LFTR - Revision history

RichardWSmith: /* Less Nuclear Waste */ Fixed a minor science error.

2024-09-13T18:34:10Z

Less Nuclear Waste: Fixed a minor science error.

RichardWSmith: /* Comparison with solar power */ Fixed small error

2024-09-01T16:56:20Z

Comparison with solar power: Fixed small error

RichardWSmith: /* Comparison with solar power */

2024-08-26T19:06:14Z

Comparison with solar power

RichardWSmith: Error: changed solar storm to dust storm which is what was meant. Mentioned dust storms & cleaning PV.

2024-08-26T19:05:38Z

Error: changed solar storm to dust storm which is what was meant. Mentioned dust storms & cleaning PV.

RichardWSmith: China is building first LFTR in gobi desert to open in 2029 plus link.

2024-08-26T18:52:12Z

China is building first LFTR in gobi desert to open in 2029 plus link.

Michel Lamontagne: /* Why LFTR is Suitable For Mars */

2022-11-03T23:32:58Z

Why LFTR is Suitable For Mars

Michel Lamontagne: /* Difficulties Of Using LFTR */

2022-11-03T23:31:14Z

Difficulties Of Using LFTR

Michel Lamontagne: /* Why LFTR is Suitable For Mars */

2022-11-03T23:26:19Z

Why LFTR is Suitable For Mars

RichardWSmith: Added a link

2021-09-17T18:36:57Z

Added a link

Michel Lamontagne: /* References */

2021-08-30T21:05:10Z

References

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 Why are nuclear wastes dangerous?  Because they send out particles (such as neutrons, electrons, or helium nuclei), or dangerous electromagnetic waves (such as X-rays or gamma rays) jointly known as [[Radiation]].  If the isotope has a short half life, it decays ferociously, being highly dangerous.  However, because it decays so quickly, it does not stay dangerous for long, soon it has decayed away to stable isotopes and has vanished.  If an isotope has a long half life, it will remain in its natural form for millennia.  It very rarely decays so it is safe to handle.  (There are trace amounts of Thorium in the dirt in your backyard, but you would need a good Geiger counter to detect it.  It has a half life of over 14 billion years so it almost never decays.)  And there are items which are in-between these two extremes.  Isotopes with medium half life are radioactive enough to be too dangerous to spend much time with, but they last long enough to be a concern for many years.
-Now after a heavy nucleus such as Thorium decays, it creates 'fission products'.  These isotopes are neutron rich, and rapidly undergo beta decays throwing off electrons and gamma rays, until they reach stable nuclei, such as Iodine, Xenon, Lead, or Zirconium.  (Sadly Gold, Silver, and Platinum are quite rare fission products.)  Fission products have very short half lives so they are wildly, ferociously radioactive.  If you touched such waste with your elbow and then ran away, you would receive a fatal dose.  Fortunately, because they decay away so quickly, they do not stay this radioactive for long.
+When a large atom splits (fissions), it creates 'fission products'.  These isotopes are neutron rich, and rapidly undergo beta decays throwing off electrons and gamma rays, until they reach stable nuclei, such as Iodine, Xenon, Lead, or Zirconium.  (Sadly Gold, Silver, and Platinum are quite rare fission products.)  Fission products have very short half lives so they are wildly, ferociously radioactive.  If you touched such waste with your elbow and then ran away, you would receive a fatal dose.  Fortunately, because they decay away so quickly, they do not stay this radioactive for long.
 Inside a nuclear reactor, we want isotopes to absorb a neutron and fission.  That is the lottery win, the big bonus that gives us the heat and energy which we want.  However, only 3 isotopes are likely to be created and fission.  U233, is the easiest to fission, U235 is in the middle, and Plutonium 239 (Pl239) is the least likely to fission.  Inside the neutron rich reactor, atoms are absorbing neutrons, decaying into other isotopes and jiggling around the number of protons and neutrons they have.  We WANT them to absorb a neutron and split into two (usually unequal) halves. But sometimes they absorb extra neutrons (becoming larger, heavier nuclei), but don't fission.

