Thorium has long been the subject of scientific research ever since its discovery, and now it appears that this obscure element may now be the energy source which could fuel humanity for generations to come. While thorium has a complicated history, the element remains very important to humanity for many reasons. Discovered about the same time as uranium in the 19th century, thorium has been well known to the scientific community for many years (World Nuclear Association). In fact, famous scientists like Marie Curie and Ernest Rutherford worked with the element in several experiments when nuclear decay was first being discovered. Since that time, however, thorium has largely been thrown by the wayside for use in practical applications such
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In short, thorium itself is much more common than uranium, produces much more power by mass than uranium, is much safer, and has a dramatically lowered impact on the environment because of several factors. The first of thorium's many positive attributes shows itself from the moment the element is first mined; thorium itself is much more common than uranium as well as most naturally-occurring thorium is actually the very isotope which is needed for nuclear power generation. Uranium, on the other hand, is only about as common as platinum as well as only about 3-5% of naturally-occurring uranium can be used directly to produce energy because the most common form of the element, U-238, is the incorrect isotope. Thorium is also estimated to produce about 3-4 times more power than a sample of uranium of the same mass. For example, it has been estimated that approximately one-half ounce of thorium, (about the same weight as 5 pennies), would generate enough power to meet the energy needs for an average American for 10 years. For a second example, the golfball-sized sphere shown of the left would meet the energy needs for one American for their entire life. As for safety, thorium has very few of …show more content…
Among these are several governments and nonprofit organizations as well as a few small companies looking to make their fortunes by being pioneers of the industry. Among these companies is one called Lightbridge, which aims to make a fuel source that incorporates thorium which would work in current light water reactors. Where thorium really excels, though, is in a new type of reactor called a “molten salt reactor”. Japanese company IThEMS is in the process of developing technology for these reactors, and they hope to eventually make a shift from the standard light water reactors to these and use the waste generated from the current reactors in the molten salt reactors. Government research is also taking place, with India and China paving the way. Because India holds about 25% of the world’s thorium reserves but lacks uranium, they have developed an interest in thorium energy. In 2002, they approved the construction of a prototype fast-breeder reactor and plan to build six more over the course of the next decade. India has also designed and tested a heavy water reactor that will primarily use thorium and they plan to have it operational by the end of the decade. China also has shown interest in thorium energy. They are currently designing and researching a Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor and
In short, thorium itself is much more common than uranium, produces much more power by mass than uranium, is much safer, and has a dramatically lowered impact on the environment because of several factors. The first of thorium's many positive attributes shows itself from the moment the element is first mined; thorium itself is much more common than uranium as well as most naturally-occurring thorium is actually the very isotope which is needed for nuclear power generation. Uranium, on the other hand, is only about as common as platinum as well as only about 3-5% of naturally-occurring uranium can be used directly to produce energy because the most common form of the element, U-238, is the incorrect isotope. Thorium is also estimated to produce about 3-4 times more power than a sample of uranium of the same mass. For example, it has been estimated that approximately one-half ounce of thorium, (about the same weight as 5 pennies), would generate enough power to meet the energy needs for an average American for 10 years. For a second example, the golfball-sized sphere shown of the left would meet the energy needs for one American for their entire life. As for safety, thorium has very few of …show more content…
Among these are several governments and nonprofit organizations as well as a few small companies looking to make their fortunes by being pioneers of the industry. Among these companies is one called Lightbridge, which aims to make a fuel source that incorporates thorium which would work in current light water reactors. Where thorium really excels, though, is in a new type of reactor called a “molten salt reactor”. Japanese company IThEMS is in the process of developing technology for these reactors, and they hope to eventually make a shift from the standard light water reactors to these and use the waste generated from the current reactors in the molten salt reactors. Government research is also taking place, with India and China paving the way. Because India holds about 25% of the world’s thorium reserves but lacks uranium, they have developed an interest in thorium energy. In 2002, they approved the construction of a prototype fast-breeder reactor and plan to build six more over the course of the next decade. India has also designed and tested a heavy water reactor that will primarily use thorium and they plan to have it operational by the end of the decade. China also has shown interest in thorium energy. They are currently designing and researching a Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor and