Interesting EPH related link......

Fission at the center of the core has a problem: there is less gratiational attraction there than in orbit or in any other part of the planet. The accretion of the the fissile material is very unlikely to occur there, but instead it would accrete in the mantle or at the rim of the core.

However, let's say the "fission ball" did accrete and go critical. The other materials would act as "dampers" to regulate the reaction to some level of activity and provide the excess heat. Once the dampers or "modifiers" boiled out over some period of time, the fissile material might coalesce.

But I have a question: how much excess heat is there? I've done net searches every way I can think of to find the figure and came up empty. Anyone have the number?

Ozman

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=2 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>[ozman]: how much excess heat is there? I've done net searches every way I can think of to find the figure and came up empty. Anyone have the number?<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

<i>Pushing Gravity</i> has a table of solar inputs to, and excess heat flows from, the large planets, Earth, and our Moon.

Despite the proliferation of the internet, most things in books aren't there yet, and won't be anytime soon because of copyright laws. -|Tom|-

The excess heat can be estimated by several paths. The way currently favored by science directors gives an answer. Another way is use of blackbody law that gives another answer. Also, there are several combinations that can be generated. So, there is no mystery here only a lack of focus on the problem.