Terrestrial Energy, forging ahead in nuclear innovation

I've been writing about nuclear for about four years now and during this time one company really stood out : Terrestrial Energy.

In the sixties, nuclear innovation was in full bloom, there were a plethora of different designs and principles being tested and one of these was the Molten Salt Reactor (MSR). The MSR is the brainchild of Alvin Weinberg and Eugene Wigner. Where most reactors work on a solid fuel principle with fuel inefficiencies (3~4%), the MSR works on a liquid fuel principle with high fuel efficiency (90+ %). The MSRe or Molten Salt Reactor experiment at Oak Ridge National Laboratories proved that we can run highly efficient and safe reactors based on the liquid fuel cycle which in term is based on salts with a relatively high melting point. This higher melting point for the work- and cooling fluid brings about a great passive safety feature, once the power fails, the fluid cannot melt down, because it is already molten! You can cool it passively through the use of the inherent convective flow of the fluid and through the implementation of a freeze plug and a sub-critical drain tank, or through the use of blanket-salts. The MSRe ran successfully for 4 year straight and proves that we know the technology and can replicate it. And I have to add that innovation in this field of science has hardly taken off, so the learning curve again can be very steep indeed.

You can read more here : https://www.fas.org/sgp/othergov/doe/ornl.pdf

Terrestrial Energy is one of the companies that aspires to make the dream of Weinberg come to fruition; To build a sustainable fleet of nuclear reactors that can stretch human potential and raise prosperity for all. They are working on it by combining the best talents and minds in the industry; by forging alliances with companies like Caterpillar, Energy Northwest, Ontario Power Generation
PSEG, and the Southern Nuclear Operating Company; also by working hand in hand with Canada's government and taking all the necessary steps to make the case of their reactor design and make testing and commercializing it a possibility.

Consider this concept video of how they envision one of their facilities.

Consider comparison in size between their largest unit and other reactors working on different principles. (note the little human silhouette).

One of the best aspects of this reactor design is that we can build them on assembly lines, which means that we will be able to meet a growing demand of energy as a result of a growing world population and emerging economies.

Visit their website for a more comprehensive and detailed view of their vision of a future of plenty and prosperity

http://terrestrialenergy.com/

I am extra stoked that Canon Bryan (CFO) has been reading Science a la Carte and shared this picture with me!

Check their story out and learn something incredible

A call to action!

Let's start with this acknowledgement : I am a transparent guy, I don't hold too many things too close to the chest.

I want to thank those who have rated and reviewed the book, you guys are super and I feel connected to you. We share this concern and actually want to do something about it.

Scott, Tod and George were the first to comment, will you be next?

Science a la carte has been available for a month now and I'm quite pleased because it has been sold 40 times so far, and there are no signs of sales slowing down, yet.

I want to take it to a next level though. This book is better than my first and it deserves more attention. Not for the sake of making money, I wish I could make some money but it probably won't be enough to pay the bills consistently, so this is not my primary aim.

Why would I try to give it more exposure? The book is the amalgamation of my thoughts on energy and climate change, a thought process fuelled by necessity. It has become clear that humanity isn't on board with addressing the issues at hand. We're hopefully divided. There's this contingent of people who are not convinced of the danger anthropogenic activities pose to the future of the biosphere on earth. There's a countermovement that goes overboard on the other hand and is willing to bet all their money on a couple of ineffective measures, claiming that it will "take off" at some point.

The truth is that carbon emissions and their effects are real; that we cannot solve this civilisational conundrum of ours by betting on weak and flimsy technologies.

What we do should be determined by reality and science. We should do the calculations; examine the physics; examine the finite realities of our planet; and stop being blithering buffoons and get on with it.

Science a la carte is specifically aimed at that idea.

> I could use some tips on how to get it reviewed in contemporary and well-read media.

> I could use some help in structuring this attempt to give the book a wider audience.

If you have any ideas or want to help me, send me a personal message or an e-mail.

If you haven't already, check out the reviews, buy the book (it's dirt cheap), review it yourself and share it!

https://amzn.com/1530880696