Man what's going on in Japan is really heartbreaking! We
actually have 5 members who live in Japan; I checked the billing
records and luckily they do not live in the Tsunami area so they
are probably OK, however that said we know it is a nightmare over
there for everyone, so we wish them the best as well and everyone
else over there!
Another comment regarding the nuclear reactors over there and
the possible melt down situation; I wonder if this is going to put
the breaks in the 'Nuclear Renaissance' that has been going on the
last 5 years? Depending on what happens, perhaps so,
we'll see but food for thought anyway.
-------------
Of course that said, I'm a scientist by trade (that was my
original profession), the problem is that Nuclear Power plants have
always and continue to use Uranium 235 for their fuel. The
reason why is because these reactors can generate Plutonium and
other fuel for Nuclear weapons i.e. the military had it's hand in
it early on in the 50's, and rightfully so.
However I think everyone should make the switch to
Thorium based
reactors,the benefits are very high!
- Thorium is much more abundant! While Uranium 235 is quite
rare
- The half life of the radioactive waste from a Thorium reactor
is a couple hundred years vs 100s of thousands
- melt down of reactor core not an issue
Now why haven't countries went to Thorium Based reactors?
Well for one thing the 1st world military powers needed a
source of Plutonium early on for the Arms Race. However as
you know, once a technology becomes established, it's hard to
switch over to something that may be better, when it's easy to just
stay with what you already know and have experience with, which in
this case is Uranium based Nuc reactors.
fwiw, fully expect a reaction in the us along the lines of the
gulf oil disaster. as in the administration putting a hold on
all nuc plant applications to review them in light of the impending
disaster in Japan and to see if the plants (even if located in
Kansas) can withstand a tsunami. let alone a possible meltdown of
more than one reactor at a single location. bottom line, I'm weary
of uranium miners and nuc plant builders/operators until we get
more clarity both from the us and probably the euro zone.
)don't be surprised to see a whole host of new 'rules' for existing
plants, some requiring retroactive re-fits.
if what I'm reading is correct all 3 reactors at the same plant
(adjacent to one another) are in semi-meltdown on the threshold of
full meltdown. hopefully the containment tanks will hold. US has
moved aircraft carrier and elements of 7th fleet away from that
location, 17 crew members (who had been assisting with the rescue
attempts of civilians and delivery of supplies)were exposed to
above average radiation levels, they were 'scrubbed'
clean...imho if those plants go to full meltdown, then the mkts
might get even more skittish.
I read an article a while back about a technology which allows
thorium with a small percentage of plutonium to be used as a fuel
rod in certain types of existing reactors, with only small
changes. The resultant benefit is all of the advantages of
thorium, with the added bonus of burning up some plutonium waste
from existing technology reactors.
very interesting matt. Thanks for posting the
article. Too bad, any issue you look at, there is really no
political will by any party to pursue real solutions to the
problems that face us.
Newsletter
Subscribe to our email list for regular free market updates
as well as a chance to get coupons!
Japan comments and side bit about Nuclear Energy
Posted by matt on 13th of Mar 2011 at 05:55 pm
Man what's going on in Japan is really heartbreaking! We actually have 5 members who live in Japan; I checked the billing records and luckily they do not live in the Tsunami area so they are probably OK, however that said we know it is a nightmare over there for everyone, so we wish them the best as well and everyone else over there!
Another comment regarding the nuclear reactors over there and the possible melt down situation; I wonder if this is going to put the breaks in the 'Nuclear Renaissance' that has been going on the last 5 years? Depending on what happens, perhaps so, we'll see but food for thought anyway.
-------------
Of course that said, I'm a scientist by trade (that was my original profession), the problem is that Nuclear Power plants have always and continue to use Uranium 235 for their fuel. The reason why is because these reactors can generate Plutonium and other fuel for Nuclear weapons i.e. the military had it's hand in it early on in the 50's, and rightfully so.
However I think everyone should make the switch to Thorium based reactors,the benefits are very high!
