TEDxYYC
Kirk Sorensen: Thorium, an alternative nuclear fuel
Filmed:
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Kirk Sorensen shows us the liquid fuel thorium reactor -- a way to produce energy that is safer, cleaner and more efficient than current nuclear power.
(Filmed at TEDxYYC.)
Kirk Sorensen - Engineer, nuclear technologist
Kirk Sorensen stumbled across thorium while doing research on how to power a lunar community. Thorium is a cleaner, safer, and more abundant nuclear fuel -- one that Kirk believes will revolutionize how we produce our energy. Full bio
Kirk Sorensen stumbled across thorium while doing research on how to power a lunar community. Thorium is a cleaner, safer, and more abundant nuclear fuel -- one that Kirk believes will revolutionize how we produce our energy. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:06
Nearly everyone in the world
is part of some community,
is part of some community,
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Skoro svaka osoba na svetu
je član neke zajednice,
je član neke zajednice,
00:09
whether large or small.
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bila ona velika ili mala.
00:11
And all of these communities
have similar needs.
have similar needs.
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Sve te zajednice imaju slične potrebe.
00:14
They need light,
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Treba im svetlost,
00:15
they need heat
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treba im toplota
00:16
they need air-conditioning.
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i treba im klimatizacija.
Ljudi ne mogu da funkcionišu dobro
ako im je prevruće ili prehladno.
ako im je prevruće ili prehladno.
00:18
People can't function very well
when it's too hot or too cold.
when it's too hot or too cold.
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00:21
They need food to be grown or provided,
distributed and stored safely.
distributed and stored safely.
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Treba da im se uzgaja ili obezbedi hrana,
raspodeli i čuva na sigurnom.
raspodeli i čuva na sigurnom.
00:25
They need waste products to be collected,
removed and processed.
removed and processed.
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Potrebno im je da se otpadni proizvodi
sakupe, uklone i obrade.
sakupe, uklone i obrade.
00:30
People in the community need to be able
to get from one place to another
to get from one place to another
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Ljudima u zajednici je potrebno
da mogu da odu sa jednog mesta na drugo
da mogu da odu sa jednog mesta na drugo
00:33
as quickly as possible.
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što je brže moguće.
00:34
And a supply of energy is the basis
for all of these activities.
for all of these activities.
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Snabdevanje energijom
je osnova za sve ove aktivnosti.
je osnova za sve ove aktivnosti.
00:38
Energy in the form of electricity
provides light and air-conditioning.
provides light and air-conditioning.
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Energija u obliku struje
obezbeđuje svetlost i klimatizaciju.
obezbeđuje svetlost i klimatizaciju.
00:41
Energy in the form of heat keeps us warm.
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Energija u obliku toplote nas greje.
00:43
And energy in chemical
form provides fertilizer;
form provides fertilizer;
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A energija u hemijskom obliku
nam obezbeđuje đubriva;
nam obezbeđuje đubriva;
ona pokreće poljoprivredne mašine
i energiju za prevozna sredstva.
i energiju za prevozna sredstva.
00:46
it drives farm machinery
and transportation energy.
and transportation energy.
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00:49
Now, I spent 10 years working at NASA.
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Proveo sam 10 godina radeći u Nasi.
00:51
In the beginning of my time there in 2000,
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Na samom početku, 2000. godine,
00:54
I was very interested in communities.
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bio sam veoma zainteresovan za zajednice.
00:56
But this is the kind of community
I was thinking of --
I was thinking of --
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Ali ovo je vrsta zajednice
na koju sam mislio -
na koju sam mislio -
zajednica na Mesecu.
00:58
a lunar community
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01:00
It had all of the same needs
as a community on Earth would have,
as a community on Earth would have,
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Imala bi iste potrebe
kao zajednica na Zemlji,
kao zajednica na Zemlji,
01:03
but it had some very unique constraints.
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ali i neka jedinstvena ograničenja.
Morali smo da razmišljamo o tome
kako bismo obezbedili energiju
kako bismo obezbedili energiju
01:05
And we had to think about
how we would provide energy
how we would provide energy
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01:08
for this very unique community.
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za ovu jedinstvenu zajednicu.
01:09
There’s no coal on the Moon.
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Ne postoji ugalj na Mesecu.
01:11
There's no petroleum.
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Ne postoji nafta.
01:12
There’s no natural gas.
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Ne postoji prirodni gas.
01:14
There's no atmosphere.
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Ne postoji atmosfera.
01:15
There’s no wind, either.
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Ne postoji ni vetar.
01:17
And solar power had a real problem:
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Solarna energija bi imala pravi problem:
01:19
the Moon orbits the Earth once a month.
