The Thorium Molten-Salt Reactor: Why Didn't This Happen (and why is now the right time?)

Google Tech Talk
December 16, 2011

Presented by Kirk Sorensen

• Category

  Science & Technology

[steverg2]

The oil industry doesn't have any "power" of their own, they're just people pulling resources out of the ground and selling them. The power lies in the force of the state, and their ability to use that force keep the market closed. In absence of a state, the oil industry has no means to secure this monopoly. Diffused, smaller potential benefits to consumers vs. concentrated, huge potential losses for a small group. The small group will always try to corner the market with state force.

[Karriem Perry]

Write your Congressperson and tell them!!!!

[vlad jave]

has any body asked " why don't we just start building copies of ORNL reactor just to start us on MSR and then improve on this when money starts pouring in " ?

[mykmlr]

Another lie. 30 years MINIMUM to build the very first fusion reactor, and 40 years MINIMUM to design and build an LFTR fleet.

[mykmlr]

Yes, let's engineer better safer ways to do things.

Like mandate solar and terminate nuclear.

Easy and simple. Use the great minds to NOT do nuclear.

See?

[mykmlr]

No. Every attempt to upconvert to the 'magic ratio' have failed, only producing MORE reactor waste.

[mykmlr]

Helium cooling cannot be used for the 'drag out' I mentioned. Give it up. The China Syndrome is a result of LOC which WILL happen with a thorium reactor because of the 235U reactor core.

[Tom Delta]

I never once said 232Th is self sustainable. You mentioned of 'China syndrome'

Helium cooling can be utilized, Radon > Polonium can be managed during their decay to alpha isotopes

[mykmlr]

One more time. 232Th will not self sustain. THEREFORE: TONS of 2% 235U / 8%239Pu reactor core with 232Th as a JACKET is the bare minimum for chain reaction.

As for 3He cooling, forget it. 3He leaks and drags 222Ra out with it. It will pass through 1" stainless. So much for that idea.

[Tom Delta]

Yes well, the enrichment politics have to stay in place... for a reason.

Only familiar with the "THTR-300 ...helium-cooled...uranium-235 / thorium-232 fuel... graphite matrix"

Only stating operations were not unclassified/advanced... for political reasons & public opinions.

[mykmlr]

BTW, that was ALUMINA, not aluminum. I was pointing out that the only experienced people on earth working in Fluorine are the aluminum smelters and NOTHING keeps that corrosive stuff in.