Concerning Fusion
In his 2009 TED discussion, Professor Steven Cowley of the Imperial College in London painted his picture for the future of energy production across the globe. In this projection, Cowley explains that "the perfect energy source is one that doesn't take up much space, has a virtually inexhaustible supply, is safe, doesn't put any carbon into the atmosphere, doesn't leave any long-lived radioactive waste: it's fusion" This hypothesis certainly stands to be valid as, empirically, fusion power stands to offer the planet a bounty of non-hydro-carbonaceous energy. However Cowley also concedes that the world is under the ever constant and increasingly problematic constraint of time. He outlines that there are "perhaps 100 years of fossil fuels left" and concludes his talk with an uncertain date for the development of functional fusion power production "sometime in the 2030s" Here is where my issue with Cowley's energy solution arises: Essentially, pushing for an unconfirmed energy solution that will not be in prototype stages until a fourth of the one hundred year fossil fuel burnout deadline is gone, is frankly too large of a chance for this planet to take. Thus, I propose an alternative nuclear solution to the globe's energy problems. One that operates on environmentally sound, confirmed energy production technology, but lies on the other end of the nuclear energy spectrum in the realm of nuclear fission.
In the 1940's the United States Senate gathered the top nuclear physicists in the nation and asked them what their preferred method for nuclear fission energy was. These scientists, members of the newly created Institute for Nuclear Studies, opted for a liberally controlled research program dedicated to the creation of clean nuclear power, fueled by Thorium (Thorium has an abundance of positives, see Mike Conley's "The Thorium Paradigm"). Upon realizing Thorium's lack of explosive applications, the United States Department of Defense attacked the McMahon Bill, which favored the scientists perspective, on the grounds that the bill did not have enough control on confidential United States nuclear secrets. The McMahon Bill was replaced with Truman's signing of the Atomic Energy Act of 1946, which gave more oversight and control to the United States Department of Defense, which subsequently pushed for the use of Uranium and Plutonium in nuclear energy production, because the enrichment of these elements during nuclear fission yields isotopes that can be harnessed within nuclear weapons (hence the Department of Defense's interest in the matter). Yet in the modern age the world must once again look toward nuclear energy and rather than attempting to develop a new type of energy as Cowley suggests, global leaders must remember the scientist's initial recommendation and make some improvements. By combining the vast technological advancements of the modern age with previously existing Thorium production ideas, nuclear physicists have developed a safe nuclear power plant which stands to produce all of the world's conventional grid energy much sooner than Cowley's fusion dreams.
It seems a ridiculous premise, clean nuclear energy, no nuclear bombs, and no harmful waste? Such things must only exist in science fiction right? Not at all. Adapting Molten Salt Fuel reactors has led to the development of the Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor (LFTR, pronounced 'lifter') These reactors operate at lower temperatures than conventional reactors, can recycle over 90% of waste produced, and produce minimal amounts of alpha wave radioactive waste which is not harmful to humans, plus this radioactive waste decays to a non radioactive isotope in 300 years, as opposed to the 2500+ years of Uranium and Plutonium. Furthermore, LFTRs can be powered by existing radioactive waste and nuclear warhead cores, cleaning the world of 60 years of dirty nuclear power. Plus, these reactors are already being developed, not only by the Chinese Thorium MSR project (currently developing Two reactors, one to be operational in 2015 and one in 2017) but also by private firms like Filbe Energy, which not only coined LFTRs as an energy source in 2006, but also worked jointly with the Thorium Energy Generation Pty. Limited, and developed a LFTR prototype in 2011. Clearly, this energy is already taking off the ground and propelling the world into a cleaner, brighter future of energy much sooner than Cowley's fusion concepts ever could.
