Alternative Fuels
Michael Fink, Steve Haidet,
& Mohamad Mohamad
Thorium
Molten Salt Reactor
Energy Generation Comparison
230 train cars (25,000 MT) of bituminous coal or,
600 train cars (66,000 MT) of brown coal,
(Source: World Coal Institute)
=
or, 440 million cubic feet of natural gas (15% of a
125,000 cubic meter LNG tanker),
6 kg of thorium metal in a liquid-fluoride
reactor has the energy equivalent (66,000
MW*hr electrical*) of:
*Each ounce of thorium can therefore produce
$14,000-24,000 of electricity (at $0.04-0.07/kW*hr)
or, 300 kg of enriched (3%) uranium in a
pressurized water reactor.
Energy Extraction Comparison
Uranium-fueled light-water reactor: 35 GW*hr/MT of natural uranium
Conversion and
fabrication
Conversion
to UF6
293 MT of
natural U3O8
(248 MT U)
365 MT of natural
UF6 (247 MT U)
32,000 MW*days/tonne
of heavy metal (typical
LWR fuel burnup)
39 MT of enriched
(3.2%) UO2 (35 MT U)
33% conversion
efficiency (typical
steam turbine)
3000 MW*yr of
thermal energy
1000 MW*yr
of electricity
Thorium-fueled liquid-fluoride reactor: 11,000 GW*hr/MT of natural thorium
Conversion
to metal
0.9 MT of
natural ThO2
Thorium metal added
to blanket salt through
exchange with
protactinium
0.8 MT of thorium
metal
914,000 MW*days/MT
(complete burnup)
233U
0.8 MT of 233Pa formed in
reactor blanket from
thorium (decays to 233U)
2000 MW*yr
of thermal
energy
Uranium fuel cycle calculations done using WISE nuclear fuel material calculator: http://www.wise-uranium.org/nfcm.html
50% conversion
efficiency (triplereheat closed-cycle
helium gas-turbine)
1000 MW*yr
of electricity
Waste generation from 1000 MW*yr uranium-fueled light-water
reactor
Mining 800,000 MT of
ore containing 0.2%
uranium (260 MT U)
Generates ~600,000 MT of waste rock
Enrichment of 52 MT of
(3.2%) UF6 (35 MT U)
Generates 314 MT of depleted
uranium hexafluoride (DU);
consumes 300 GW*hr of
electricity
Milling and processing to
yellowcake—natural U3O8
(248 MT U)
Generates 130,000 MT of mill tailings
Fabrication of 39 MT of enriched (3.2%)
UO2 (35 MT U)
Generates 17 m3 of solid waste and 310 m3
of liquid waste
Uranium fuel cycle calculations done using WISE nuclear fuel material calculator: http://www.wise-uranium.org/nfcm.html
Conversion to natural
UF6 (247 MT U)
Generates 170 MT of solid
waste and 1600 m3 of liquid
waste
Irradiation and disposal
of 39 MT of spent fuel
consisting of unburned
uranium, transuranics,
and fission products.
Waste generation from 1000 MW*yr thorium-fueled liquidfluoride reactor
Mining 200 MT of ore
containing 0.5%
thorium (1 MT Th)
Milling and processing to thorium nitrate ThNO3 (1 MT Th)
Generates 0.1 MT of mill tailings and 50 kg of aqueous wastes
Generates ~199 MT of waste rock
Conversion to metal and
introduction into reactor blanket
Breeding to U233 and
complete fission
Thorium mining calculation based on date from ORNL/TM-6474: Environmental Assessment of Alternate FBR Fuels: Thorium
Disposal of 0.8 MT of
spent fuel consisting
only of fission product
fluorides
…or put another way…
Mining waste generation comparison
1 GW*yr of electricity from a uranium-fueled light-water reactor
Mining 800,000 MT of
ore containing 0.2%
uranium (260 MT U)
Generates ~600,000 MT of waste rock
Milling and processing to
yellowcake—natural U3O8
(248 MT U)
Generates 130,000 MT of mill tailings
Conversion to natural
UF6 (247 MT U)
Generates 170 MT of solid
waste and 1600 m3 of liquid
waste
1 GW*yr of electricity from a thorium-fueled liquid-fluoride reactor
Mining 200 MT of ore
containing 0.5%
thorium (1 MT Th)
Milling and processing to thorium nitrate ThNO3 (1 MT Th)
Generates 0.1 MT of mill tailings and 50 kg of aqueous wastes
Generates ~199 MT of waste rock
Uranium fuel cycle calculations done using WISE nuclear fuel material calculator: http://www.wise-uranium.org/nfcm.html
Operation waste generation comparison
1 GW*yr of electricity from a uranium-fueled light-water reactor
Enrichment of 52 MT of
(3.2%) UF6 (35 MT U)
Generates 314 MT of DUF6;
consumes 300 GW*hr of
electricity
Fabrication of 39 MT of enriched (3.2%)
UO2 (35 MT U)
Generates 17 m3 of solid waste and 310 m3
of liquid waste
Irradiation and disposal of 39 MT
of spent fuel consisting of
unburned uranium, transuranics,
and fission products.
