Did you know that nuclear power is actually considered cleaner than traditional fossil fuel-based energy? However, it seems that accidents at nuclear reactors have created a bad image of this energy source, but scientists in China are hoping that their plan to build a "clean" nuclear reactor might be able to change people's minds.
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What's different about this nuclear reactor is that instead of using uranium, they'll use thorium. They also won't use fuel rods, but rather molten salt reactors. How does this all work? The thorium will be dissolved in the liquid fluoride salt before it's sent into the chamber. At extremely high temperatures of 600C, the thorium atoms will be converted into uranium-233, an isotope of uranium that can then split and release energy and neutrons, thus creating nuclear fission.
The difference compared to using uranium is that this process is safer than more traditional nuclear reactors. This is because if there is a leak, the molten salt is expected to cool down enough to help seal in the thorium and prevent significant leaks. The waste from the reaction also has a relatively shorter half-life of 500 years compared to uranium reactors whose waste can remain radioactive for up to 10,000 years.
It also doesn't require water, so nuclear reactors could be installed in places far from densely populated cities, such as the desert. Most importantly, this process to make it harder to produce nuclear weapons, thus reducing concerns that it could add to a country's nuclear weapons stockpile.
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A prototype reactor is expected to be launched in August, with testing to begin in September. Assuming everything goes well, a full-scale commercial reactor could be ready by 2030.
Information source: ubergizmo.com