- Thorium is much more abundant! While Uranium 235 is quite rare
- The half life of the radioactive waste from a Thorium reactor is a couple hundred years vs 100s of thousands
- melt down of reactor core not an issue
Now why haven't countries went to Thorium Based reactors? Well for one thing the 1st world military powers needed a source of Plutonium early on for the Arms Race. However as you know, once a technology becomes established, it's hard to switch over to something that may be better, when it's easy to just stay with what you already know and have experience with, which in this case is Uranium based Nuc reactors.
read about it below in the article
Here's a great article to read about it
Yep, per my comments on
Posted by matt on 14th of Mar 2011 at 10:58 am
Yep, per my comments on the blog last night, looks like Uranium metal and the stocks took a major hit this morning
Nuc power in the usa
Posted by hazbin1 on 14th of Mar 2011 at 11:05 am
fwiw, fully expect a reaction in the us along the lines of the gulf oil disaster. as in the administration putting a hold on all nuc plant applications to review them in light of the impending disaster in Japan and to see if the plants (even if located in Kansas) can withstand a tsunami. let alone a possible meltdown of more than one reactor at a single location. bottom line, I'm weary of uranium miners and nuc plant builders/operators until we get more clarity both from the us and probably the euro zone. )don't be surprised to see a whole host of new 'rules' for existing plants, some requiring retroactive re-fits.
yep I assume they will,
Posted by matt on 14th of Mar 2011 at 12:13 pm
yep I assume they will, you are hearing that everywhere now, call to stop all new nuclear power plants
However as I posted over the weekend, I wish they would have a hard look at a Thorium Based reactor. Just makes so much sense to me,
Here's a great article to read about it
CNBC
Posted by hazbin1 on 14th of Mar 2011 at 11:16 am
11:15am est. talking heads discussing japan nuc crisis and 'could it happen here'...
nuc update
Posted by hazbin1 on 14th of Mar 2011 at 11:51 am
if what I'm reading is correct all 3 reactors at the same plant (adjacent to one another) are in semi-meltdown on the threshold of full meltdown. hopefully the containment tanks will hold. US has moved aircraft carrier and elements of 7th fleet away from that location, 17 crew members (who had been assisting with the rescue attempts of civilians and delivery of supplies)were exposed to above average radiation levels, they were 'scrubbed' clean...imho if those plants go to full meltdown, then the mkts might get even more skittish.
Condensed youtube presentation on LFTR's
Posted by iwedat on 14th of Mar 2011 at 07:38 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LeM-Dyuk6g
US Nuke Plants use about
Posted by jtverr on 14th of Mar 2011 at 07:18 am
US Nuke Plants use about 3% U235 and 97% U238.
Any one here concerned about
Posted by aharon on 14th of Mar 2011 at 01:26 am
Any one here concerned about radiation from the plants coming to the US on the prevailing winds?
Found this, updates every 3
Posted by aharon on 14th of Mar 2011 at 03:03 am
Found this, updates every 3 minutes. Just in case the unexpected happens.
http://www.radiationnetwork.com/RadiationNetwork.htm
Also Matt, thanks for the info on the thorium reactors very cool stuff.
Here's a link to a
Posted by aharon on 16th of Mar 2011 at 12:48 pm
Here's a link to a geiger counter in an office in Tokyo (requires a refresh to update, or press the reload button):
http://www.denphone.com/denphone-tokyo-office-geiger-counter.
Here's a link to Radiation levels across Japan, notice how the area around fukishima is "under survey" meaning censored:
http://www.targetmap.com/viewer.aspx?reportId=4870
Here is a link to up to date wind models for fallout direction, updated daily:
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/show.html
Very unlikely becos of the distance
Posted by kattap on 14th of Mar 2011 at 02:07 am
Thanks for sharing the this info, Matt.
Posted by kattap on 14th of Mar 2011 at 02:52 am
The Thorium based reactors, looks to have several key advantages. I agree it is difficult to change due that industry does not want to change.
I am sure most of it will be monetary.
If and when the change occurs more communities/regions will accept Thorium based reactors.
Thorium
Posted by dave858 on 14th of Mar 2011 at 10:09 am
I read an article a while back about a technology which allows thorium with a small percentage of plutonium to be used as a fuel rod in certain types of existing reactors, with only small changes. The resultant benefit is all of the advantages of thorium, with the added bonus of burning up some plutonium waste from existing technology reactors.
Thorium
Posted by Michael on 14th of Mar 2011 at 06:57 am
very interesting matt. Thanks for posting the article. Too bad, any issue you look at, there is really no political will by any party to pursue real solutions to the problems that face us.