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Mesec se okrene oko Zemlje jednom mesečno.
01:21
For two weeks, the sun goes down,
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Tokom dve nedelje nema sunca,
pa solarni paneli
ne bi pravili nikakvu energiju.
ne bi pravili nikakvu energiju.
01:23
and your solar panels
don't make any energy.
don't make any energy.
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Ako pokušate da sačuvate energiju
u baterijama tokom dve nedelje,
u baterijama tokom dve nedelje,
01:25
If you want to try to store
enough energy in batteries for two weeks,
enough energy in batteries for two weeks,
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to prosto ne bi bilo praktično.
01:29
it just simply isn't practical.
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Nuklearna energija je
bila zaista jedini izbor.
bila zaista jedini izbor.
01:30
So nuclear energy
was really the only choice.
was really the only choice.
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01:32
Now, back in 2000, I didn't really know
too much about nuclear power,
too much about nuclear power,
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U 2000. godini nisam stvarno znao
mnogo o nuklearnoj energiji,
mnogo o nuklearnoj energiji,
pa sam počeo da pokušavam da naučim.
01:36
so I started trying to learn.
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01:37
Almost all of the nuclear power
we use on Earth today uses water
we use on Earth today uses water
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Skoro sva nuklearna snaga
koju koristimo danas upotrebljava vodu
koju koristimo danas upotrebljava vodu
01:41
as a basic coolant.
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kao osnovni rashlađivač.
01:42
This has some advantages,
but it has a lot of disadvantages.
but it has a lot of disadvantages.
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Ovo ima neke prednosti,
ali ima i puno mana.
ali ima i puno mana.
01:45
If you want to generate electricity,
you have to get the water a lot hotter
you have to get the water a lot hotter
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Ako želite da proizvedete struju,
morate da zagrejete vodu mnogo više
morate da zagrejete vodu mnogo više
nego što to obično možete.
01:49
than you normally can.
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01:50
At normal pressures, water will boil
at 100 degrees Celsius.
at 100 degrees Celsius.
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Pri normalnom pritisku, voda će prokuvati
na 100 stepeni Celzijusa.
na 100 stepeni Celzijusa.
01:53
This isn't nearly hot enough
to generate electricity effectively.
to generate electricity effectively.
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To nije ni približno dovoljno vruće
da bi se efektivno proizvela struja.
da bi se efektivno proizvela struja.
01:57
So water-cooled reactors have to run
at much higher pressures
at much higher pressures
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Reaktori hlađeni vodom
moraju da rade pri mnogo većem pritisku
moraju da rade pri mnogo većem pritisku
nego što je atmosferski pritisak.
02:00
than atmospheric pressure.
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02:02
Some water-cooled reactors run
at over 70 atmospheres of pressure,
at over 70 atmospheres of pressure,
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Neki reaktori hlađeni vodom rade
pod pritiskom većem od 70 atmosfera,
pod pritiskom većem od 70 atmosfera,
02:06
and others have to run at as much as
150 atmospheres of pressure.
150 atmospheres of pressure.
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a drugi moraju da rade
pri pritisku većem od 150 atmosfera.
pri pritisku većem od 150 atmosfera.
02:10
There's no getting around this;
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To ne može da se izbegne;
02:11
it's simply what you have to do
if you want to generate electricity
if you want to generate electricity
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to je ono što morate da uradite
ako želite da proizvedete struju
ako želite da proizvedete struju
koristeći reaktor hlađen vodom.
02:14
using a water-cooled reactor.
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To znači da morate da izgradite
reaktor hlađen vodom
reaktor hlađen vodom
02:16
This means you have to build
a water-cooled reactor
a water-cooled reactor
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kao sud pod pritiskom,
02:18
as a pressure vessel,
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sa čeličnim zidovima debelim
više od 20 centimetara.
više od 20 centimetara.
02:20
with steel walls
over 20 centimeters thick.
over 20 centimeters thick.
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02:22
If that sounds heavy,
that's because it is.
that's because it is.
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Ako to zvuči teško, to je zato što jeste.
02:24
Things get a lot worse
if you have an accident
if you have an accident
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Stvari postanu još gore ako imate nesreću
02:26
where you lose pressure
inside the reactor.
inside the reactor.
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da izgubite pritisak unutar reaktora.
02:29
If you have liquid water
at 300 degrees Celsius
at 300 degrees Celsius
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Ako imate tečnu vodu
na 300 stepeni Celzijusa
na 300 stepeni Celzijusa
02:31
and suddenly you depressurize it,
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i odjednom je oslobodite pritiska,
02:33
it doesn't stay liquid for very long;
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ne ostaje u tečnom obliku zadugo;
02:35
it flashes into steam.
