[img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12054510/Oparta%20Energy.jpg[/img]
Hello Facepunchers!
Today I shall unveil my latest project, Oparta Energy!
Oparta Energy is a energy company I have founded focused on the development of Thorium energy. Many of you might know what Thorium is, in case you don't, here is a quick run through.
Thorium is a radioactive element in the periodic table. You might be wondering, how can you use energy from Thorium?
1) Fluoride salt will be heated so that it melts.
2) Thorium Fluoride is dissolved into the liquid salt.
3) Thorium-232 absorbs neutrons and turns into Uranium-233.
4) The Uranium-233 fissions and produces heat plus more neutrons.
A turbine will be used to absorb the heat and thus generating power.
The goal of Oparta Energy is to create a thorium reactor prototype within the next 6 years.
:siren:[b] I am serious about this, I have e-mailed someone at Strålskyddsmyndigheten here in Sweden about permission on using Thorium. If I do get permission, I will start building the reactor! [/b]:siren:
I will update the OP on progress on the reactor and other news about Oparta Energy.
How are you going to fund this multi-million project of yours?
What is your educational background?
How much energy are you aiming to produce per kilogram of thorium?
How are you going to get thorium?
How many people are involved in this project?
Since you're going to start building the reactor right away if you do get permission, why don't you give us an in-depth informational about your building plans and procedures?
Aren't you 14/15? Starting an 'energy company' at that age is a bit. . ambitious.
It's not exactly cheap to build a nuclear plant you know..
Its not like this is a lemonade stand. Its cost millions upon millions just to get it started up. Let alone actually getting permission to get [b]RADIOACTIVE[/b] material.
Nice, I didn't knew 14 year olds could build nuclear reactors.
[editline]27th May 2011[/editline]
Also, how will you fund this project?
15 bucks a week won't be enough.
[QUOTE=Epic Sandwich;30077708]Aren't you 14/15? Starting an 'energy company' at that age is a bit. . ambitious.[/QUOTE]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Branson[/url]
[quote]His first successful business venture was a magazine called Student at age 16.[3] [/quote]
best of luck OP
[QUOTE=Dav0r;30077752][url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Branson[/url]
best of luck OP[/QUOTE]
It's a fair bit different to try and innovate energy.
this'll be just like that guy who built a mini nuclear reactor in new york
awesome
[QUOTE=Dav0r;30077752][url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Branson[/url]
best of luck OP[/QUOTE]
Writing a magazine is slightly different to building a multi-million dollar reactor.
Won't power plants that make their own uranium be very dangerous if they went out of control?
Ohhh, I think I remember now who you are OP.
Weren't you the guy who was bragging about his mom working in the UN?
[QUOTE=Mr.Goodcat;30077734]Its not like this is a lemonade stand. Its cost millions upon millions just to get it started up. Let alone actually getting permission to get [b]RADIOACTIVE[/b] material.[/QUOTE]
Stop sounding like radioactive material is a big deal. You're getting radiated every day by eating, breathing, going outside, staying inside, sleeping, taking a shit, etc.
[QUOTE=Within;30077803]Stop sounding like radioactive material is a big deal. You're getting radiated every day by eating, breathing, going outside, staying inside, sleeping, taking a shit, etc.[/QUOTE]
That's like saying catching on fire isn't a big deal because you get heat from the sun, radiators and your own body
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10385853[/url]
for everyone that thinks you have to be an eccentric billionaire to start up an energy project
Answering the question relating to funding, it's not that much money that needs to go into this. Anyone remember the guy who made a 5000$ cruise missile in his garage? Most of the backend of the reactor has already been engineered, the chemical reactions and the compounds needed is already researched. In fact, the thing that needs the most money is the parts and the Thorium itself. The only research here is designing the reactor.
[QUOTE=Kondor58;30077813]That's like saying catching on fire isn't a big deal because you get heat from the sun, radiators and your own body[/QUOTE]
No it isn't because you can't catch fire from the sun's heat.
You're talking as if you think I said it's not a big deal to stand naked next to the core of a nuclear power plant.
If you think this will cost millions you're pretty stupid.
Update us OP, how are you planning this? What will you build?
Also from that BBC article Bobie posted,
[quote]He is the 38th independent amateur physicist in the world to achieve nuclear fusion from a homemade reactor, according to community site Fusor.net. Others on the list include a [b]15-year-old from Michigan[/b] and a doctoral student in Ohio.[/quote]
Hopefully you'll eventually get some sense into the right heads with this.
Good luck OP.
[QUOTE=Within;30077870]No it isn't because you can't catch fire from the sun's heat.
You're talking as if you think I said it's not a big deal to stand naked next to the core of a nuclear power plant.[/QUOTE]
the point is that they're both dangerous, don't try and downplay that fact
[QUOTE=Chickens!;30077875]Hopefully you'll eventually get some sense into the right heads with this.
Good luck OP.[/QUOTE]
Thing is, it's already in development in some nations.
[QUOTE=Kondor58;30077882]the point is that they're both dangerous, don't try and downplay that fact[/QUOTE]
Handling radioactive material is not any more dangerous than standing next to a fire if you know what you're doing for both scenarios.
This is a [b]VERY[/b] ambitious project, but I wish you the best of luck and hope to see you in the newspapers some time soon.
I'd be more interested in producing energy with renewable ressources. Make it more efficent so that every household can produce its own energy.
[QUOTE=Within;30077803]Stop sounding like radioactive material is a big deal. You're getting radiated every day by eating, breathing, going outside, staying inside, sleeping, taking a shit, etc.[/QUOTE]
While thats true, I'm pretty sure he doesn't go breathing radon or some other radioactive material into his lungs
Radioactive material is such a big deal they even have to plan where the trucks that deliver it pass through, in order to prevent one town getting too much radiation
So yes, radioactive material IS big deal and a huge problem if not considered carefully
This is fun, thorium needs an extra neutron to form U233, the fissionable isotope. Then he needs to carry those isotopes somehow into the reactor. Oh and, U233 is highly radioactive thanks to contamination with U232.
Googling this would probably say the same, i'm doing this from my head so I could be wrong. I wonder how OP is going to solve these problems
[QUOTE=Within;30077896]Handling radioactive material is not any more dangerous than standing next to a fire if you know what you're doing for both scenarios.[/QUOTE]
It depends which material
You can stand right next to an unused fuel rod of Uranium, sure
Now try doing that next to a spent fuel rod, and you'll grow an extra pair of eyes in no time (Or more likely die)
[QUOTE=Elexar;30077951]This is fun, thorium needs an extra neutron to form U233, the fissionable isotope. Then he needs to carry those isotopes somehow into the reactor. Oh and, U233 is highly radioactive thanks to contamination with U232.
Googling this would probably say the same, i'm doing this from my head so I could be wrong. I wonder how OP is going to solve these problems[/QUOTE]
[img]http://www.momontherocks.com/hazmat_suit.jpg[/img]
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