Although Professor Cowley's plans certainly uphold a merit-able goal, he is overconfident in his prediction that nuclear fusion is the absolute future for energy production in the world. However his idea for nuclear fusion is of course commendable, and I'd support extensive research into the matter as, long term, fusion production is a valid means of energy production. But the world's consumption problem is one that must be dealt with on the short term, and LFTRs stand to be operational within the decade. Cowley described a "problem with power in the next five years" in 2009, and Thorium is already working to fix that issue on a much shorter timeline than fusion. When examining the future of energy production, its clear that there is definitely a place for fusion, but the timeline for development is too long to be acceptable as a solution to current crises. As the world is darkened by rampant energy consumption, Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors are the beacon to lead the planet into a glowing future.
In the 1940's the United States Senate gathered the top nuclear physicists in the nation and asked them what their preferred method for nuclear fission energy was. These scientists, members of the newly created Institute for Nuclear Studies, opted for a liberally controlled research program dedicated to the creation of clean nuclear power, fueled by Thorium (Thorium has an abundance of positives, see Mike Conley's "The Thorium Paradigm"). Upon realizing Thorium's lack of explosive applications, the United States Department of Defense attacked the McMahon Bill, which favored the scientists perspective, on the grounds that the bill did not have enough control on confidential United States nuclear secrets. The McMahon Bill was replaced with Truman's signing of the Atomic Energy Act of 1946, which gave more oversight and control to the United States Department of Defense, which subsequently pushed for the use of Uranium and Plutonium in nuclear energy production, because the enrichment of these elements during nuclear fission yields isotopes that can be harnessed within nuclear weapons (hence the Department of Defense's interest in the matter). Yet in the modern age the world must once again look toward nuclear energy and rather than attempting to develop a new type of energy as Cowley suggests, global leaders must remember the scientist's initial recommendation and make some improvements. By combining the vast technological advancements of the modern age with previously existing Thorium production ideas, nuclear physicists have developed a safe nuclear power plant which stands to produce all of the world's conventional grid energy much sooner than Cowley's fusion dreams.
It seems a ridiculous premise, clean nuclear energy, no nuclear bombs, and no harmful waste? Such things must only exist in science fiction right? Not at all. Adapting Molten Salt Fuel reactors has led to the development of the Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor (LFTR, pronounced 'lifter') These reactors operate at lower temperatures than conventional reactors, can recycle over 90% of waste produced, and produce minimal amounts of alpha wave radioactive waste which is not harmful to humans, plus this radioactive waste decays to a non radioactive isotope in 300 years, as opposed to the 2500+ years of Uranium and Plutonium. Furthermore, LFTRs can be powered by existing radioactive waste and nuclear warhead cores, cleaning the world of 60 years of dirty nuclear power. Plus, these reactors are already being developed, not only by the Chinese Thorium MSR project (currently developing Two reactors, one to be operational in 2015 and one in 2017) but also by private firms like Filbe Energy, which not only coined LFTRs as an energy source in 2006, but also worked jointly with the Thorium Energy Generation Pty. Limited, and developed a LFTR prototype in 2011. Clearly, this energy is already taking off the ground and propelling the world into a cleaner, brighter future of energy much sooner than Cowley's fusion concepts ever could.
Although Professor Cowley's plans certainly uphold a merit-able goal, he is overconfident in his prediction that nuclear fusion is the absolute future for energy production in the world. However his idea for nuclear fusion is of course commendable, and I'd support extensive research into the matter as, long term, fusion production is a valid means of energy production. But the world's consumption problem is one that must be dealt with on the short term, and LFTRs stand to be operational within the decade. Cowley described a "problem with power in the next five years" in 2009, and Thorium is already working to fix that issue on a much shorter timeline than fusion. When examining the future of energy production, its clear that there is definitely a place for fusion, but the timeline for development is too long to be acceptable as a solution to current crises. As the world is darkened by rampant energy consumption, Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors are the beacon to lead the planet into a glowing future.
I enjoyed reading that one, Avery. Very well thought-out, and very informative! I had never heard of the politics behind the thorium vs. uranium/plutonium debate back in the 40s, that is too interesting! Just imagine where we'd be on this technology if we had instead dedicated all of those resources to thorium and other variations on LFTRs way back then...
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