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transformiše se u paru.
02:36
So water-cooled reactors are built
inside of big, thick concrete buildings
inside of big, thick concrete buildings
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Reaktori koji se hlade vodom su izgrađeni
unutar velikih debelih betonskih zgrada
unutar velikih debelih betonskih zgrada
02:40
called containment buildings,
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koje se zovu zaštitne zgrade,
02:42
which are meant to hold all of the steam
that would come out of the reactor
that would come out of the reactor
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koje služe da zadrže svu paru
koja bi izašla iz reaktora
koja bi izašla iz reaktora
ukoliko biste imali nesreću
da izgubite pritisak.
da izgubite pritisak.
02:45
if you had an accident
where you lost pressure.
where you lost pressure.
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02:47
Steam takes up about 1,000 times
more volume than liquid water,
more volume than liquid water,
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Para zauzima oko 1 000 puta više zapremine
nego voda u tečnom stanju,
nego voda u tečnom stanju,
02:51
so the containment building
ends up being very large,
ends up being very large,
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tako da je zaštitna zgrada veoma velika,
02:54
relative to the size of the reactor.
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u odnosu na veličinu reaktora.
Još jedna loša stvar se dešava
ako izgubite pritisak
ako izgubite pritisak
02:55
Another bad thing happens
if you lose pressure
if you lose pressure
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02:58
and your water flashes to steam.
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i ako se voda pretvori u paru.
02:59
If you don't get emergency coolant
to the fuel in the reactor,
to the fuel in the reactor,
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Ako ne ubacite rashlađivač
u gorivo u reaktoru
u gorivo u reaktoru
03:02
it can overheat and melt.
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može da se pregreje i istopi.
03:04
The reactors we have today
use uranium oxide as a fuel.
use uranium oxide as a fuel.
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Reaktori koje imamo danas
koriste uranijum-oksid kao gorivo.
koriste uranijum-oksid kao gorivo.
03:07
It's a ceramic material
similar in performance
similar in performance
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To je keramički materijal
sličnih performansi
sličnih performansi
kao keramika koju koristimo
za šolje za kafu ili kuhinjsko posuđe,
za šolje za kafu ili kuhinjsko posuđe,
03:10
to the ceramics we use to make
coffee cups or cookware
coffee cups or cookware
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03:13
or the bricks we use to line fireplaces.
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ili cigle koje koristimo
za ograđivanje kamina.
za ograđivanje kamina.
03:15
They're chemically stable,
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On je hemijski stabilan,
03:16
but they're not very good
at transferring heat.
at transferring heat.
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ali nije baš dobar prenosilac toplote.
Ako izgubite pritisak, izgubićete vodu,
03:18
If you lose pressure, you lose your water,
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a ubrzo će vam se i gorivo istopiti
03:20
and soon your fuel will melt down
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i ispustiti produkte radioaktivne fisije.
03:22
and release the radioactive
fission products within it.
fission products within it.
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Stvaranje izdržljivog nuklearnog goriva
je komplikovan i skup proces.
je komplikovan i skup proces.
03:25
Making solid nuclear fuel
is a complicated and expensive process.
is a complicated and expensive process.
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Izvlačimo manje od jednog procenta
energije za nuklearno gorivo
energije za nuklearno gorivo
03:28
And we extract less than one percent
of the energy for the nuclear fuel
of the energy for the nuclear fuel
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pre nego što više ne može
da ostane u reaktoru.
da ostane u reaktoru.
03:31
before it can no longer
remain in the reactor.
remain in the reactor.
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03:34
Water-cooled reactors have
another additional challenge:
another additional challenge:
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Reaktori koji se hlade vodom
imaju još jednu spornu stvar:
imaju još jednu spornu stvar:
03:36
they need to be near
large bodies of water,
large bodies of water,
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moraju da budu blizu
nekog velikog izvora vode,
nekog velikog izvora vode,
gde para koju stvaraju
može da se rashladi i kondenzuje.
može da se rashladi i kondenzuje.
03:39
where the steam they generate
can be cooled and condensed.
can be cooled and condensed.
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Drugačije ne mogu
da proizvedu električnu energiju.
da proizvedu električnu energiju.
03:41
Otherwise, they can't generate
electrical power.
electrical power.
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03:44
Now, there's no lakes
or rivers on the Moon,
or rivers on the Moon,
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Ne postoje ni jezera ni reke na Mesecu,
pa ako vam se zbog svega ovoga
čini da reaktori hlađeni vodom
čini da reaktori hlađeni vodom
03:46
so if all of this makes it sound
like water-cooled reactors
like water-cooled reactors
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nisu baš podobni za zajednicu na Mesecu,
03:49
aren't such a good fit
for a lunar community,
for a lunar community,
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ja bih se složio sa vama.
