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Thorium reactors anyone?
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=13112		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  JohnSheridan [ Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Thorium reactors anyone?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comm ... orium.html

Fascinating read.

Now if only the coalition could have a long term view and invest in this project.
Author:  adidan [ Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thorium reactors anyone?
We've been talking about this in the Japan thread.

It's been known about for decades, if only they'd get off their arses and do something.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thorium reactors anyone?
Actually if we scrapped Trident it would eliminate our need for the current technologies as we would not need to generate any plutonium waste. In fact it could be used to eliminate existing stocks of plutonium.
Author:  jonbwfc [ Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thorium reactors anyone?
Amnesia10 wrote:
Actually if we scrapped Trident it would eliminate our need for the current technologies as we would not need to generate any plutonium waste. In fact it could be used to eliminate existing stocks of plutonium.

It strikes me that, given the US and Russia have reduced their stocks of nuclear warheads significantly, there must actually be a surplus of weapons-grade plutonium in the world, given it has a half-life of roughly 100 years. I assume what's spare is under heavy guard to make sure crazy people don't get their hands on it. There should be no reason at all for plutonium production to be a factor in the next generation of nuclear power stations.

Jon
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thorium reactors anyone?
When you consider that Cornwall has thorium we could end up being energy independent for another century. A great outcome.
Author:  cloaked_wolf [ Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thorium reactors anyone?
Sounds a little too good to be true. I'd love to believe this would work and is something I'd fund if in power. As for public outcry, well it's not as if the Govt listen anyway.
Author:  ProfessorF [ Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thorium reactors anyone?
cloaked_wolf wrote:
Sounds a little too good to be true.


I don't think so - I think the nuclear industry has business to protect, and the original research was done with weapons in mind as much as abundant power generation. For that very simple reason, it was passed over in favour of the more easily weaponised elements.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thorium reactors anyone?
cloaked_wolf wrote:
Sounds a little too good to be true. I'd love to believe this would work and is something I'd fund if in power. As for public outcry, well it's not as if the Govt listen anyway.

I am not anti nuclear, I am more concerned with public safety. If that is done properly then I would think that we should go ahead, and ignore any vested interests. Also if we as a nation are first to solve any problems we get a new export opportunity which will help get us out of the mess we are in as a nation.
Author:  HeatherKay [ Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thorium reactors anyone?
Amnesia10 wrote:
Also if we as a nation are first to solve any problems we get a new export opportunity which will help get us out of the mess we are in as a nation.


What a beautiful picture you paint.

What a shame it's never going to happen. Too many vested interests, too much control from the military-industrial-academic complex. I doubt we are ever going to see any British politician ever put country before selling their (and our) souls for the new world order.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Wed Mar 23, 2011 7:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thorium reactors anyone?
HeatherKay wrote:
Amnesia10 wrote:
Also if we as a nation are first to solve any problems we get a new export opportunity which will help get us out of the mess we are in as a nation.


What a beautiful picture you paint.

What a shame it's never going to happen. Too many vested interests, too much control from the military-industrial-academic complex. I doubt we are ever going to see any British politician ever put country before selling their (and our) souls for the new world order.

Well if they still need to produce plutonium they can still build the odd fast breeder reactor on some military base, also it does not mean that the existing nuclear plants are obsolete. They can still operate but with their plutonium being destroyed in thorium reactors solving the waste problem. Also since existing plants will need to be decommissioned they will need to earn the funds to pay for that decommissioning. So why not get the thorium reactors to pay as well effectively subsidising the old plants?
Author:  ProfessorF [ Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thorium reactors anyone?
I tweeted this article to someone last night, and I've seen it being bounced around the twitterverse all day, including a very optimistic tweet to Barack Obama. :lol:
Author:  l3v1ck [ Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thorium reactors anyone?
JohnSheridan wrote:
Now if only the coalition could have a long term view and invest in this project.

As I understand it the Chinese are planning to invest in Thorium reactors. We could buy a few off them.
Author:  JJW009 [ Thu Mar 24, 2011 1:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thorium reactors anyone?
l3v1ck wrote:
As I understand it the Chinese are planning to invest in Thorium reactors. We could buy a few off them.

It does say that on Wiki.

I bet they'd be cheaper than we could build, and probably more reliable. The instruction manual might be hard to understand though.
Author:  adidan [ Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thorium reactors anyone?
l3v1ck wrote:
As I understand it the Chinese are planning to invest in Thorium reactors. We could buy a few off them.

You can rely on the Chinese as a Nation to plan long term, that's one of the things I've admired about them. I may have to dig about for info on the prototype pebble bed nuclear reactor they've built.
Author:  belchingmatt [ Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thorium reactors anyone?
The media is so focused on Libya that I didn't even hear of these until today.

Oldbury, Bristol.

Pickering, Canada.

Quote:
"People are concerned about nuclear power, but this particular incident is normal water with a bit of radiation. It is well below our regulatory and other limits," OPG's Ted Gruetzner told CTV News Channel Wednesday afternoon.

In a statement, the OPG said the leak will have no impact on the quality of drinking water and poses no risk to human health.

Environment Canada and the CNSC are monitoring the situation.

Demineralized water is water completely free of dissolved minerals and not heavy water, which is used to moderate a nuclear reaction.

John Luxat, a radiation expert with McMaster University, says demineralized water is essentially distilled water used to feed steam generators.

"It is not radioactive; it is not going through the reactors. It is actually just going through steam generators to produce steam to drive the turbines," Luxat told CTV News Channel.


Bit of a contradiction there.
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