@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 ==Comparison with solar power==
-Since Mars is further from the Sun, solar power on Mars provides approximately 48% of the energy than an equivalent installation on Earth.  Furthermore, due to its interruptible nature, it requires significant energy storage and overbuild plus some form or temporary power generation during dust storms to provide the same energy overall as nuclear power. (Dust storms often cut solar power to 60%, tho 95% losses have happened occasionally.)  Solar cells must be regularly cleaned.
+Since Mars is further from the Sun, solar power on Mars provides approximately 43% of the energy than an equivalent installation on Earth.  Furthermore, due to its interruptible nature, it requires significant energy storage and overbuild plus some form or temporary power generation during dust storms to provide the same energy overall as nuclear power. (Dust storms often cut solar power to 60%, tho 95% losses have happened occasionally.)  Solar cells must be regularly cleaned.
 So a community on Mars might need to invest more in solar power plus batteries to reach the same energy levels as a nuclear powered one, and therefore grow more slowly.

@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 ==Comparison with solar power==
 Since Mars is further from the Sun, solar power on Mars provides approximately 48% of the energy than an equivalent installation on Earth.  Furthermore, due to its interruptible nature, it requires significant energy storage and overbuild plus some form or temporary power generation during dust storms to provide the same energy overall as nuclear power. (Dust storms often cut solar power to 60%, tho 95% losses have happened occasionally.)  Solar cells must be regularly cleaned.
 So a community on Mars might need to invest more in solar power plus batteries to reach the same energy levels as a nuclear powered one, and therefore grow more slowly.

@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 ==Comparison with solar power==
-Solar power on Mars provides approximately half the energy than an equivalent installation on Earth.  Furthermore, due to its interruptible nature, it requires significant energy storage and overbuild plus some form or temporary power generation during solar storms to provide the same energy overall as nuclear power. So a community on Mars might need to invest more in solar power to reach the same energy levels as a nuclear powered one, and therefore grow more slowly.
+Since Mars is further from the Sun, solar power on Mars provides approximately 48% of the energy than an equivalent installation on Earth.  Furthermore, due to its interruptible nature, it requires significant energy storage and overbuild plus some form or temporary power generation during dust storms to provide the same energy overall as nuclear power. (Dust storms often cut solar power to 60%, tho 95% losses have happened occasionally.)  Solar cells must be regularly cleaned.
 ==Difficulties Of Using LFTR==

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:52, 26 August 2024
Line 1:		Line 1:
	LFTR stands for Liquid Fluorine Thorium Reactor, (pronounced 'Lifter'), a name coined by Kirk Sorenson for his design of a nuclear reactor. For a variety of reasons, this (or a reactor like it) would make an ideal power source for a Mars colony. This article assumes you know what [[Isotopes]] are. See [[Nuclear power]] for other forms of nuclear power.		LFTR stands for Liquid Fluorine Thorium Reactor, (pronounced 'Lifter'), a name coined by Kirk Sorenson for his design of a nuclear reactor. For a variety of reasons, this (or a reactor like it) would make an ideal power source for a Mars colony. This article assumes you know what [[Isotopes]] are. See [[Nuclear power]] for other forms of nuclear power.
		+
		+	In 2024 China has run a LFTR test reactor for 3 years, and has plans to build a 60 MW (thermal) commercial / test reactor to be completed in 2029.<ref>https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/china-plans-60mw-thorium-reactor-in-gobi-desert-by-2029/</ref>

	==Overview Of How It Works==		==Overview Of How It Works==

@@ Line 81: / Line 81: @@
 -- Second, because high pressure is not needed, it is easier to produce and maintain these reactors than traditional nuclear reactors. (As Martian industry develops, people will want [[Rare Earths|Rare Earth]] Elements (REE), and Thorium is always found with such ores.)
--- Third, U235 makes up only a small fraction (0.5%) of the natural uranium ore (most is U238).  Thus uranium for power plants must be 'enriched', increasing the fraction of U235 to around 4%.  This requires fairly advanced industry, and a lot of power.  Using thorium in a LFTR requires no enrichment phase to create the fuel.   Thorium has been detected on the planet by the 2001 [[Mars Odyssey]] satellite.  Finding Thorium rich ores when we reach Mars should only be a question of geological exploration..
+-- Third, U235 makes up only a small fraction (0.5%) of the natural uranium ore (most is U238).  Thus uranium for power plants must be 'enriched', increasing the fraction of U235 to around 4%.  This requires fairly advanced industry, and a lot of power.  Using thorium in a LFTR requires no enrichment phase to create the fuel.   Thorium has been detected on the planet by the 2001 [[Mars Odyssey]] satellite.  Finding Thorium rich ores when we reach Mars should only be a question of geological exploration.
 ==Comparison with solar power==