03:51
I would tend to agree with you.
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(Smeh)
03:52
(Laughter)
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Imao sam sreću da naučim
o različitim oblicima nuklearne energije
o različitim oblicima nuklearne energije
03:53
I had the good fortune to learn about
a different form of nuclear power
a different form of nuclear power
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03:57
that doesn't have all these problems,
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koji nemaju sve ove probleme,
zbog veoma prostog razloga:
03:59
for a very simple reason:
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04:00
it's not based on water-cooling,
and it doesn't use solid fuel.
and it doesn't use solid fuel.
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nisu zasnovani na hlađenju vodom
i ne koriste čvrsta goriva.
i ne koriste čvrsta goriva.
04:03
Surprisingly, it's based on salt.
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Iznenađujuće, zasnovani su na soli.
Jednog dana bio sam
u kancelariji svog prijatelja,
u kancelariji svog prijatelja,
04:05
One day, I was at a friend's
office at work,
office at work,
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04:07
and I noticed this book on the shelf,
"Fluid Fuel Reactors."
"Fluid Fuel Reactors."
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i zapazio sam knjigu na polici
„Reaktori za tečna goriva“.
„Reaktori za tečna goriva“.
04:10
I was interested
and asked him if I could borrow it.
and asked him if I could borrow it.
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Zainteresovao sam se
i pitao sam ga da je pozajmim.
i pitao sam ga da je pozajmim.
04:13
Inside that book, I learned
about research in the United States
about research in the United States
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Uz pomoć ove knjige sam saznao
za američko istraživanje iz 1950-ih godina
za američko istraživanje iz 1950-ih godina
04:16
back in the 1950s,
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o vrsti reaktora koji nije zasnovan
na čvrstim gorivima ili na hlađenju vodom.
na čvrstim gorivima ili na hlađenju vodom.
04:17
into a kind of reactor
that wasn't based on solid fuel
that wasn't based on solid fuel
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04:20
or on water-cooling.
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Nije imao probleme koje je imao reaktor
koji se hladi uz pomoć vode,
koji se hladi uz pomoć vode,
04:21
It didn't have the problems
of the water-cooled reactor,
of the water-cooled reactor,
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04:23
and the reason why was pretty neat.
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a razlog je divan.
04:25
It used a mixture of fluoride salts
as a nuclear fuel,
as a nuclear fuel,
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Koristi mešavinu fluoridnih soli
kao nuklearno gorivo,
kao nuklearno gorivo,
04:28
specifically, the fluorides of lithium,
beryllium, uranium and thorium.
beryllium, uranium and thorium.
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naročito fluoride litijuma, berilijuma,
uranijuma i torijuma.
uranijuma i torijuma.
04:32
Fluoride salts are remarkably
chemically stable.
chemically stable.
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Fluoridne soli su hemijski stabilne.
04:34
They do not react with air and water.
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Ne ulaze u reakciju sa vazduhom i vodom.
04:37
You have to heat them up
to about 400 degrees Celsius
to about 400 degrees Celsius
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Morate da ih zagrejete
do nekih 400 stepeni Celzijusa
do nekih 400 stepeni Celzijusa
04:39
to get them to melt.
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da biste ih istopili.
04:41
But that's actually perfect
for trying to generate power
for trying to generate power
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To je zapravo idealno
za pokušaj generisanja energije
za pokušaj generisanja energije
u nuklearnom reaktoru.
04:43
in a nuclear reactor.
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04:44
Here's the real magic:
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Evo je prava magija:
04:46
they don't have to operate
at high pressure.
at high pressure.
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ne moraju da funkcionišu
pod velikim pritiskom.
pod velikim pritiskom.
04:48
And that makes the biggest
difference of all.
difference of all.
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A to pravi najveću razliku.
04:50
This means they don't have to be
in heavy, thick steel pressure vessels,
in heavy, thick steel pressure vessels,
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To znači da ne moraju da budu
u debelim čeličnim sudovima pod pritiskom,
u debelim čeličnim sudovima pod pritiskom,
04:54
they don't have to use water for coolant
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ne moraju da koriste vodu kao rashlađivač,
04:56
and there's nothing in the reactor
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i ne postoji ništa u reaktoru
što će napraviti veliku promenu
u gustini kao što bi voda.
u gustini kao što bi voda.
04:57
that's going to make
a big change in density, like water.
a big change in density, like water.
