Available - 700 Years of Fuel for United States Energy Needs (Don Riley)

Available - 700 Years of Fuel for United States Energy Needs A safe existing U.S. source of fuel that could supply 700 years of U.S. energy needs exists. In addition U.S. technology exists that could minimize the current nuclear plant’s waste disposal problems. Let us start at the beginning.

This amount of energy is contained in stockpiles of uranium “waste” (DUF6, Depleted Uranium Hexafloride). This enrichment process “waste” could not be used to make fission weapons however it can be used to fuel power plants.

A test reactor EBR-II (Experimental Breeder Reactor-II) was built and then operated for over thirty years at the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) Idaho site producing electrical power and serving as a test bed for new technology ideas. One experiment had all the control rods pulled out so the reactor had no “control,” shut off the reactor coolant pumps so there was no forced cooling of the reactor and the reactor shut down by itself without any negative impact or effect because of its inherent safety characteristics. EBR-II safely operated during the thirty years and was recently decommissioned.

A much larger liquid metal cooled breeder reactor, the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) reactor plant, was designed, built and safely operated in the state of Washington for about six years as a test bed for new technology. This facility is in the process of being disassembled.

With the successful operation of both these breeder reactors we have confidence in the technology. It is safe and can do the job.

The Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) program at ANL, set up to insure proliferation resistance and the ability to process waste materials from the IFR and other nuclear plants, was conducted from the late 1980s to 1994. On the verge of a successful demonstration in 1994 this effort was aborted.

The U.S. has the technology and experience to use its stored fuel (DUF6) to produce 700 years of energy that the U.S. needs. This reactor plant could also minimize existing nuclear plant waste while providing proliferation resistance.

What are we presently doing with this basically unlimited supply of safe fuel?

Nothing! Let’s put this topic out on the table for all U.S. citizens to understand so we can decide as a nation what to do with 700 years of safe and needed U.S. energy fuel having a value of approximately $70 trillion. We need to support and promote this proven safe and operational technology to insure the U.S. has a sound and infinite supply of future efficient energy.

(See web sites www.ourenergyworld.com and www.truthaboutenergy.com for more information)

The following experienced professionals have agreed to submit their bios in support of the material in the document:

“Available – 700 Years of Fuel for United States Energy Needs” Charles E. Boardman – BSME Cal Poly, MSME Santa Clara. Has more than 30 years of experience in the design and optimization of advanced nuclear power plants. He holds 13 U.S. patents in the advanced nuclear power plant area, is a Professional Engineer, a consultant and a member of national and DOE nuclear power advisory teams. He lives in California.

James Jay Cox - BSEE, MBA. He has worked over 40 years in the Nuclear Industry within commercial, government, national and international activities and is experienced in I&C (Instrumentation and Control) design specifications, I&C design, human factors and, project and contract management. Has interfaced with the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission), Electric Power Research Institute, and was part of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) technical subcommittee on Human Factors. He lives in North Carolina.

H. S. Cullingford - PhD. Developed Energy Systems as technical and management contributor. She puts 'people-needs' first in the balance of technology versus people. She is an inventor with patents and lives in Texas.

John Graham - Former President of the American Nuclear Society and author of the definitive book on "Fast Reactor Safety," used in Nuclear Engineering Departments of 11 U.S. universities. He is a theoretical physicist by training and has worked in several countries and represented the U.S. around the world in nuclear science and technology. He is currently a consultant in energy matters. He lives in Colorado.

Jack Hope - BS Catholic University 1951. Has spent a career in: technical and corporate management; consultant for various U.S. companies and U.S. government agencies; Director of GE International Aircraft Engine Programs; formed and operated Haeco Inc. as its President; served in the White House Office of Science and Technology from 1971 thru 1974.

He lives in Ohio.

Don Lutz - BSME degree (1956) from Michigan State University. A Professional Engineer, he spent his entire engineering career in the field of Nuclear Power-Energy systems, including land based, naval ships, and outer space applications. In 1957 he started with the Enrico Fermi Nuclear power plant, next he participated in the design, construction, start-up and operation of the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR II), next the Clinch River Fast Breeder Power plant, and finally to GE on the development of their commercial Fast Breeder Reactor Power plant. He lives in California.

Philip Pluta - PhD Nuclear Engineering, MS Nuclear Engineering. He has been a nuclear power manager with a Fortune 50 company for his entire career, responsible for hundreds of engineers focused on many different nuclear power plants and advanced nuclear technologies, including those described in this letter. He lives in California.

Don Riley – BS in Mechanical Engineering, MS in Applied Mechanics. Has a lifetime of Nuclear Engineering experience as a technical and management contributor for the development, design, construction and operation of advanced nuclear power plants. He has done Graduate work in Physics; was Acting Professor for an Advanced Graduate Course in Nuclear Engineering at Stanford University; and holds 9 U.S. patents in Nuclear Engineering areas. He lives in Tennessee.

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