Reply To: Competition from the Thorium reactor

[Rematog]

Jimmy,

I assume this input efficiency was taken into account when the ion beam output of .98*input energy and X-ray output of 0.57*input energy numbers were calculated. Otherwise the reaction is not even close be break-even.

If it was taken into account, them my numbers add-up as well.

If not, we might as well be arguing Star Wars vs Star Trek…….

PS: Can anyone direct me to any “Official” statements regarding power block size and cost estimates. One factor that is critical is what is included in the “cost”. Is it the cost of a Power Block leaving a factory where it is made (FOB Factory) or is the the cost of a Power Block installed at a site with all the “fix-ens”.

PPS: I reran my calcs for a 20MW power block requiring the exact same maintenance labor, and an all in installed cost of only $500k. This brought the busbar cost of power down to $1.77/MW-hr. Note, this gives a cost of about 25% that as I got when using 5 MW (1/4 the power) for $1,000k (twice the capital cost). In other words, Operations and Maintenance expense would still be significant. For the 20MW case, my estimate showed O&M being 78% of the cost of power. So any serious cost estimate needs to have a much better breakdown of maintenance needs than what I’ve found from my readings of this forum and listening of Mr. Lerner’s Google talk.

Please, do not take this to mean that I am casting dispersions on Focus Fusion, Mr. Lerner or how important a break though Focus Fusion, or any similar low cost energy tech. would be. I’m just saying accurate power costs will require much more data than I’ve seen. And these costs need to include all the costs of actually building and operating the equipment.

Rematog