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Tako da zaštitna posuda oko reaktora
05:00
So the containment building
around the reactor
around the reactor
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može biti znatno manja i po meri.
05:02
can be much smaller and close-fitting.
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Za razliku od čvrstih goriva
koja se tope ako ih ne rashlađujete,
koja se tope ako ih ne rashlađujete,
05:04
Unlike the solid fuels that can melt down
if you stop cooling them,
if you stop cooling them,
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ova tečna fluoridna goriva
su već istopljena
su već istopljena
05:07
these liquid fluoride fuels
are already melted,
are already melted,
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na mnogo nižoj temperaturi.
05:09
at a much, much lower temperature.
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Pri normalnom funkcionisanju
imate mali čep ovde
imate mali čep ovde
05:11
In normal operation,
you have a little plug here
you have a little plug here
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05:13
at the bottom of the reactor vessel.
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na dnu reaktorskog suda.
05:15
This plug is made
out of a piece of frozen salt
out of a piece of frozen salt
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Ovaj čep je napravljen
od komada zaleđene soli
od komada zaleđene soli
koji držite zaleđenim
izduvavanjem hladnog gasa
izduvavanjem hladnog gasa
05:18
that you've kept frozen
by blowing cool gas
by blowing cool gas
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05:20
over the outside of the pipe.
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sa spoljašnje strane cevi.
05:21
If there's an emergency
and you lose all the power
and you lose all the power
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Ako postoji opasnost
i izgubite svu energiju
i izgubite svu energiju
05:24
to your nuclear power plant,
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u nuklearnoj elektrani,
05:25
the little blower stops blowing,
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kompresor prestaje sa izduvavanjem,
05:27
the frozen plug of salt melts,
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zaleđeni čep soli se topi,
05:29
and the liquid fluoride fuel
inside the reactor
inside the reactor
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pa tečno fluoridno gorivo unutar reaktora
05:31
drains out of the vessel, through the line
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curi van reaktorskog suda kroz vod
pa u drugi sud koji se zove
rezervoar za odvod.
rezervoar za odvod.
05:33
and into another vessel
called a drain tank.
called a drain tank.
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05:35
Inside the drain tank, it's all configured
to maximize the transfer of heat,
to maximize the transfer of heat,
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U rezervoaru za odvod sve je konfigurisano
tako da se prenese što više toplote,
tako da se prenese što više toplote,
05:39
so as to keep the salt passively cooled
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da bismo održali so ohlađenom
05:42
as its heat load drops over time.
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dok njena toplota opada s vremenom.
Kod reaktora hlađenih vodom
05:44
In water-cooled reactors,
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05:45
you generally have to provide
power to the plant
power to the plant
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obično morate da obezbedite
struju elektrani
struju elektrani
05:47
to keep the water circulating
and to prevent a meltdown,
and to prevent a meltdown,
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kako biste održali cirkulaciju vode
i sprečili topljenje,
i sprečili topljenje,
05:50
as we saw in Japan.
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kao što smo videli u Japanu.
05:52
But in this reactor,
if you lose the power to the reactor,
if you lose the power to the reactor,
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Kod ovog reaktora, ako izgubite struju,
05:55
it shuts itself down all by itself,
without human intervention,
without human intervention,
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on se gasi sam od sebe
bez intervencije ljudi,
bez intervencije ljudi,
05:58
and puts itself in a safe
and controlled configuration.
and controlled configuration.
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i adaptira se u bezbednu
i kontrolisanu konfiguraciju.
i kontrolisanu konfiguraciju.
06:01
Now, this was sounding pretty good to me,
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Ovo mi je zvučalo prilično dobro,
i bio sam uzbuđen zbog potencijalnog
korišćenja reaktora za tečne fluoride
korišćenja reaktora za tečne fluoride
06:03
and I was excited about the potential
of using a liquid fluoride reactor
of using a liquid fluoride reactor
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da pokrenemo zajednicu na Mesecu.
06:06
to power a lunar community.
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06:08
But then I learned about thorium,
and the story got even better.
and the story got even better.
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Ali onda sam saznao za torijum,
pa je priča postala još bolja.
pa je priča postala još bolja.
Torijum je nuklearno gorivo
koje se javlja u prirodi,
koje se javlja u prirodi,
06:11
Thorium is a naturally
occurring nuclear fuel
occurring nuclear fuel
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06:13
that is four times more common
in the Earth's crust than uranium.
in the Earth's crust than uranium.
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i koje je četiri puta češće
u Zemljinoj kori od uranijuma.
u Zemljinoj kori od uranijuma.
