China finds enough thorium for 10K years of energy

[Secure Da Bag]

MSN

Scientists estimate the mining complex could yield 1 million tonnes of thorium if fully exploited, according to The South China Post, which obtained a declassified report of the survey.

The study has claimed that thorium resources in the country's mining waste 'remain totally untouched' and if properly extracted could be large enough to end the worldwide dependence on fossil fuels.

Researchers further allege that five years' worth of mining waste from an iron ore site in Inner Mongolia contains enough thorium to meet American energy demands for over 1,000 years.

The study identified 233 thorium-rich zones across the country and, if accurate, suggests that thorium reserves in China significantly exceed previous estimates.

China, which has started to build the world's first thorium molten salt nuclear power station, was previously believed to have enough thorium reserves to meet its energy needs for 20,000 years.

..................

 

[bnew]

had to look this up.
generated by chatgpt

---

A Comprehensive Primer on Thorium Reactors​

Introduction to Thorium Reactors​

Nuclear energy has long been a key part of the global energy mix, but traditional nuclear reactors rely on uranium—specifically, the isotope uranium-235 (U-235). However, uranium-based reactors have certain challenges, such as nuclear waste management, the potential for weaponization, and the scarcity of uranium-235. One potential alternative that has gained interest in recent years is the use of thorium, a naturally abundant metal, as a fuel for nuclear reactors.


What is Thorium?

• Thorium (Th) is a naturally occurring radioactive element, more abundant in the Earth’s crust than uranium.
• Unlike uranium, thorium is not fissile by itself. However, when exposed to neutrons, it can absorb a neutron and transmute into uranium-233 (U-233), which is fissile (capable of sustaining a nuclear chain reaction).

Thorium reactors are a type of nuclear reactor that use thorium as a fuel. These reactors come with several promising advantages over conventional uranium-based reactors, particularly in terms of safety, waste management, and sustainability.

How Thorium Reactors Work​

A thorium reactor operates on the principle of converting thorium-232 (Th-232) into uranium-233 (U-233), which is then used to generate energy. This process is slightly different from traditional uranium reactors.

1. Fission Process: In conventional nuclear reactors, uranium-235 atoms undergo fission when hit by a neutron, releasing energy in the form of heat. In a thorium reactor, thorium-232 is not directly fissionable, so it must first absorb a neutron to become uranium-233, which then undergoes fission.
2. Neutron Source: To initiate the conversion of thorium to uranium-233, a small amount of uranium-235 or another fissile material is used to start the reaction. Once the process begins, the reactor can maintain the reaction using thorium.
3. Molten Salt Reactors (MSR): Many thorium reactors are designed to use a molten salt as both the coolant and the medium that carries the thorium fuel. In a Molten Salt Reactor (MSR), the thorium fuel is dissolved in a liquid fluoride salt mixture, allowing it to operate at higher temperatures and more efficiently.
4. Breeding: Thorium is a "fertile" material, meaning it can absorb neutrons and convert into a fissile material (U-233). This breeding process makes thorium reactors potentially more sustainable, as they can breed more fuel than they consume.

Key Advantages of Thorium Reactors​

1. Safety
   • Inherent Safety Features: One of the most compelling aspects of thorium reactors is their built-in safety features. For instance, thorium reactors are designed to operate at higher temperatures without the risk of a meltdown. In the event of a malfunction, the fuel would naturally cool down and shut off, preventing catastrophic failures.
   • No Long-Term Radiation Hazard: In a traditional uranium reactor, spent fuel contains long-lived, highly radioactive waste. In contrast, thorium reactors produce less long-lived waste, making the disposal problem much more manageable.
2. Less Nuclear Waste
   • Shorter Half-Lives: The waste produced from thorium reactors has a significantly shorter half-life compared to the waste from uranium reactors. This means that the hazardous period of the waste is much shorter (hundreds of years as opposed to thousands).
   • Reduced High-Level Waste: Thorium reactors generate much less high-level radioactive waste, which is a major issue with current nuclear reactors.
3. Abundance and Sustainability
   • Abundant Fuel Supply: Thorium is three to four times more abundant than uranium in the Earth's crust, and it is widely distributed. Many countries have substantial thorium reserves.
   • No Weapons Proliferation: Unlike uranium-235, which can be enriched to create nuclear weapons, uranium-233 produced in thorium reactors can be easily detected and chemically separated, making it harder to use for weapons-grade material.
4. Higher Efficiency
   • Operating Temperature: Thorium reactors, particularly molten salt reactors, can operate at higher temperatures than traditional light water reactors. This makes them more efficient at converting heat into electricity.
   • Better Fuel Utilization: Thorium reactors can make better use of the fuel they contain, potentially reducing the amount of nuclear fuel needed to generate the same amount of energy.

