Nuclear timeline with focus on thorium power

[davidm]

Interesting timeline on the development of nuclear power with particular focus on thorium as a future generating source. They take you back to the dawn of the nuclear age to put things in full historical perspective.

In this link from the above timeline, Robert Hargraves in 2009 in a video makes a case for his belief in the various advantages of thorium based nuclear power including environmental and cost. Lots of technical discussion. It runs about an hour with a short Q & A at the end.

[davidm]

Then of course there is that rather basic question. Countries have been experimenting with thorium for a half a century. So why hasn't a commercially viable thorium power plant been built?

[anonposter]

Because no one has actually tried to build one (the money that should have gone into it instead went to fast breeders). It's also very different to basically any other type of power plant out there and isn't what you'd make if you want the bomb.

The thorium cycle also requires good neutron economy so not all reactor designs can handle it well (and its advantages aren't anywhere near as great if you use solid fuel).

[jagdish]

If you use thorium in the blanket of the fast breeders, you can get U233 fissile. Metallic Th-U233 fuel could be the next fuel evolution. Hopefully, Indians will go this route. They are using Thorium as part of the blanket of their PFBR.