Može se koristiti u reaktorima
za tečne fluoride
za tečne fluoride
06:16
It can be used in liquid fluoride
thorium reactors
thorium reactors
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06:18
to produce electrical energy, heat
and other valuable products.
and other valuable products.
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kako bi se proizvela električna energija,
toplota i drugi važni proizvodi.
toplota i drugi važni proizvodi.
06:22
It's so energy-dense that you could hold
a lifetime supply of thorium energy
a lifetime supply of thorium energy
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Tolika je gustoća energije da biste mogli
da držite večnu zalihu energije torijuma
da držite večnu zalihu energije torijuma
06:26
in the palm of your hand.
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na svom dlanu.
06:27
Thorium is also common on the Moon
and easy to find.
and easy to find.
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Torijum je takođe čest na Mesecu
i lako ga je pronaći.
i lako ga je pronaći.
Na ovoj mapi je prikazano
gde je lociran torijum na Mesecu.
gde je lociran torijum na Mesecu.
06:30
Here's an actual map of where
the lunar thorium is located.
the lunar thorium is located.
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06:33
Thorium has an electromagnetic signature
that makes it easy to find,
that makes it easy to find,
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Torijum ostavlja elektromagnetni trag
koji je lako pronaći
koji je lako pronaći
čak i iz svemirskog broda.
06:36
even from a spacecraft.
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Sa energijom koju proizvodi
reaktor za tečni fluoridni torijum
reaktor za tečni fluoridni torijum
06:37
With the energy generated
from a liquid fluoride thorium reactor,
from a liquid fluoride thorium reactor,
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mogli bismo da recikliramo sav vazduh,
vodu i otpadne proizvode
vodu i otpadne proizvode
06:40
we could recycle all of the air,
water and waste products
water and waste products
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u okviru zajednice za Mesecu.
06:43
within the lunar community.
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U stvari, to bi bio uslov za uspeh.
06:44
In fact, doing so would be
an absolute requirement for success.
an absolute requirement for success.
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06:47
We could grow the crops needed
to feed the members of the community
to feed the members of the community
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Mogli bismo da gajimo useve
kako bi se nahranili članovi zajednice
kako bi se nahranili članovi zajednice
06:50
even during the two-week lunar night,
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čak i tokom dvonedeljne noći na Mesecu
06:52
using light and power from the reactor.
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koristeći svetlost i struju iz reaktora.
06:54
It seemed like the liquid fluoride
thorium reactor, or LFTR,
thorium reactor, or LFTR,
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Izgledalo je kao da bi reaktor
za tečni fluoridni torijum, ili RTFT,
za tečni fluoridni torijum, ili RTFT,
06:57
could be the power source that could make
a self-sustainable lunar colony
a self-sustainable lunar colony
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mogao biti izvor energije
koji bi pretvorio samoodrživu koloniju
na Mesecu u stvarnost.
na Mesecu u stvarnost.
07:01
a reality.
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Imao sam jednostavno pitanje:
07:02
But I had a simple question:
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07:03
If it was such a great thing
for a community on the Moon,
for a community on the Moon,
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ako bi to bila tako dobra stvar
za zajednicu na Mesecu,
za zajednicu na Mesecu,
zašto ne bi i za zajednicu na Zemlji,
zajednicu budućnosti,
zajednicu budućnosti,
07:06
why not a community on the Earth,
a community of the future,
a community of the future,
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07:09
self-sustaining and energy-independent?
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samoodrživu i energetski nezavisnu?
07:11
The same energy generation
and recycling techniques
and recycling techniques
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Ista proizvodnja energije
i tehnike reciklaže
i tehnike reciklaže
07:14
that could have a powerful impact
on surviving on the Moon
on surviving on the Moon
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koje bi mogle imati snažan uticaj
na preživljavanje na Mesecu
na preživljavanje na Mesecu
07:17
could also have a powerful impact
on surviving on the Earth.
on surviving on the Earth.
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mogle bi imati snažan uticaj
i na preživljavanje na Zemlji.
i na preživljavanje na Zemlji.
07:20
Right now, we're burning fossil fuels
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Trenutno sagorevamo fosilna goriva
07:22
because they're easy to find
and because we can.
and because we can.
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jer ih je lako pronaći i zato što možemo.
07:24
Unfortunately, they're making some parts
of our planet look like the Moon.
of our planet look like the Moon.
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Nažalost, ona čine da neki delovi
naše planete izgledaju kao Mesec.
naše planete izgledaju kao Mesec.
07:28
Using fossil fuels
entangles us in conflict
entangles us in conflict
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Korišćenje fosilnih goriva
upetljava nas u konflikt
upetljava nas u konflikt
07:30
in unstable regions of the world
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u nestabilnim regionima sveta,
07:32
and costs money and lives.