Challenges of Thorium Reactors​

While thorium reactors offer promising benefits, there are several challenges to overcome before they can become a mainstream energy source.

1. Technological Hurdles
   • Unproven Technology: Despite decades of theoretical research and small-scale experiments, no country has yet built a commercial thorium reactor. The technology still requires significant development, especially regarding the materials used for reactors and the management of U-233.
   • Fuel Handling: U-233 is highly radioactive, and dealing with it safely requires advanced techniques. The reactor must be designed to handle and process this material without risk to human operators or the environment.
2. Initial Investment and Infrastructure
   • Cost: Building thorium reactors, especially molten salt reactors, would likely require a significant upfront investment. The technology is still in the experimental phase, and commercial-scale reactors are years (if not decades) away from being viable.
   • Lack of Infrastructure: There is limited infrastructure for thorium fuel production and handling. It would require a complete overhaul of the current nuclear fuel cycle and supply chain.
3. Regulatory and Political Challenges
   • Regulatory Approval: New reactor designs often face significant regulatory hurdles. Given the novelty of thorium reactors, it would take time for safety standards and regulations to be established.
   • Lack of Consensus: Political and regulatory frameworks vary widely across countries, and thorium reactors would need to gain international support and consensus to overcome existing nuclear policies focused on uranium.

Thorium Reactors and China​

China has emerged as one of the most significant players in the pursuit of thorium reactor technology. The country has demonstrated a keen interest in nuclear energy as part of its efforts to transition away from fossil fuels, and thorium reactors are viewed as a potential long-term solution for sustainable and clean energy.

1. China’s Research and Development:
   • Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) Development: China has made substantial progress in developing Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) using thorium as a fuel. In 2011, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) launched a project to build a thorium-based MSR, and in 2018, they successfully began a pilot project, showcasing their commitment to advancing thorium-based nuclear technology.
   • Collaborations with International Partners: China has been collaborating with other countries, such as the United States, in the development of thorium reactors. However, due to the sensitive nature of nuclear technology, much of the research remains proprietary.
2. Strategic Benefits for China:
   • Energy Security: Thorium could offer China a significant advantage in terms of energy security, as the country has large thorium reserves, reducing its dependence on foreign sources of uranium.
   • Reducing Pollution: China is grappling with severe air pollution, and thorium reactors offer a cleaner alternative to coal, which has been the country’s primary energy source. By focusing on thorium, China can reduce its carbon emissions while boosting energy output.
   • Long-Term Energy Sustainability: Thorium reactors are seen as a key part of China’s long-term energy strategy. The country has a vested interest in ensuring it leads the way in next-generation nuclear technology, and thorium is seen as a path to more sustainable nuclear power.
3. Challenges for China:
   • Technological Development: While China has made strides in thorium reactor technology, it still faces many challenges in terms of scaling up from small experimental reactors to commercial-sized power plants.
   • International Scrutiny: China’s rapid progress in nuclear technology, including thorium reactors, has drawn attention from international regulatory bodies and governments, particularly in relation to non-proliferation concerns.

Global Outlook for Thorium Reactors​

Thorium reactors hold a lot of promise, and countries around the world, from the United States to India, are exploring this technology. India, for example, has a significant thorium reserve and is particularly interested in using thorium to meet its future energy needs, given its limited uranium resources.


While it may be several decades before thorium reactors are commercially viable, the technology’s advantages—such as safety, reduced nuclear waste, and sustainability—make it a tantalizing option for the future of nuclear energy.


In Conclusion: Thorium reactors represent a potential revolution in nuclear power, offering a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable alternative to uranium-based reactors. While technical and financial challenges remain, the global interest in thorium, especially from countries like China, suggests that we may see a future where thorium plays a crucial role in the world’s energy mix. As the world moves toward carbon neutrality and seeks alternatives to fossil fuels, thorium may be one of the key technologies that helps shape the future of energy.

.

 

[Serious]

@Hawaiian Punch
What are the implications

 

[Canon]

china on there wakanda shyt