It isn't. In fact I've written about this extensively. Thorium reactors are nothing more than molten salt reactors or MSR's. In fact, you can take spent nuclear fuel already in Yucca to power MSR's and do away with that fuel altogether. MSR's are small, compact, can be easily built, are very low radiation because they have a lower operating temperature. The designs aren't very complicated and maintenance isn't as nearly as extensive as current fission reactors. Also, you can build them in mass production, put them underground in mesh networks to power neighborhoods nationwide for 50-100 years based on their size. They have automatic shutdown sequences and if anything does go wrong, they won't explode or will be subject to terrorist threat. They are a win in my book, but government and the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) will find any way to keep them out of the hands of the American public.
Dang you, Methadras .... now I've got to go read up on a bunch off stuff that is way above my pay grade to understand how it works. My initial beginning in chemistry may help, but that's like 40+ years ago. Do you recommend any particular articles or texts on the subject?
Being facile now...maybe "molten salt reactors" is the answer for Detroit. The entire city is undermined by one giant salt mine. Now and then they give tours. I half assed expected they'd volunteer for nuclear waste disposal, but Yucca Mountain won out...yay!
Okay, now I will go and actually learn WTF this is all about. Taking Methadras name in vain periodically, of course :-)
PopSci is a great mag. I've been subscribed to it for about 5 years. It's dirt cheap per year, and all the articles make this complicated too good to be true stuff sound all happy and fluffy and ready to happen tomorrow!
I had subscriptions before to both Pop Sci and Pop Mech, but somehow, down the line, they managed to deliver my copies to persons other than me...after several months of arguing I canceled.
I shall try again...it is good in-flight reading material and such, even with the very high risk that I might learn something. :-)
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Why does this idea sound too good to be true?
ReplyDeleteAnyway...I think I will subscribe to Popular Science magazine once again.
It isn't. In fact I've written about this extensively. Thorium reactors are nothing more than molten salt reactors or MSR's. In fact, you can take spent nuclear fuel already in Yucca to power MSR's and do away with that fuel altogether. MSR's are small, compact, can be easily built, are very low radiation because they have a lower operating temperature. The designs aren't very complicated and maintenance isn't as nearly as extensive as current fission reactors. Also, you can build them in mass production, put them underground in mesh networks to power neighborhoods nationwide for 50-100 years based on their size. They have automatic shutdown sequences and if anything does go wrong, they won't explode or will be subject to terrorist threat. They are a win in my book, but government and the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) will find any way to keep them out of the hands of the American public.
DeleteDang you, Methadras .... now I've got to go read up on a bunch off stuff that is way above my pay grade to understand how it works. My initial beginning in chemistry may help, but that's like 40+ years ago. Do you recommend any particular articles or texts on the subject?
DeleteHeheehe, sorry. I have that effect on people sometimes. Go here to start with. It's a good place to start.
Deletehttp://thoriummsr.com/intro/facts-about-thorium-molten-salt-reactors/
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/150551-the-500mw-molten-salt-nuclear-reactor-safe-half-the-price-of-light-water-and-shipped-to-order
Being facile now...maybe "molten salt reactors" is the answer for Detroit. The entire city is undermined by one giant salt mine. Now and then they give tours. I half assed expected they'd volunteer for nuclear waste disposal, but Yucca Mountain won out...yay!
DeleteOkay, now I will go and actually learn WTF this is all about. Taking Methadras name in vain periodically, of course :-)
PopSci is a great mag. I've been subscribed to it for about 5 years. It's dirt cheap per year, and all the articles make this complicated too good to be true stuff sound all happy and fluffy and ready to happen tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteBut seriously--it's pretty interesting stuff.
I had subscriptions before to both Pop Sci and Pop Mech, but somehow, down the line, they managed to deliver my copies to persons other than me...after several months of arguing I canceled.
DeleteI shall try again...it is good in-flight reading material and such, even with the very high risk that I might learn something. :-)