How does a Thorium reactor work?

[AntiVigilante]

What are the reaction products?
Cost of materials?
How does it cool down?
How does it shut down?
Smallest package?

What we do not make IS what we do NOT TAME.
You want these bastards out? Make the SAME toys they do better than they do.
Social evolution requires bridges, half steps, and mixed breeds of solutions.
COLD TURKEY DOES NOT WORK IN SOCIAL EVOLUTION.

You first make a better mouse trap.
Then you run the mouse trap makers out of business.
Then you make a more humane mouse trap.

That is reality. Adapt or get out of the way.

[smellyBobby]

Use the same technology in Submarines and Battleships...., you could have the power generated in the ocean, if there is a risk, move the vessel somewhere else and sink it.

Good luck getting the military to give up this technology and the propaganda that will come from pre-existing energy sources.

[AntiVigilante]

Use the same technology in Submarines and Battleships...., you could have the power generated in the ocean, if there is a risk, move the vessel somewhere else and sink it.

Good luck getting the military to give up this technology and the propaganda that will come from pre-existing energy sources.

I hack memes for fun and srsnss. I can chew prop-a-gander and spit it back out without blinking.

So how's it work?

[smellyBobby]

Is this a real question? Do you want someone to explain how a nuclear reactor works? Or you want a costing table?

[AntiVigilante]

Is this a real question? Do you want someone to explain how a nuclear reactor works? Or you want a costing table?

Both. I want to be able to understand the possibilities. I want to be able to have a frame of mind based on the actual numbers.

[smellyBobby]

And you can't be bothered looking it yourself ?   

[smellyBobby]

Okay lets assume this will be done illegally. No approval from governments.

[smellyBobby]

I like the submarine idea. So we need the materials to create the reactor. I know you need a material capable of neutron capture and the walls would need to be similar. The hardest part will be getting the power into Societies. Because it is illegal this is going to make it significantly more difficult.

You could consider wireless power transmission: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiTricity

You could create robots that will mine under-neath the seabed, I guess like worms and lay cables, you could use the same technology that they use to do deep-sea drilling. Have a cable terminating in a country and I think you could assume that infrastructure will be built around the terminal end, given that the electricity will be significantly cheaper. Have the other end of the cable terminate somewhere out at sea. Use stealth technology to design a ship/submarine that can interface with the seabed terminal. Then use the bitcoin system accept payments. Voila!

[AntiVigilante]

And you can't be bothered looking it yourself ?   

I don't know where to begin.

[smellyBobby]

You know what a nuclear reaction is? In terms of neutrons, radiation decay and the nucleus.

[AntiVigilante]

You know what a nuclear reaction is? In terms of neutrons, radiation decay and the nucleus.

Yes. Rough idea. Basically you put somewhat stable atoms into less stable configurations. At this point they split in various proportions. I understand the physics, I'm just at a loss as far as the catalog of isotopes and stages go.

[muad_dib]

Forget nuclear power.


In 50 years we will have a space elevator which will trow solar panels in the space, to have all the juicy energy you need.

[AntiVigilante]

Forget nuclear power.


In 50 years we will have a space elevator which will trow solar panels in the space, to have all the juicy energy you need.

If we forget nuclear power, the only ones to have it will be war mongers. You cannot tame a problem by ignoring it.

50 years... Space elevator... Navel gazers...

[edd]

Here's a post I did a while ago about thorium reactors: http://agnoistrology.com/blog/2010/08/04/thorium-is-the-new-mjolnir/

[MoonShadow]

Forget nuclear power.


In 50 years we will have a space elevator which will trow solar panels in the space, to have all the juicy energy you need.

Without nukes, we don't have the spare energy to build a space elevator, technology aside.  A launch loop is going to happen first, and functionally requires nukes.

[MoonShadow]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_amplifier

[MoonShadow]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Launch_loop

[AntiVigilante]

Here's a post I did a while ago about thorium reactors: http://agnoistrology.com/blog/2010/08/04/thorium-is-the-new-mjolnir/

Prepare to have your mind blown: http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=21577.0

Thorium is Bitcoin.

[LokeRundt]

so thorium reactors are open source and we can all run them on our home machines?  Awesome!

[AntiVigilante]

so thorium reactors are open source and we can all run them on our home machines?  Awesome!

soon pinky. soon...