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JohnSheridan
Doesn't have much of a life
Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:10 pm
Posts: 1057
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comm ... orium.htmlFascinating read. Now if only the coalition could have a long term view and invest in this project.
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| Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:01 pm |
 
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adidan
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:43 pm
Posts: 5048
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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.
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Fogmeister I ventured into Solitude but didn't really do much.
jonbwfc I was behind her in a queue today - but I wouldn't describe it as 'bushy'.
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| Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:51 pm |
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Amnesia10
Legend
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am
Posts: 29240
Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
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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.
_________________Do concentrate, 007... "You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds." https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTkhttp://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21
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| Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:01 pm |
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jonbwfc
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:26 pm
Posts: 17040
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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
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| Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:10 pm |
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Amnesia10
Legend
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am
Posts: 29240
Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
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When you consider that Cornwall has thorium we could end up being energy independent for another century. A great outcome.
_________________Do concentrate, 007... "You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds." https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTkhttp://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21
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| Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:30 pm |
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cloaked_wolf
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:46 pm
Posts: 10022
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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.
_________________ He fights for the users.
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| Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:25 pm |
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ProfessorF
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:56 pm
Posts: 12030
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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.
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| Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:16 pm |
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Amnesia10
Legend
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am
Posts: 29240
Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
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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. _________________Do concentrate, 007... "You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds." https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTkhttp://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21
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| Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:55 pm |
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HeatherKay
Moderator
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:13 pm
Posts: 7262
Location: Here, but not all there.
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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. _________________My Flickr | Snaptophobic BloggageHeather Kay: modelling details that matter. "Let my windows be open to receive new ideas but let me also be strong enough not to be blown away by them." - Mahatma Gandhi.
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| Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:00 pm |
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Amnesia10
Legend
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am
Posts: 29240
Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
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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? _________________Do concentrate, 007... "You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds." https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTkhttp://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21
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| Wed Mar 23, 2011 7:31 pm |
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ProfessorF
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:56 pm
Posts: 12030
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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. 
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| Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:00 pm |
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l3v1ck
What's a life?
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 10:21 am
Posts: 12700
Location: The Right Side of the Pennines (metaphorically & geographically)
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As I understand it the Chinese are planning to invest in Thorium reactors. We could buy a few off them.
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| Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:49 pm |
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JJW009
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:58 pm
Posts: 8767
Location: behind the sofa
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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. _________________jonbwfc's law: "In any forum thread someone will, no matter what the subject, mention Firefly." When you're feeling too silly for x404, youRwired.net
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| Thu Mar 24, 2011 1:23 am |
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adidan
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:43 pm
Posts: 5048
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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.
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Fogmeister I ventured into Solitude but didn't really do much.
jonbwfc I was behind her in a queue today - but I wouldn't describe it as 'bushy'.
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| Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:03 am |
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belchingmatt
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 3:16 am
Posts: 6146
Location: Middle Earth
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The media is so focused on Libya that I didn't even hear of these until today. Oldbury, Bristol.Pickering, Canada.Bit of a contradiction there.
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| Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:02 am |
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