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I came across this topic when I read about a proposed MSR powered ship. I’ve yet to see a solution for powering ships via renewables. Ships also require a relatively small reactor (since they are only powering the ship) compared to a land based reactor which will power a region. So this could be the use case needed to bring such tech to fruition.


Ships are not that complex to solve. You could use a combination of batteries, green hydrogen and/or synthetic fuels.

Ships with reactors will not work. That will turn into a paperwork nightmare in every harbor it enters.


While I'm slightly bullish on MSR's in general, I think a MSR on a ship is not a good idea. A thin-skinned reactor vessel (one of the big advantages of MSR's as they operate at atmospheric pressure) with a fuel salt that is(?) water-soluble sounds like a disaster in case of a ship sinking.

At least with a traditional water-cooled reactor there's very thick walls for the seawater to corrode through, and then the fuel itself is in a relatively inert oxide form. Similarly for a lead-cooled reactor, when the ship sinks the lead would solidify creating a big radiation protection armor around the fuel elements.


Ships will be retrofitted to tank and burn ammonia in existing engines. Ammonia liquifies at room temperature under low pressure.

The conversion will be accelerated by restrictions on docking bunker-oil burners.


Yeah they’d buy magic wands if they solved their problem. They don’t care about your solution. They care about their solution.


One frequent market research question starts with: if you had magic wand ...

I've see it at Lays, P&G, Google, Mars and others.

It seems a great trick to get humans to cast off the current status quo.


Good point about tech debt.

Furthermore a prototype or MVP may not be intended to have along life from the start. It likely is just to test a theory/concept/business model. Then if there is traction, it will be rebuilt more robustly.

In this case, Incur as much debt as needed to fail fast.


>If you want parts, outsource the manufacturing. >If you want a new, expensive hobby, look into CNC machining. Don’t expect cheap parts, though.

This 1000%.

If you’re at the point that you think you need custom machines parts for a brewery, then you probably need an interior designer (if these are aesthetic) or a brewing consultant (if these a functional).

I’m all for hobby cnc’ing! I have a probotix and LOVE it! But until you are a “machinist” don’t count on cnc being more than a hobby, not critical path.

> If you don’t even have time to research and learn the basics, you definitely won’t have time to learn how to properly operate a machine and CAD/CAM. I think you’re underestimating the work that goes into even basic CNC machining.

Yup. Time is money. If this is a commercial enterprise, get a professional solution. If this is a hobby project, explore your hobby any way that is interesting to you.


Also, I’ve never seen a brewery with a cnc machine. There is likely a business reason for this.


This should probably be posted as a Show HN not an ask.


Club d’Elf live shows: https://archive.org/details/ClubdElf

They are almost entirely instrumental music with strong Moroccan trance influence.


Wow! I just stumbled across your novels a month ago (recommendation by my library) and am currently reading my 4th novel of yours. Small world! Thanks for chiming in.


“When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that does suffer”


You should consider watching some live NIN concerts. Even if the music is not your favorite, the stage show is amazing.


I’m a big fan of things you can do together.

Though not exclusively, I aim for experiential, consumable or home made when giving gifts. IMHO tools fall under “experiential”.

This year I’m getting my 8yo her own mushroom knife and mushroom journal (yes we like to forage together).


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