An alternative to uranium for power generation.

Discussion in 'The big picture' started by ho-hum, Apr 14, 2006.

  1. ho-hum

    ho-hum New Member

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    I saw a fascinating newsgrab last week on an aussie scientist who states we have no need to use uranium for power generation. We can use thorium instead.

    here's the link https://www.aussmc.org/Uranium_debate_Re ... Nezhad.php


    He also stated that in the 50s when nuclear power was being explored it was decided to go with uranium [apparently by Pres. Truman USA] because the by-product of this would produce plutonium which was 'necessary' for building a weapons arsenal.

    Thorium is not a fissile material meaning that it cannot sustain a chain reaction a la 'the china syndrome' and melt down the reactor. It can be turned on and off safely.

    I found this link with a lot of material on Thorium interestingly called 'perma-fix'. https://www.thorium-waste.com/index.html this has a lot more techno-jargon in it.

    This technology has been around for many years, I think what is different with the aussie technology it doesnt use uranium 235 as a kick-start but shoots a particle beam at a block of lead to make it give off neutrons.

    I know that fossil fuel power stations were no good and certainly the so-called 'clean green' power coming out of a reactor produced nasty by-products and nasty accidents.

    1. The International Atomic Energy Agency should tell Iran or anyone else to build all the thorium reactors they need.
    2. Same goes for China
    3. We do not 'need' to sell our uranium as we have the world's largest thorium deposits - sell that instead.


    Be aware that thorium is still a radioactive substance and can certainly cause cancers. Solar, wind, tidal are all preferable technologies but for some countries they may not be an option.

    Research links


    https://www.scescape.net/~woods/elements/thorium.html
    https://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf62.htm
    https://www.abc.net.au/quantum/scripts98 ... umscpt.htm I like the idea of this stuff...e ] [url]https://www.sea-us.org.au/index.html
     

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