The state of energy production throughout the globe is experiencing the concern of availability and access to resources that aid in the production of needed energy, but also reducing the presence and production of carbon dioxide emissions. What is typically understood among nations invested in nuclear energy is that such technology is largely free of carbon dioxide emissions at the source of production- a favorable avenue in context to fossil fuel utilization, but is historically rot with extreme development and management concerns. Repurposing the fundamental concept of nuclear technology, through aggressive research and development in the form of liquid fluoride thorium reactors, the nuclear energy produced from this form will provide the
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This program was to investigate the potential of producing a nuclear-powered aircraft explicitly used for bomber missions. A prototype was constructed in 1954, and its reactor operated unabated for 100 MW-hours over a course of nine days. The potential for this technology was realized, and in the1960 's, a liquid fluoride thorium reactor was developed by Alvin Weinburg at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This installation was a 7.4 MW test reactor utilizing both uranium-233 and uranium-235 isotopes as its fuel source. The reactor remained operational at full potential for 1.5 years, and demonstrated its viability as an energy producer beyond its conceptual design (Kelaita), especially considering thorium ore’s distribution throughout the globe; is a readily usable isotope, and is 4x more available the uranium-235. Although proven, the technology was shelved principle on the low yield of plutonium waste product. Nuclear reactors were required to produce nuclear byproduct material to be used for weapons production. Pressurized Water Reactors, or PWRs, became the norm and satisfied the requirements necessary for weapons and energy production. Only recently have molten salt reactors, in the form of LFTR technology, experienced a renewed interest among countries concerned with finding practical alternative resources for energy and climate change
This program was to investigate the potential of producing a nuclear-powered aircraft explicitly used for bomber missions. A prototype was constructed in 1954, and its reactor operated unabated for 100 MW-hours over a course of nine days. The potential for this technology was realized, and in the1960 's, a liquid fluoride thorium reactor was developed by Alvin Weinburg at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This installation was a 7.4 MW test reactor utilizing both uranium-233 and uranium-235 isotopes as its fuel source. The reactor remained operational at full potential for 1.5 years, and demonstrated its viability as an energy producer beyond its conceptual design (Kelaita), especially considering thorium ore’s distribution throughout the globe; is a readily usable isotope, and is 4x more available the uranium-235. Although proven, the technology was shelved principle on the low yield of plutonium waste product. Nuclear reactors were required to produce nuclear byproduct material to be used for weapons production. Pressurized Water Reactors, or PWRs, became the norm and satisfied the requirements necessary for weapons and energy production. Only recently have molten salt reactors, in the form of LFTR technology, experienced a renewed interest among countries concerned with finding practical alternative resources for energy and climate change