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i iziskuje novac i ljudske živote.
Stvari bi mogle biti drugačije
kad bismo koristili torijum.
kad bismo koristili torijum.
07:34
Things could be very different
if we were using thorium.
if we were using thorium.
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U RTFT-u bismo mogli da koristimo torijum
skoro 200 puta efikasnije
skoro 200 puta efikasnije
07:37
You see, in a LFTR, we could use thorium
about 200 times more efficiently
about 200 times more efficiently
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nego što koristimo uranijum sada.
07:40
than we're using uranium now.
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07:42
And because the LFTR is capable
of almost completely releasing
of almost completely releasing
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A zbog toga što je RTFT u stanju
da skoro potpuno oslobodi
da skoro potpuno oslobodi
energiju iz torijuma,
07:45
the energy in thorium,
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to smanjuje nastali otpad u odnosu
na uranijum nekoliko stotina puta,
na uranijum nekoliko stotina puta,
07:46
this reduces the waste generated
over uranium by factors of hundreds,
over uranium by factors of hundreds,
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07:50
and by factors of millions
over fossil fuels.
over fossil fuels.
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a milion puta u odnosu na fosilna goriva.
07:53
We're still going to need liquid fuels
for vehicles and machinery,
for vehicles and machinery,
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I dalje će nam trebati
tečna goriva za vozila i mašine,
tečna goriva za vozila i mašine,
07:56
but we could generate these liquid fuels
from the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
from the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
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ali mogli bismo proizvesti tečna goriva
od ugljen-dioksida iz atmosfere
od ugljen-dioksida iz atmosfere
i iz vode, kao priroda što radi.
08:00
and from water, much like nature does.
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Mogli bismo da proizvodimo
vodonik razdvajanjem vode
vodonik razdvajanjem vode
08:02
We could generate hydrogen
by splitting water
by splitting water
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08:04
and combining it with carbon
harvested from CO2 in the atmosphere,
harvested from CO2 in the atmosphere,
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i kombinujući ga sa ugljenikom dobijenog
od ugljen-dioksida iz atmosfere,
od ugljen-dioksida iz atmosfere,
08:07
making fuels like methanol,
ammonia, and dimethyl ether,
ammonia, and dimethyl ether,
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praveći goriva kao što su metanol,
amonijak i dimetil etar,
amonijak i dimetil etar,
08:11
which could be a direct replacement
for diesel fuels.
for diesel fuels.
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koji bi mogli biti zamena za dizel-goriva.
08:13
Imagine carbon-neutral
gasoline and diesel,
gasoline and diesel,
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Zamislite benzin i dizel
bez emisije ugljen-dioksida,
bez emisije ugljen-dioksida,
08:16
sustainable and self-produced.
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koji su održivi i koji se sami stvaraju.
08:19
Do we have enough thorium?
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Imamo li dovoljno torijuma?
08:20
Yes, we do.
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Da, imamo.
08:22
In fact, in the United States, we have
over 3,200 metric tons of thorium
over 3,200 metric tons of thorium
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U stvari, u SAD-u imamo
preko 3 200 metričkih tona torijuma
preko 3 200 metričkih tona torijuma
08:25
that was stockpiled 50 years ago
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koji je nagomilan pre 50 godina
08:27
and is currently buried
in a shallow trench in Nevada.
in a shallow trench in Nevada.
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i koji je trenutno zakopan
u površnom rovu u Nevadi.
u površnom rovu u Nevadi.
08:30
This thorium, if used in LFTRs,
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Ovaj torijum bi,
kada bi se koristio u RTFT-u,
kada bi se koristio u RTFT-u,
mogao da proizvede skoro onoliko energije
koliko Amerika iskoristi za tri godine.
koliko Amerika iskoristi za tri godine.
08:32
could produce almost as much energy
as the United States uses in three years.
as the United States uses in three years.
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08:36
And thorium is not
a rare substance, either.
a rare substance, either.
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A torijum nije retka supstanca.
Postoji puno nalazišta
kao što je ovaj u Ajdahu,
kao što je ovaj u Ajdahu,
08:38
There are many sites
like this one in Idaho,
like this one in Idaho,
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gde bi površina fudbalskog terena
proizvela dovoljno torijuma svake godine
proizvela dovoljno torijuma svake godine
08:40
where an area the size of a football field
would produce enough thorium each year
would produce enough thorium each year
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da obezbedi energiju za ceo svet.
08:44
to power the entire world.
