Thorium, US energy independence and Obama´s Sputnik moment

coachisright.com ^ | MAY 17TH, 2011 | Carlos Calwianka, staff writer

[jmaroneps37]

Back in the 1950´s RC Briant, a scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, worked to develop a long range nuclear powered plane to carry atomic bombs and first proposed reactor fuel be dissolved in liquid fluoride salts. A test reactor proved Briant´s idea both feasible and advantageous.

Later Alvin Weinberg, Director of Oak Ridge saw that molten fluoride salt could harness thorium-an abundant if slightly radioactive substance-and a 2nd reactor -the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment was built and operated for several years.

It proved control rods were unnecessary and a liquid fluoride thorium reactor (LFTR) could be safe and serve to decontaminate nuclear waste. The push for atomic weapons, however, shelved the non weapon material producing LFTR.

But the scientists were impressed with these reactors. A whopping 98% of thorium was consumed with this new process whereas only .6% of uranium was used up with traditional solid fuel reactors that left behind ample nuclear waste.

When stacked up against the energy costs associated with various sources, thorium is stunning. One lb. of Thorium according to Nobel laureate Carlo Rubbia is equal to 200 lbs. of uranium, or a breathtaking 3.5 million lbs. of coal.

Fuel costs for thorium are a tiny $0.00004/kWh versus coal and natural gas at less than 10 cents/kWh; conventional nuclear at approximately 10 cents /kWh; wind appx. 14 cents /kWh; solar thermal about 26 cents/kWh and solar photovoltaic a hefty 40 cents/kWh.

The U.S.G.S.’ estimate of 915,000 tons of high quality thorium ore (just considering holdings in Idaho and Montana) establish the U.S. as arguably the #1 thorium holding nation in the world.

Now if Obama is known for anything it is for his majestic non-sequiturs. His 2011 State of the Union….. He stated: “This is our generation’s Sputnik moment”. …..

[SeeSac]

Thanks. That storage capacitor I referenced (2% per day) was for voltage .... energy would be down 4% per day.

[thackney]

I think the Caps will have a better fit in hybrids than all electrics.

It will probably get better with new advances.