Nuclear Energy
- Thread starter Strangelove
- Start date
If nuclear is to scale up in India and China then fast reactors and fuel reprocessing need to happen.
There are only enough uranium reserves in the world for like a hundred years of energy consumption, but with plutonium produced by fast reactors this same fuel would provide the world with energy for thousands of years.
Regular LWRs with the regular once through fuel cycle only covert a couple percent of the fuel into useable power, while fast reactors can convert most of it. Like 20x more.
There are only enough uranium reserves in the world for like a hundred years of energy consumption, but with plutonium produced by fast reactors this same fuel would provide the world with energy for thousands of years.
Regular LWRs with the regular once through fuel cycle only covert a couple percent of the fuel into useable power, while fast reactors can convert most of it. Like 20x more.
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China is already at 10 reactors per year.
My guess is that they're satisfied with this rate as:
1. Wind+Solar+Batteries look like a cheaper and faster option.
2. Nuclear is more expensive, but cheaper than coal. However, it is guaranteed.
3. So nuclear will end up about 15% of the overall energy mix in China
Coal has a lot of hidden issues. Besides the health issues caused by mining and burning coal, it is high volume, you need to transport it to the power plant. This typically needs railways and dedicated trains and wagons.
In China you have the issue you need to transport coal from the mines in the north to the south of the country. The alternative is coal imports by boat but this causes dependency issues.
In China you have the issue you need to transport coal from the mines in the north to the south of the country. The alternative is coal imports by boat but this causes dependency issues.
China build power generation stations in the coal region and use HVDC lines to transport the outputs to the coastal regions.
No real need for fast reactors.
With clever engineering possible to reach 1 breeding ratio with light water as well.
Throium is interesting, because the U233-Th232 has better neutron economy than U238-Pu239.
Means reaching 1 breading ratio with Pu239 require fast reactor, without moderator.
U233-Th232 possible with thermal neutrons,with moderator.
I calculated it 15 years ago, actually there are deisng proposals to modify normal light water reactor for closed fuel cycle.
Search keyword:"Radkowsky thorium reactor"
Of course the real problem is how to breed U233 in first place, and of course from USA standpoint anyone having reprocessing capacity means they are days away from nuke.