ed** Now, I’m _not_ about to satisfy you with some paltry posting of expertize in nuclear power. Grey, are you under the impression my questions about credentials were in reference to you? I was directing those at someone else, but now notice you included them in a response to me. I apologize if I gave you that misimpression. I’ve been paying attention to your posts. There are points we disagree on, but I haven’t found any general problem with what you are saying. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insoluble-engineering-problems/541646.md?page=4)