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Nuclear reactor
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====Generation V+ reactors==== Generation V reactors are designs which are theoretically possible, but which are not being actively considered or researched at present. Though some generation V reactors could potentially be built with current or near term technology, they trigger little interest for reasons of economics, practicality, or safety. * Liquid-core reactor. A closed loop [[Nuclear thermal rocket#Liquid core|liquid-core nuclear reactor]], where the fissile material is molten uranium or uranium solution cooled by a working gas pumped in through holes in the base of the containment vessel. * [[Gaseous fission reactor|Gas-core reactor]]. A closed loop version of the [[Nuclear lightbulb|nuclear lightbulb rocket]], where the fissile material is gaseous uranium hexafluoride contained in a fused silica vessel. A working gas (such as hydrogen) would flow around this vessel and absorb the UV light produced by the reaction. This reactor design could also function [[Gas core reactor rocket|as a rocket engine]], as featured in Harry Harrison's 1976 science-fiction novel ''Skyfall''. In theory, using UF<sub>6</sub> as a working fuel directly (rather than as a stage to one, as is done now) would mean lower processing costs, and very small reactors. In practice, running a reactor at such high power densities would probably produce unmanageable [[neutron flux]], weakening most [[IFMIF|reactor materials]], and therefore as the flux would be similar to that expected in fusion reactors, it would require similar materials to those selected by the [[IFMIF|International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility]]. ** Gas core EM reactor. As in the gas core reactor, but with [[photovoltaic]] arrays converting the [[UV light]] directly to electricity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://isjaee.hydrogen.ru/pdf/AEE04-07_Prelas.pdf |title=International Scientific Journal for Alternative Energy and Ecology, DIRECT CONVERSION OF NUCLEAR ENERGY TO ELECTRICITY, Mark A. Prelas |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024833/http://isjaee.hydrogen.ru/pdf/AEE04-07_Prelas.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=7 December 2013 }}</ref> This approach is similar to the experimentally proved [[photoelectric effect]] that would convert the X-rays generated from [[aneutronic fusion]] into electricity, by passing the high energy photons through an array of conducting foils to transfer some of their energy to electrons, the energy of the photon is captured electrostatically, similar to a [[capacitor]]. Since X-rays can go through far greater material thickness than electrons, many hundreds or thousands of layers are needed to absorb the X-rays.<ref>Quimby, D.C., High Thermal Efficiency X-ray energy conversion scheme for advanced fusion reactors, ASTM Special technical Publication, v.2, 1977, pp. 1161β1165</ref> * [[Fission fragment reactor]]. A fission fragment reactor is a nuclear reactor that generates electricity by decelerating an ion beam of fission byproducts instead of using nuclear reactions to generate heat. By doing so, it bypasses the [[Carnot cycle]] and can achieve efficiencies of up to 90% instead of 40β45% attainable by efficient turbine-driven thermal reactors. The fission fragment ion beam would be passed through a [[magnetohydrodynamic generator]] to produce electricity. * [[Hybrid nuclear fusion]]. Would use the neutrons emitted by fusion to fission a [[breeder reactor|blanket]] of [[fertile material]], like [[Uranium-238|U-238]] or [[thorium|Th-232]] and [[Nuclear transmutation|transmute]] other reactor's [[spent nuclear fuel]]/nuclear waste into relatively more benign isotopes.
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