Posted on 07/28/2021 10:27:48 AM PDT by dynachrome
Chinese government scientists have unveiled plans for a first-of-its-kind, experimental nuclear reactor that does not need water for cooling.
The molten-salt nuclear reactor, which runs on liquid thorium rather than uranium, is expected to be safer than traditional reactors because the molten salt cools and solidifies quickly when exposed to the air, insulating the thorium, so that any potential leak would spill much less radiation into the surrounding environment compared with leaks from traditional reactors.
The prototype reactor is expected to be completed next month, with the first tests beginning as early as September. This will pave the way for the building of the first commercial reactor, slated for construction by 2030.
As this type of reactor doesn't require water, it will be able to operate in desert regions. The location of the first commercial reactor will be in the desert city of Wuwei, and the Chinese government has plans to build more across the sparsely populated deserts and plains of western China, as well as up to 30 in countries involved in China's "Belt and Road" initiative — a global investment program that will see China invest in the infrastructure of 70 countries.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
Of interest to you?
But way ahead of everything everyone else does.
Why aren’t we testing one here?
“Corrosion caused by the hot salt cracked pipes and the weak radioactivity of thorium makes it very difficult for fission reactions to build up to sustainable levels without adding uranium.”
It’s not clear, from the article, whether the Chinese were able to remove this uranium requirement. Requiring uranium kind of spoils the point.
So, we here in the US were concerned with the “china syndrome” (per jane fonda) so would the chinese be concerned about the ‘US syndrome’? Do kids in china think if they dig a hole deep enough they’ll get to the US?
Liberals.......................
A minor quibble - it actually does run on Uranium. Thorium 232 absorbs a neutron and becomes fissile U-233.
Sounds like a high tech version of Slime, a self-sealing goo for bicycle tires. That doesn’t work that well...
I’m not that big of a fan of fission. 10,000 years from now we will still have to wear masks to visit Chernobyl. As a ferinstance.
But fission has powered a lot of countries, submarines, and aircraft carriers.
I see it as an interim solution to LENR.
Thorium is a good idea. Reactors built in China are not.
A prototype was set up and was producing power, but only as a “demonstration”. Because the thorium-fueled molten salt reactor does not produce plutonium, which can be refined into bomb grade, the line of research was pretty much abandoned here in the US. The Indian government did take a great deal of interest in this technology, and is known to be working on it, but apparently the Chinese are much further along. At least their propaganda is.
Almost limitless, reliable and non-polluting source of energy. Everybody should be using it.
“When bombarded with high energy neutrons, thorium atoms transform into uranium-233, an isotope of uranium which can then split, releasing energy and even more neutrons through a process called nuclear fission. This starts a chain reaction”
And where do these high energy neutrons come from?
This is the generation technology of the figure. Because it doesn’t depend on water cooling it can be located where power is needed rather than where water is available.
“Why aren’t we testing one here?”
Because we just can’t imprison or kill those who would try to thwart any efforts.
“Why aren’t we testing one here?”
In the process, I’m not necessarily happy with the players involved.
Do not trust ANYTHING the Chinese do, say or report.
We should have built one of these, and done it years ago. The US has lost the innovation edge when it comes to fission energy production - China is now leading the way. Meanwhile, we continue to import solar panels that China builds for us but is far too smart to rely on itself.
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