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:31, 3 November 2022
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	If the heat produced by a LFTR is being used as process heat for chemical reactions, or to heat habitats, then it is fine. But if we want to attach a heat engine to it to produce electricity, cooling the cold side of the heat engine is a concern. The atmosphere is so thin, that dumping the waste heat into it will be difficult, and require some clever engineering.		If the heat produced by a LFTR is being used as process heat for chemical reactions, or to heat habitats, then it is fine. But if we want to attach a heat engine to it to produce electricity, cooling the cold side of the heat engine is a concern. The atmosphere is so thin, that dumping the waste heat into it will be difficult, and require some clever engineering.
		+
		+	In the long term. if LFTR cannot operate without help from Earth, the society will not be truly independent. However, independence could be achieved by stockpiling the elements required for a period of operation equal to the time required to develop a local industry. This allows for commerce, while maintaining security.

	==References==		==References==

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 ==Less Nuclear Waste==
-Why are nuclear wastes dangerous?  Because they send out particles (such as neutrons, electrons, or helium nuclei), or dangerous electromagnetic waves (such as X-rays or gamma rays).  If the isotope has a short half life, it decays ferociously, being highly dangerous.  However, because it decays so quickly, it does not stay dangerous for long, soon it has decayed away to stable isotopes and has vanished.  If an isotope has a long half life, it will remain in its natural form for millennia.  It very rarely decays so it is safe to handle.  (There are trace amounts of Thorium in the dirt in your backyard, but you would need a good Geiger counter to detect it.  It has a half life of over 14 billion years so it almost never decays.)  And there are items which are in-between these two extremes.  Isotopes with medium half life are radioactive enough to be too dangerous to spend much time with, but they last long enough to be a concern for many years.
+Why are nuclear wastes dangerous?  Because they send out particles (such as neutrons, electrons, or helium nuclei), or dangerous electromagnetic waves (such as X-rays or gamma rays) jointly known as [[Radiation]].  If the isotope has a short half life, it decays ferociously, being highly dangerous.  However, because it decays so quickly, it does not stay dangerous for long, soon it has decayed away to stable isotopes and has vanished.  If an isotope has a long half life, it will remain in its natural form for millennia.  It very rarely decays so it is safe to handle.  (There are trace amounts of Thorium in the dirt in your backyard, but you would need a good Geiger counter to detect it.  It has a half life of over 14 billion years so it almost never decays.)  And there are items which are in-between these two extremes.  Isotopes with medium half life are radioactive enough to be too dangerous to spend much time with, but they last long enough to be a concern for many years.
 Now after a heavy nucleus such as Thorium decays, it creates 'fission products'.  These isotopes are neutron rich, and rapidly undergo beta decays throwing off electrons and gamma rays, until they reach stable nuclei, such as Iodine, Xenon, Lead, or Zirconium.  (Sadly Gold, Silver, and Platinum are quite rare fission products.)  Fission products have very short half lives so they are wildly, ferociously radioactive.  If you touched such waste with your elbow and then ran away, you would receive a fatal dose.  Fortunately, because they decay away so quickly, they do not stay this radioactive for long.

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:05, 30 August 2021
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	For a non-technical introduction, you can search on YouTube for "LFTR Kirk Sorenson" you should find several videos of various lengths which explain LFTRs.		For a non-technical introduction, you can search on YouTube for "LFTR Kirk Sorenson" you should find several videos of various lengths which explain LFTRs.
		+
		+	[[Category:Energy]]