LFTR in 5 Minutes - THORIUM REMIX 2011

http://thoriumremix.com/2012/ Thorium is readily available & can be turned into energy without generating transuranic wastes. Thorium's capacity as nuclear fuel was discovered during WW II, but ignored because it was unsuitable for making bombs. A liquid-fluoride thorium reactor (LFTR) is the optimal approach for harvesting energy from Thorium, and has the potential to solve today's energy/climate crisis. LFTR is a type of Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (Th-MSR). This video summarizes over 6 hours worth of thorium talks given by Kirk Sorensen and other thorium technologists.

THORIUM REMIX 2011 starts with a 5 minute TL;WL summary, to hold you over until you find your Ritalin.

To learn more about the Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor visit: http://energyfromthorium.com/

See http://THORIUMREMIX.com/ for full list of multimedia source material.

Key YouTube video components:

Kirk Sorensen @ TEDxYYC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2vzotsvvkw

Kirk Sorensen @ Protospace - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVSmf_qmkbg

Kirk Sorensen @ MRU - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3rL08J7fDA

Kirk Sorensen @ TEAC3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-uxvSVIGtU

Kirk Sorensen @ Dr. Kiki Science Hour #84 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEpnpyd-jbw

After Fukushima: The Fear Factor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVQ0NvEcyqw

Robert Hargraves @ TEAC3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOoBTufkEog

Alexander Cannara @ TEAC3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUVq81kBKyk

James Kennedy @ TEAC3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrDeB86YpV4

Q: What is thorium and what makes it special?

A: Thorium is a naturally-occuring mineral that holds large amounts of releasable nuclear energy, similar to uranium. This nuclear energy can be released in a special nuclear reactor designed to use thorium. Thorium is special because it is easier to extract this energy completely than uranium due to some of the chemical and nuclear properties of thorium.

Q: What is a liquid-fluoride reactor?

A: A liquid-fluoride nuclear reactor is different than conventional nuclear reactors that use solid fuel elements. A liquid-fluoride reactor uses a solution of several fluoride salts, typically lithium fluoride, beryllium fluoride, and uranium tetrafluoride, as its basic nuclear fuel. The fluoride salts have a number of advantages over solid fuels. They are impervious to radiation damage, they can be chemically processed in the form that they are in, and they have a high capacity to hold thermal energy (heat). Additional nuclear fuel can be added or withdrawn from the salt solution during normal operation.

Q: Are the salts safe?

A: Very safe. Unlike other coolants considered for high-performance reactors (like liquid sodium) the salts will not react dangerously with air or water. This is because they are already in their most stable chemical form. Their properties do not change even under intense radiation, unlike all solid forms of nuclear fuel.

Q: What is nuclear waste and how does a liquid-fluoride reactor address this issue?

A: So-called "nuclear waste" or spent-nuclear fuel is produced in conventional (solid-core) nuclear reactors because they are unable to extract all of the nuclear energy from their fuel before they have to shutdown. LFTR addresses this issue by using a form of nuclear fuel (liquid-fluoride salts of thorium) that allow complete extraction of nuclear energy from the fuel.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• LFTR
• Liquid
• Fluoride
• Thorium
• Reactor
• Molten
• Salt
• Kirk Sorensen
• Eugene Wigner
• Alvin Weinberg
• clean
• green
• energy
• CO2
• Elizabeth May
• greens
• Calgary
• nuclear
• power
• fission
• atomic
• radioactive
• waste

[OperationCrossroad]

It's really unfortunate that Elizabeth May just doesn't get it.

[gordonmcdowell]

@OperationCrossroad I do not know how if Elizabeth May has watched this or not. I've sent her copies. She sent a letter back citing proliferation concerns and thanking me for my persistence. But I first tried to get her to learn about LFTR in 2009, and I can't say she's ever consumed anything beyond CCNR anti-nuclear materials (which includes thorium... if it involves fission, they don't like it). Real shame for Canada, and for our Green Party.

[Steuben1978]

Sorry after the disaster with the THTR-300 in germany iam absolutly not convinced that Thorium reactors are an alternative? Whats the difference with this reactor? Why should it be any better?

[gordonmcdowell]

@Steuben1978 "What is the difference with this reactor?" THTR-300 = pebble bed [solid fuel] core. LFTR = liquid fuel. In my video, which I'm sure you've TAKEN THE TIME TO WATCH, Kirk points out why solid fuel is not optimal for safety or efficiency. If you search for RALUCA TEAC3 you can hear a pitch for an new thoruim pebble bed reactor design. That might contain information more in line with your concerns of the German reactor.

[maximumcorruption]

Don't want to sound dumb or anything. But is that liquid fluoride the same stuff they put in out toothpaste? Just sayin.... Has anyone researched the origins of fluoride? How it was originally used. What it does to the brain? etc etc.

[gordonmcdowell]

@maximumcorruption NO ONE has researched the origins of fluoride. Note to self... research the origins of fluoride. Thanks!

[gordonmcdowell]

@FashionOneAsia Thorium has one stable isotope. You mine it. That's the isotope you find. As compared to Uranium, where the most useful isotope is a rare one. No one is claiming molten salt isn't corrosive. What is being claimed is that is a manageable problem. Your name isn't Kevin Meyerson is it? Somehow he manages to keep popping up, posting comments that don't really advance the conversation and only cause confusion. Good to have a hobby.

[gordonmcdowell]

@FashionOneAsia 59:29 Kirk talks about fast breeders and why he's not a fan of sodium. Why do people comment on a video they haven't watched?

[OperationCrossroad]

@gordonmcdowell

Have you ever considered trying to contact Rick Mercer? You know: Rick Mercer, that CBC comedian guy from Newfoundland?

Rick Mercer is a pretty smart guy and he has the ear of Elizabeth May (and of a lot of people in the Green party). So, if Mercer understands how interesting LFTR (i.e.: it is nuclear energy done the right way), he might be able to help Liz May see the light.

It's a long shot for sure, but it may worth trying.

Cheers.

[KenMacMillan]

That was a long 5 minutes.

[Steuben1978]

@gordonmcdowell

Wow such a quick answer! Very cool! Since iam not a scientist its very hard to form a valid opinion about stuff like this. Unfortunatly nuclear power is dead in germany! Everybody including one Person in my family thinks solar and wind is the way to go! Which is ridicilous! The problem for people like me is, that you cant offer an acceptable Alternative. Maybe Thorium is that alternative!

[then33k4]

probably the most insightful documentary i have watched this year.