5/11/2009 Colloquium - Frank Shu

Frank Shu University Professor, UCSD Adviser on Energy to Premier of Taiwan

Event Info

Title:  Taiwan's Interest in Molten Salt Reactors and the Thorium Cycle

Date: May 11, 2009
Location: 3105 Etcheverry Hall
Time: 4-5pm

Abstract

To address the twin issues of enhanced nuclear safety and high-level waste, Taiwan is studying molten salt reactors (MSRs) used as actinide burners with the view of putting the construction of such reactors on a fast track if the feasibility studies prove promising. Using the same basic hardware, it is possible to turn such MSRs into uranium-233 burners with the uranium bred from thorium-232 in a blanket. The design goals for the two types of applications are driven by the problem of combatting climate change, where simple physical arguments show that, with two exceptions, none of the conventionally discussed energy sources are up to the job of replacing fossil fuels on a useful time scale. The two exceptions are solar photovoltaics and fission nuclear power, with bio-synthetic fuel for trucks, trains, boats, and jets being best made in large quantities by process heat from high-temperature MSRs. Because of the dangers associated with the tipping point of the melting polar ice, the time to implement a solution to the problem of global warming may be shorter than widely perceived.