How come everyone doesn't use thorium reactors instead of uranium?

[brainhulk]

i was reading there's a lower chance of this meltdown bizzness with thorium

 

[rcpratt]

How cum we need so many difrent threads?

 

[Ichinisan]

How cum we need so many difrent threads?

This. Srsly.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Because the Japanese make everything better. We don't dare question their genius.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Because you touch your uranium rod at night and create more spent fuel.

 

[ussfletcher]

Because the Japanese make everything better. We don't dare question their genius.

I thought the reactors were of an American design.

 

[TridenT]

Because there is not a completely functional one that is made to power many homes built already.

 

[Fritzo]

I know they've been talking about this for at least the last 5 years. Not sure.

EDIT: I did some checking because this peaked my interest. Apparently in the 40's, they decided against using thorium in reactors because of the weapons grade uranium they needed. You have to bombard thorium to make is fissle, and it becomes U-233. U-233 is a highly efficient energy producer, but the weapons grade is a high gamma ray emitter. One bomb would give off radiation particles with a half life of 150000 years. On the other hand U-235 (what we use today in reactors) produces weapons grade uranium, and when a bomb is detonated, the particles have a half life of 27 days.

So, they're using uranium so they could make bombs that don't sterilize the planet. India is currently bringing a thorium reactor on line, and wishes to become the next "middle east" of thorium energy. The US, Brazil, and Australia also have massive stores, so a conversion could be on the way if India gets the tech down.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Not enough Vespene Gas.

 

[Jesusthewererabbit]

Because we are waiting on dilithium crystals.


duh

 

[brainhulk]

Because there is not a completely functional one that is made to power many homes built already.

I thought india and china were already using it

 

[JTsyo]

I thought the reactors were of an American design.

Yea, they are the GE "cheap" design.

 

[Saint Nick]

So tired of the thought-provoking nuclear power threads all over the internet.

 

[cerebusPu]

i remember reading that thorium fuel was plentiful (as common as lead) and had no danger of meltdowns. On top of that, thorium reactor efficiency was much higher, such that the energy per pound of fuel used was several more times compared to uranium.

but i can only recall the good stuff, dont remember any cons.

 

[TridenT]

I thought india and china were already using it

Nope. India is building one AFAIK, but no one has one completed and working for a large scale use. (i.e. at least traditional nuclear powerplant numbers)

 

[Schadenfroh]

I thought the reactors were of an American design.

Right, a 40+ year old design

I thought india and china were already using it

Wrong

Not enough Vespene Gas.

Explains the lack of thorium reactors in South Korea and to some extent, America, but not everywhere else.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

You've obviously never heard of cobalt thorium G.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Uranium is just better. Plutonium is even better, but everyone does not like it.

 

[Pray To Jesus]

Coal, oil, and natural gas conglomerates don't want you to get cheap and safe nuclear energy. Duh.

 

[Brainonska511]

You've obviously never heard of cobalt thorium G.

That's because it hasn't been announced yet. It was to be announced on Monday at the Party Congress. As you know, the Premier loves surprises.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

That's because it hasn't been announced yet. It was to be announced on Monday at the Party Congress. As you know, the Premier loves surprises.

What a load of commie bull!

 

[Fritzo]

Uranium is just better. Plutonium is even better, but everyone does not like it.

It's not really. The only reason uranium was chosen in the first place is for the military side applications. Treated thorium is much more efficient and much more plentiful than uranium.

 

[exdeath]

So tired of the thought-provoking nuclear power threads all over the internet.

Isn't it great how average people see things in the news for the first time then spend two hours on Google and suddenly they know things that the greatest nuclear scientists of the last 7 decades couldn't figure out :awe:

 

[aigomorla]

Isn't it great how average people see things in the news for the first time then spend two hours on Google and suddenly they know things that the greatest nuclear scientists of the last 7 decades couldn't figure out :awe:

lol...

gotta love the 21st century...

22nd century i bet you could probably get a pHD in Google. as a subject.


Serious note, id think new = more money = something the world doesn't have after 2007.