Israel: Iran Nuke Plant 'Totally Unacceptable'

[papa_smurf]

A nuclear power plant for power and one for making a bomb are too different things. The Bushehr plant is a low grade reactor, and besides the Russians are providing and removing the fuel.

The thing has been on the go for 30 odd year. I think Israel is just thumping its drum on this.

Now I'm not saying Iran doesn't want nukes and that it isn't trying to make them but Bushehr has nothing to do with this.

But doesn't Iran have 2 nuclear enrichment facilities ? So they do have the possible capability to enrich Uranium to weapons grade.

[kranz]

Originally Posted by papa_smurf

But doesn't Iran have 2 nuclear enrichment facilities ? So they do have the possible capability to enrich Uranium to weapons grade.

actually i've heard about 10.

[antikristuseke]

Originally Posted by papa_smurf

But doesn't Iran have 2 nuclear enrichment facilities ? So they do have the possible capability to enrich Uranium to weapons grade.

By the way the centrifuges in those facilities are arranged, they can not make weapons grade uranium.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by antikristuseke

By the way the centrifuges in those facilities are arranged, they can not make weapons grade uranium.

"Weapons Grade" is a misnomer, Any Uranium can be used to build a bomb, it just requires a lot more U-235 to do it. At 20% enrichment it would need about 400 kg of U-235 to achieve critical mass.

[antikristuseke]

True that, but it is pretty difficult to weaponize low enriched uranium, due to the bulk and weight. Makes delivery a lot more difficult

[Aramike]

Originally Posted by antikristuseke

True that, but it is pretty difficult to weaponize low enriched uranium, due to the bulk and weight. Makes delivery a lot more difficult

Would you put it past Iran?

I wouldn't.

[Jimbuna]

I think where Iran is concerned it would be wise to expect the unexpected

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I think where Iran is concerned it would be wise to expect the unexpected

to think so..

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

"Weapons Grade" is a misnomer, Any Uranium can be used to build a bomb, it just requires a lot more U-235 to do it. At 20% enrichment it would need about 400 kg of U-235 to achieve critical mass.

Not completely accurate.

You are correct, however, in stating that increasing the amount of 235U decreases the critical mass. But the critical mass of Uranium is the minimum density/configuration needed to sustain criticality, not achieve and maintain supercriticality.

Any concentration of 235U can achieve criticality depending on many factors (temperature, shape, reflectors), however, to build a "bomb", the material has to achieve a state of supercriticality.

Criticality is achieved when there is no increase or decrease in power, temperature, or neutron production. The number of neutrons produced is equal to the number of neutrons lost.

Supercriticality is achieved when there is an increase in power, temperature, and neutron production. The number of neutrons produced is greater than the number of neutrons lost.

Under achievable environments, it is incorrect to say that any concentration of Uranium can be made to achieve supercriticality.