This was the first, best book that I read on the systematic benefits of commercial nuclear power over other forms of power production. Petr Beckmann explains all of the benefits of nuclear power in his very characteristic and interesting way. The book was written in 1976, before today's even safer, more efficient fourth generation reactors that are on the drawing boards. The benefits are even greater with the Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor (LFTR) – abundant, clean energy for all humanity for millennia.
The advantages of commercial nuclear power boil down to the simple fact that it is a million times more concentrated than chemical energy. Burning coal, oil or gas involves the energy associated with the electrons of the fuel, measured in electron volts. While nuclear power involves the energy in the nucleus of the fuel, which is measured in millions of electron volts. Thus, nuclear energy is a million times more concentrated than fossil fuels and it produces a million times less waste.
The only question is whether or not I will see a LFTR in the US in my lifetime. They will almost certainly be built in India, China, Brazil, South Africa, and Russia. Why not here?
The advantages of commercial nuclear power boil down to the simple fact that it is a million times more concentrated than chemical energy. Burning coal, oil or gas involves the energy associated with the electrons of the fuel, measured in electron volts. While nuclear power involves the energy in the nucleus of the fuel, which is measured in millions of electron volts. Thus, nuclear energy is a million times more concentrated than fossil fuels and it produces a million times less waste.
The only question is whether or not I will see a LFTR in the US in my lifetime. They will almost certainly be built in India, China, Brazil, South Africa, and Russia. Why not here?