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Koristeći tehnologiju
tečnog fluoridnog torijuma,
tečnog fluoridnog torijuma,
08:45
Using liquid fluoride thorium technology,
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08:47
we could move away from
expensive and difficult aspects
expensive and difficult aspects
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mogli bismo da se odmaknemo
od skupih i teških aspekata
od skupih i teških aspekata
uranijuma koji se hladi vodom
i koji koristi čvrsta goriva.
i koji koristi čvrsta goriva.
08:50
of current water-cooled, solid-fueled
uranium nuclear power.
uranium nuclear power.
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Ne bi nam trebali veliki
nuklearni reaktori pod visokim pritiskom
nuklearni reaktori pod visokim pritiskom
08:53
We wouldn't need large,
high-pressure nuclear reactors
high-pressure nuclear reactors
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08:56
and big containment buildings
that they go in.
that they go in.
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i velike zaštitne zgrade
u koje se stavljaju.
u koje se stavljaju.
Ne bi nam trebale velike
parne turbine niske efikasnosti.
parne turbine niske efikasnosti.
08:58
We wouldn't need large,
low-efficiency steam turbines.
low-efficiency steam turbines.
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Ne bismo morali da imamo
09:01
We wouldn't need to have
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09:02
as many long-distance power
transmission infrastructure,
transmission infrastructure,
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toliko infrastrukture za transmisiju
energije na velike udaljenosti,
energije na velike udaljenosti,
09:05
because thorium is
a very portable energy source
a very portable energy source
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jer je torijum prenosiv izvor energije,
09:07
that can be located
near to where it is needed.
near to where it is needed.
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koji se može naći
blizu mesta gde je potreban.
blizu mesta gde je potreban.
09:10
A liquid fluoride thorium reactor
would be a compact facility,
would be a compact facility,
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Reaktor za tečni fluoridni torijum
bi bio kompaktno postrojenje,
bi bio kompaktno postrojenje,
efikasno pri potrošnji
energije i bezbedan,
energije i bezbedan,
09:13
very energy-efficient and safe,
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09:15
that would produce the energy
we need day and night,
we need day and night,
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koje bi proizvodio energiju
koja nam je potrebna bez prestanka,
koja nam je potrebna bez prestanka,
09:17
and without respect to weather conditions.
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i bez obzira na vremenske uslove.
09:19
In 2007, we used
five billion tons of coal,
five billion tons of coal,
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U 2007. godini iskoristili smo
pet milijardi tona uglja,
pet milijardi tona uglja,
09:22
31 billion barrels of oil
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31 milijardu buradi ulja,
09:24
and five trillion cubic meters
of natural gas,
of natural gas,
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pet biliona kubnih metara prirodnog gasa,
09:26
along with 65,000 tons of uranium
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sa sve 65 000 tona uranijuma
kako bismo proizveli energiju u svetu.
09:29
to produce the world's energy.
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Sa torijumom bismo mogli
da uradimo istu stvar,
da uradimo istu stvar,
09:31
With thorium, we could do the same thing
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09:33
with 7,000 tons of thorium
that could be mined at a single site.
that could be mined at a single site.
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sa 7 000 tona torijuma koje se mogu
iskopati na jednom nalazištu.
iskopati na jednom nalazištu.
09:37
If all this sounds interesting to you,
I invite you to visit our website,
I invite you to visit our website,
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Ako vam sve ovo zvuči interesantno,
pozivam vas da posetite naš sajt,
pozivam vas da posetite naš sajt,
gde sve veća i entuzijastična
onlajn zajednica pristalica torijuma
onlajn zajednica pristalica torijuma
09:40
where a growing and enthusiastic
online community of thorium advocates
online community of thorium advocates
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09:43
is working to tell the world
about how we can realize a clean, safe
about how we can realize a clean, safe
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radi na tome da kaže svetu o tome
kako možemo da stvorimo čistu i sigurnu
kako možemo da stvorimo čistu i sigurnu
09:47
and sustainable energy future,
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budućnost održive energije
09:49
based on the energies of thorium.
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zasnovane na energiji torijuma.
09:51
Thank you very much.
(Applause)
(Applause)
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Hvala vam puno.
(Aplauz)
(Aplauz)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Kirk Sorensen - Engineer, nuclear technologistKirk Sorensen stumbled across thorium while doing research on how to power a lunar community. Thorium is a cleaner, safer, and more abundant nuclear fuel -- one that Kirk believes will revolutionize how we produce our energy.
Why you should listen
Kirk Sorensen began his work with thorium while working as an aerospace engineer at NASA. In 2010, he left NASA to work as the chief nuclear technologist at Teledyne Brown Engineering. In 2011, he founded Flibe, a company focused on developing modular thorium reactors.
Kirk Sorensen | Speaker | TED.com