We *already built* the light water breeder?

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The discussion centers on the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, which was the first commercial reactor designed for electricity generation using a U-233/thorium fuel cycle. Despite its successful demonstration as a light water thorium breeder in 1982, the technology did not advance commercially due to a lack of promotion, high production costs, and the existing dominance of uranium-based reactors. Participants question why thorium reactors have not been further developed, especially when they could potentially unlock greater energy reserves compared to uranium-235. The conversation highlights thorium's advantages, including lower long-term radiotoxicity and better material properties, but also acknowledges that these benefits do not necessarily lead to cheaper power production. Ultimately, the discussion reveals a complex interplay of historical, technical, and economic factors that have hindered the adoption of thorium reactors in the nuclear industry.
  • #31
I will comment that all this is because India, china and other developing countries have no other (financially viable) options compared to USA, after these countries have used most of their water for dams. In USA the government may have more options like wind (or still it may not have been fully harnessed). At his point I I have in my mind the two pictures. In first picture an Indian supervisor at construction site had wrapped a piece of car seat foam around his head as a safety helmet. In other a Chinese welder wrapped a transparent shopping bag around his face as a mask...
 

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