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Worldbuilding

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    $\begingroup$ The control system is not run by a computer. When the neutron flux is too high it lowers the control rods; when too low it raises the control rods. When the steam power is too high, the neutron flux dial is mechanically turned down; when too low, it is turned up. (Any extreme values cause the control rods to drop.) $\endgroup$
    – Christopher King
    Commented Jul 4 at 15:38
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    $\begingroup$ There would be a bunch of nuclear accidents because untrained people are refueling reactors themselves? I know people with propane tanks that they don't refuel themselves, they call trained people to do that, why would untrained people be handling uranium? Uranium is very energy dense so it would be trivial to keep refueling cycles to 5 years. We have reactors that don't need fuel for 30 years, long enough that we don't bother to refuel them but instead take the entire reactor vessel for decommissioning. A reactor would likely be hauled from the house and replaced than refueled in place. $\endgroup$
    – MacGuffin
    Commented Jul 4 at 23:11
  • $\begingroup$ How would someone steal a uranium core? This isn't like a catalytic converter from beneath a car parked overnight in the street. It would be more like a catalytic converter on a running generator, so still very hot. The generator would likely be in a steel box, inside a fence, with dogs, security cameras, and/or someone in the house. To steal that catalytic converter they'd have to do so while the generator is running and everything is very hot. Or kill the engine first and allow it to cool. This isn't exactly a catalytic converter though, it's emitting a lot of gamma rays. Good luck. $\endgroup$
    – MacGuffin
    Commented Jul 4 at 23:28