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> Most of the benefits people talk about with thorium are related to using a liquid fuel in the form of a molten salt (LFTR), which allows for things like conti
by gridlockd 7y ago
> Most of the benefits people talk about with thorium are related to using a liquid fuel in the form of a molten salt (LFTR), which allows for things like continuous operation, 100% fuel utilization, and "meltdown-proof" designs.
If it is really that great, China will make it happen. If not, then it's just overhyped, like hydrogen. People like to focus too much on arbitrary metrics, when really it's economics first, politics second and science/engineering last.
- fastball 7y ago"Utilizing more fuel" and "operating continuously" are first-and-foremost economic considerations. We don't want to do those things just because they are cool from an engineering perspective. If we can make nuclear fission work with liquid fuel, that is a game changer. It is the equivalent of going from coal to gasoline. Except even better. Maybe more like going from wood logs to gasoline.