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Non-Tech : Alternative energy -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Eric who wrote (10874)	5/12/2011 12:42:17 PM
From: atticus4paws	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 16955

I thought the next-gen thorium reactors were of the liquid fluoride thorium variety. I seem to remember a Wired article from a few years ago describing the estimated costs and physical footprint of this type of reactor being a fraction of current uranium reactor tech. I'd love to know what the critical pathways for this tech to succeed are.

To: Eric who wrote (10874)	5/12/2011 2:10:33 PM
From: Alastair McIntosh	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 16955

Molten salt reactors in any fuel scheme are much, much more expensive to build than a water cooled reactor. According to the wiki article you referenced: Economic and social advantages Combining the above, some form of molten-salt thorium breeder could be the most efficient well-developed energy source known, whether measured by cost per kW, capital cost or social costs. No need for a costly high-pressure reactor vessel for the core, much lower fuel cost, safer, smaller sites,etc.