1 GW*yr of electricity from a thorium-fueled liquid-fluoride reactor
Conversion to metal and
introduction into reactor blanket
Breeding to U233 and
complete fission
Uranium fuel cycle calculations done using WISE nuclear fuel material calculator: http://www.wise-uranium.org/nfcm.html
Disposal of 0.8 MT of
spent fuel consisting
only of fission product
fluorides
Abundant?
Negatives
Risk of accidents
Highly radioactive nuclear waste
Future?
Ammonia, Natural Gas
Household Alternative Fuels
Ammonia Fuel?
NH3
Common uses:
cleaning supplies,
fertilizer, explosives
Ammonia: 21.36
BTU/g
Oil: 45.97 BTU/g,
Requires minor
modifications to
carburetors/injectors
Sources
Atmospheric
nitrogen and free
hydrogen
Haber–Bosch
process
Electrolysis
Coal gasification
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Production_of_ammonia.svg
Haber–Bosch process
CH4 + H2O → CO + 3 H2
N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) ⇌ 2 NH3 (g)
It is estimated that half of the protein within
human beings is made of nitrogen that was
originally fixed by this process
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Haber-Bosch-En.svg
Natural Gas fuel?
Methane: 53.88 BTU/g
used in over 12 million
vehicles
reliable and safe
Fuel storage occupies a
large amount of space
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Carroagas.jpg
Domestic Natural gas supplies
http://www.roperld.com/science/minerals/FossilFuels.htm#USGas
World Natural gas supplies
http://www.roperld.com/science/minerals/FossilFuels.htm#WorldGas
World Natural Gas Supplies Including Shale Gas
http://www.roperld.com/science/minerals/FossilFuels.htm#WorldGas
Conclusions
Ammonia would
function as a
fuel, but why not
use natural gas
only sustainable
for several
decades with
optimistic
supplies
reduced
environmental
impact
partially existing
infrastructure
http://www.eia.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/analysis_publications/ngpipeline/ngpipelines_map.html
Plasma Arc Waste
Disposal
Turning Everyday Garbage into
Everyday Energy
The Technology
Garbage is passed
through a plasma arc,
which reaches 10,000
deg F, instantly
vaporizing it.
Organic material turns
into syngas, which can
be used to drive
electrical turbines.
Inorganic material turn
into slag.
Renewability
America produces
about 675,000 tons
of garbage a day.
1500 tons of trash =
60 MW
Almost all of the
trash is converted
into usable
byproducts,
eliminating landfills.
Pros
After initial energy is
spent to ignite the
plasma arc, the process
is self-sustaining.
Electricity prices will be
able to compete with
natural gas.
Ability to turn medical
and hazardous waste
inert.
Material made from
non-organic waste can
be sold commercially.
Cons
Dumping garbage at a
plasma arc facility costs
$137 more per ton.
Some CO2 produced.
Performance based on the
content and consistency
of the waste.
Current plant designs are
less than 50% efficient at
best.
Expensive liners need
replaced every year
Unproven in a large-scale
setting
Questions?