Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
individual
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Kartik Nariya : Junior
Lead Presenter's Name
Kartik Nariya
Faculty Mentor Name
N/A
Abstract
Nuclear power, the upmost technology that could replace fossil fuels economically and environmentally. Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear energy does not require fuel burning and no greenhouse gases are discharged. Uranium and Plutonium are the main power supply for nuclear power. Conventional reactors such as Light Water Reactors use uranium as fuel and usually work under pressurized conditions to produce energy. However, there is another fuel source that can potentially replace Uranium, which is Thorium. In contrast, Thorium can be used in a Molten Salt Reactor, which runs at atmospheric pressure, which makes it safer. Thorium is also cheaper, more efficient, and abundant in nature than Uranium. Major advantages of Thorium as a main fuel source are zero percent chances of meltdowns, neutralizing existing radioactive wastes, no carbon emission, four times more obtainable than Uranium and it can be found on all continents in large quantities. It has the potential to cure dangerous diseases and provide solution to the world’s water problems. It is easily found and safe to use with very little cost. All in all, it meets all the five criteria in the Life Cycle Assessment: Cheap , Clean, Safe, Efficient and Available.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Why Use Nuclear Energy Using Thorium?
Nuclear power, the upmost technology that could replace fossil fuels economically and environmentally. Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear energy does not require fuel burning and no greenhouse gases are discharged. Uranium and Plutonium are the main power supply for nuclear power. Conventional reactors such as Light Water Reactors use uranium as fuel and usually work under pressurized conditions to produce energy. However, there is another fuel source that can potentially replace Uranium, which is Thorium. In contrast, Thorium can be used in a Molten Salt Reactor, which runs at atmospheric pressure, which makes it safer. Thorium is also cheaper, more efficient, and abundant in nature than Uranium. Major advantages of Thorium as a main fuel source are zero percent chances of meltdowns, neutralizing existing radioactive wastes, no carbon emission, four times more obtainable than Uranium and it can be found on all continents in large quantities. It has the potential to cure dangerous diseases and provide solution to the world’s water problems. It is easily found and safe to use with very little cost. All in all, it meets all the five criteria in the Life Cycle Assessment: Cheap , Clean, Safe, Efficient and Available.