A molten salt nuclear power plant that uses thorium as fuel instead of uranium is set to be built in the Gobi Desert.
    • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmygrad.mlOP
      25·
      3 months ago

      Yup, and also way safer since molten salt will solidify when the reactor turns off. Another huge benefit is that you don’t need a large body of water near by for cooling, meaning these reactors can be deployed a lot more widely.

      • Des [she/her, they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
        23·
        3 months ago

        yeah super excited about this too. every modern operating reactor should have been molten salt a long time ago. eliminates both “we can’t risk water supplies in climate change!” and meltdown fears in a one-two punch

        plus very adaptable for use in space

        the ultimate will be adding an MHD generator to the mix

          • Des [she/her, they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
            3·
            3 months ago

            one of the most common anti-nuclear arguments these days is basically against conventional water cooled reactors which need a large supply of water (basically a small lake or pond) to provide reliable cooling to the reactors. (this is what those big “smoke stacks” are for) this was made worse recently when europe had a drought and the rivers there were drying up and France had to shut down reactors due to the risk of running out of coolant water

            molten salt reactors don’t require water for coolant. the molten salt is the coolant (and fuel!) itself, since these reactors run hotter overall. thus they can be built anywhere as long as you pair them with a chemical plant that can produce additional salt when needed (which is very minimal compared to water needs)

            as for the meltdown fears, these reactors can’t create a steam explosion or other issues relating to water cooled reactors. if they risk meltdown, you simply cut external power and the molten salt starts to solidify which ends the reaction on it’s own. water reactors need power (either external or from the reactor) to run pumps to keep them cool. molten salt needs power simply to not shut down.

            (i just typed this off the top of my head and if you need to i can find some more detailed sources and info since i may have some things wrong)

  • BobDole [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
    191·
    3 months ago

    Bazinga brain bazinga “I fucking love science” reddit-logo libs were hard for this like ten years ago, but now that China is making it a reality they’re quiet.

    • MattsAlt [comrade/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
      221·
      3 months ago

      Oh no, there’s a futurology thread jerking themselves about how the West figured it out in the 60s and China stole the tech. Saying they’re being reckless and also hiding pollution from it. Typical every accusation is an admission racism from reddit-logo