Is there a possibility of using nuclear reactors to reduce carbon emissions? If yes, then is safe for long-term use? Well, there might be a solution to this. China is planning to develop the first “clean” commercial nuclear reactor by making use of liquid thorium and molten salt, reports LiveScience.
The first prototype reactor is said to be ready by August this year, with the first tests set to begin in September. A full-scale commercial reactor is believed to be finished by 2030. The technology should not only reduce emissions but mitigate some political controversy.
Won’t repeat disastrous history
Conventional uranium reactors leave behind waste that can stay radioactive for up to 10,000 years, requiring lead containers and extensive security. The waste material also has plutonium-239, an isotope crucial to nuclear weapons. They can spit huge amounts of radiation in an event of a leak, as seen in Chernobyl. Besides, they require large volumes of water, ruling out use in dry areas.
Thorium reactors, in turn, dissolve their key element into fluoride salt that mostly outputs uranium-233 that can be recycled through other reactions. Other leftovers in the reaction have a life of 500 years, which is also not great but much safer.
Will prevent leaks efficiently
In case of a leak, the molten salt cools enough that it seals in the thorium helping prevent significant leaks. Also, the technology won’t require water and can’t be used to produce nuclear weapons easily. It can be built in the desert, far away from cities without raising any concerns over nuclear weapons stockpiles.
China is building the first commercial reactor in Wuwei, a desert city in the Gansu province. The officials believe this could be a way to foster the country’s international expansion. With this, China could extend its political influence without adding to nuclear arms proliferation.
Speaking of fusion reactors, Engineers have moved the world’s most powerful magnet to the ITER fusion reactor. It is the world’s largest experimental fusion reactor which is located in France. The electromagnet can produce controlled magnetic fields. The fusion reactor can generate a magnetic field of 13 Tesla, 280,000 times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field,
